Strange keris

Freddy · 10th November 2008, 06:14 PM

I just received this piece. I found it on ebay recently. Probably other forum members saw this peculiar keris, too.

Here is what the seller mentioned in her auction :

"VERY INTERESTING CUSTOM MADE KRIS 20TH CENTURY.THE GRIP IS OF SOLID BRASS AND SIMULATES A STYLISED BIRDS HEAD WITH INCISED DECORATION.IT HAS A WHITE METAL COLLAR AGAIN INCISED.THE STEEL BLADE IS WAVY AND THIN.THE SCABBARD IS MADE OF SOLID BRASS AND INCISED WITH DECORATION SIMULATING A JAPANESE MON.THE WHOLE DAGGER IS VERY HEAVY FOR IT'S SIZE AND WEIGHS APPROX 1lb 14ozs.THE BLADE MEASURES 7 INS OR 18 CMS.OVERALL LENGTH IS 12.5 INS OR 32 CMS.

AN UNUSUAL STORY COMES WITH THIS KRIS WHICH OF COURSE IS PURELY HEARSAY ( BUT NEVER THE LESS QUITE BELIEVABLE).
APPARENTELY A JAPANESE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICER COMMISIONED THE KNIFE FROM A LOCAL CRAFTSMAN AND WHEN IT WAS DELIVERED HE WAS SO DISATISFIED THAT HE ORDERED THE EXECUTION OF THE ARTISAN."

The story sounds a bit....too good to be true.

But nevertheless, it's a well-made piece. The blade is forged and about 0,5 cm thick near the handle. Blade and ganja are made out of one piece of metal. No pamor on the blade.

As stated by the seller, this piece is HEAVY. Especially for such a small keris. Handle and sheath are made of metal, no wood has been used.

Here are some pics.

Any comments are welcome.

PenangsangII · 11th November 2008, 05:10 AM

Yup, strange indeed, especially at the greneng part. Nevertheless, it looks well made by pandai wesi from Pattani / Northern Peninsula. The perabut is nice also...... btw, the story could be true

Freddy · 12th November 2008, 06:01 PM

Just wondering. Is it usual for keris from the Pattani area to have no pamor ?

The blade seems to be well constructed, but is - in my opinion - made of plain iron.

David · 12th November 2008, 07:06 PM

Actually Freddy, it would be more unusual for a blade from Pattani to have pamor.
Have you tried cleaning this blade up yet? Can you do some better, more detailed photos? Can you shoot directly overhead instead of at an angle that distorts the true proportions of the keris?

Freddy · 13th November 2008, 02:22 PM

I hope these pictures are better. I put the keris under my scan.

10th November 2008, 06:14 PM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Strange keris I just received this piece. I found it on ebay recently. Probably other forum members saw this peculiar keris, too. Here is what the seller mentioned in her auction : "VERY INTERESTING CUSTOM MADE KRIS 20TH CENTURY.THE GRIP IS OF SOLID BRASS AND SIMULATES A STYLISED BIRDS HEAD WITH INCISED DECORATION.IT HAS A WHITE METAL COLLAR AGAIN INCISED.THE STEEL BLADE IS WAVY AND THIN.THE SCABBARD IS MADE OF SOLID BRASS AND INCISED WITH DECORATION SIMULATING A JAPANESE MON.THE WHOLE DAGGER IS VERY HEAVY FOR IT'S SIZE AND WEIGHS APPROX 1lb 14ozs.THE BLADE MEASURES 7 INS OR 18 CMS.OVERALL LENGTH IS 12.5 INS OR 32 CMS. AN UNUSUAL STORY COMES WITH THIS KRIS WHICH OF COURSE IS PURELY HEARSAY ( BUT NEVER THE LESS QUITE BELIEVABLE). APPARENTELY A JAPANESE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICER COMMISIONED THE KNIFE FROM A LOCAL CRAFTSMAN AND WHEN IT WAS DELIVERED HE WAS SO DISATISFIED THAT HE ORDERED THE EXECUTION OF THE ARTISAN." The story sounds a bit....too good to be true. But nevertheless, it's a well-made piece. The blade is forged and about 0,5 cm thick near the handle. Blade and ganja are made out of one piece of metal. No pamor on the blade. As stated by the seller, this piece is HEAVY. Especially for such a small keris. Handle and sheath are made of metal, no wood has been used. Here are some pics. Any comments are welcome.

11th November 2008, 05:10 AM	#2
PenangsangII Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 401	Yup, strange indeed, especially at the greneng part. Nevertheless, it looks well made by pandai wesi from Pattani / Northern Peninsula. The perabut is nice also...... btw, the story could be true

12th November 2008, 06:01 PM	#3
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Just wondering. Is it usual for keris from the Pattani area to have no pamor ? The blade seems to be well constructed, but is - in my opinion - made of plain iron.

12th November 2008, 07:06 PM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,024	Actually Freddy, it would be more unusual for a blade from Pattani to have pamor. Have you tried cleaning this blade up yet? Can you do some better, more detailed photos? Can you shoot directly overhead instead of at an angle that distorts the true proportions of the keris?

13th November 2008, 02:22 PM	#5
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I hope these pictures are better. I put the keris under my scan.