My First Traditional Kris

Robert · 28th July 2011, 12:36 AM

Thanks to my lovely wife I now have this kris. We've been married for 40 years now and after years of her calling my collection a pile of rusty junk she surprises me with this and 5 other items for my birthday. I will post pictures of the other items in their own threads. All comments on this will be greatly appreciated, especially on the hilt material, origin and possible age. If any more pictures of a particular section of this are needed just let me know. Thanks in advance.

Robert

Gavin Nugent · 28th July 2011, 12:47 AM

And a nice one it is Robert!

I am not big in to Kris but this style rates as my favorite, the raw well aged ivory and cord bound grip I am always a fan of, they have an almost dark tribal Pre-Historic look a feel to them...oh to line the wall with such old warriors would indeed be nice.

Congrats and I hope your looking after your wife well.

Gav

kino · 28th July 2011, 01:24 AM

It's a very nice kris. Your wife has good taste.
Happy B'day......belated.

Battara · 28th July 2011, 01:24 AM

Looks like a nice Sulu piece to me with good ivory patina. You have a nice and intelligent wife! (like mine

)

Looking forward to the other pieces.

Robert · 28th July 2011, 02:49 AM

Gav, Kino and Jose, Thank you all for your kind words. Yes, my wife is a definite keeper and I would not trade her for the world. I am still in shock over what she has done especially as she has NEVER shown any interest in my collection what so ever. The item in my other thread on the Odd Barong is another one of the items she surprised me with. That being said, would any one have an idea as to this pieces age?

Robert

Battara · 28th July 2011, 04:05 AM

Well I might say mid-19c based on the style and size of the pommel and the blade.

Maurice · 28th July 2011, 01:47 PM

Good old fighter, with great patina on the ivory pommel.
Surely a great birthdaypresent!

Congrats,
Maurice

Lew · 28th July 2011, 05:14 PM

Robert

That is a superb piece and an ivory pommel to boot doesn't get much better than this

David · 28th July 2011, 05:47 PM

I like it!

kai · 29th July 2011, 12:28 AM

Hello Robert,

Congrats, that's a really superb selection of interesting pieces! Seems like your wife is trying to extend your collection southwards into Moro regions...

BTW, maybe you could convince your better half to offer a crash course on selecting ethnographic pieces for those partners of ours who are less experienced with selecting nice gifts. That would be a great community service!

I'd like to see those blades etched!

Regards,
Kai

mohd · 29th July 2011, 02:18 PM

Beautiful Sundang!
Congrats to you Robert!

mohd

Battara · 29th July 2011, 06:05 PM

I'm with Kai, please etch the blade!

Gavin Nugent · 29th July 2011, 09:19 PM

I say leave the patina on the blade too.

Maurice · 29th July 2011, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

I say leave the patina on the blade too.

Yes Gav, I thought the same......leave the patina on the blade too....

kai · 29th July 2011, 11:56 PM

Of course, Robert has to decide what he wishes to do.

From the pics, I don't see a lot of genuine patina (apparently none from original use) that I'd consider worth keeping. As far as I can tell, the blade got cleaned/polished early after being collected and gained some rust/etc. from neglect later on. IMHO nothing to be proud of.

I guestimate that there won't be any special laminations that would need to be shown; OTOH I'd love to examine the lamination patterns after an etch to glean more information on the crafting of this blade.

Regards,
Kai

Robert · 30th July 2011, 01:28 AM

I would like to thank everyone who has commented on this so far. As far as etching the blade goes, if there is a traditional way of doing it I will be more than happy to do it as soon as I can find the time. Here are the best pictures that I am able to take of the blade and a few of the scabbard. Thanks again.

Robert

28th July 2011, 12:36 AM	#1
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	My First Traditional Kris Thanks to my lovely wife I now have this kris. We've been married for 40 years now and after years of her calling my collection a pile of rusty junk she surprises me with this and 5 other items for my birthday. I will post pictures of the other items in their own threads. All comments on this will be greatly appreciated, especially on the hilt material, origin and possible age. If any more pictures of a particular section of this are needed just let me know. Thanks in advance. Robert Attached Images

28th July 2011, 12:47 AM	#2
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	A beauty And a nice one it is Robert! I am not big in to Kris but this style rates as my favorite, the raw well aged ivory and cord bound grip I am always a fan of, they have an almost dark tribal Pre-Historic look a feel to them...oh to line the wall with such old warriors would indeed be nice. Congrats and I hope your looking after your wife well. Gav

29th July 2011, 09:19 PM	#13
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	no etch I say leave the patina on the blade too.

30th July 2011, 01:28 AM	#16
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	I would like to thank everyone who has commented on this so far. As far as etching the blade goes, if there is a traditional way of doing it I will be more than happy to do it as soon as I can find the time. Here are the best pictures that I am able to take of the blade and a few of the scabbard. Thanks again. Robert Attached Images

28th July 2011, 01:24 AM	#3
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 973	It's a very nice kris. Your wife has good taste. Happy B'day......belated.

28th July 2011, 01:24 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Looks like a nice Sulu piece to me with good ivory patina. You have a nice and intelligent wife! (like mine ) Looking forward to the other pieces.

28th July 2011, 02:49 AM	#5
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Gav, Kino and Jose, Thank you all for your kind words. Yes, my wife is a definite keeper and I would not trade her for the world. I am still in shock over what she has done especially as she has NEVER shown any interest in my collection what so ever. The item in my other thread on the Odd Barong is another one of the items she surprised me with. That being said, would any one have an idea as to this pieces age? Robert

28th July 2011, 04:05 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Well I might say mid-19c based on the style and size of the pommel and the blade.

28th July 2011, 01:47 PM	#7
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,324	Good old fighter, with great patina on the ivory pommel. Surely a great birthdaypresent! Congrats, Maurice

28th July 2011, 05:14 PM	#8
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Robert That is a superb piece and an ivory pommel to boot doesn't get much better than this

28th July 2011, 05:47 PM	#9
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,023	I like it!

29th July 2011, 12:28 AM	#10
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,215	Hello Robert, Congrats, that's a really superb selection of interesting pieces! Seems like your wife is trying to extend your collection southwards into Moro regions... BTW, maybe you could convince your better half to offer a crash course on selecting ethnographic pieces for those partners of ours who are less experienced with selecting nice gifts. That would be a great community service! I'd like to see those blades etched! Regards, Kai

29th July 2011, 02:18 PM	#11
mohd Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 41	Beautiful Sundang! Congrats to you Robert! mohd

29th July 2011, 06:05 PM	#12
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	I'm with Kai, please etch the blade!

29th July 2011, 11:56 PM	#15
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,215	Of course, Robert has to decide what he wishes to do. From the pics, I don't see a lot of genuine patina (apparently none from original use) that I'd consider worth keeping. As far as I can tell, the blade got cleaned/polished early after being collected and gained some rust/etc. from neglect later on. IMHO nothing to be proud of. I guestimate that there won't be any special laminations that would need to be shown; OTOH I'd love to examine the lamination patterns after an etch to glean more information on the crafting of this blade. Regards, Kai