First Keris for me

schmoozer · 23rd February 2010, 06:32 PM

I live in Seattle Washington area, USA. I normally buy and sell straight razors, and sometimes knives as a hobby. I recently bought a group of razors from the previous owner's grandson. He also had a lot of interesting knives that I ended up buying, only recognizing a few, taking a gamble on the remainder.
At first I passed this off as a tourist piece, not knowing anything about the keris. Looking later I found the date of 1848 on the hilt, which pushed me over the edge into researching the keris. I sent pictures to numerous people I found on the Internet and eBay, got back some good responses. A dealer in Indonesia gave me the most detailed opinion, which I will share. (I do not know if he is a member here or not.)
Madurese Donoriko hilt, the date looks authentic.
Blade - Tuban period,
Pamor - Ngulit Semangka
Warngka - Ladrang Jawa Timuran style

The keris is 20" long with a 16" blade.
I have seen many different blade patterns and finishes but few if any similar to mine. Does mine need to be treated somehow to recover the original finish? Or is it the original finish?

He mentioned how the wrangka is replaced when needed, on the Suroan ceremony. The sheath has some missing wood but I would like to keep the hilt. Is there a location in the US where I could get this replaced in a traditional manner?

I have spent many hours poring over this site but my language barrier prevents it from sticking very well..

I appreciate any and all comments,

Regards,
Brad

Rick · 23rd February 2010, 08:05 PM

Made that picture of the crest a bit bigger .

schmoozer · 23rd February 2010, 09:11 PM

My first thought was that the hilt was plastic...

Henk · 23rd February 2010, 09:47 PM

A lovely maduran keris to start with. Congrats on this find. I would leave the dress as it is. If possible the blade could be etched in the traditional way with warangan.

A. G. Maisey · 23rd February 2010, 10:03 PM

This is respectable old keris, and it would not be out of place in any collection.

You have been given a classification of Tuban.

It is very difficult in most cases to affix a classification to a keris from photographs. This one could possibly be Tuban, most likely Tuban-Mataram, indicated by the way in which the ganja widens as it moves to the thinner side of the blade. (the ganja is the separate, mechanically fixed piece of steel at the base of the blade).

Determination of classification depends upon weight of evidence provided by a number of indicators. One of those indicators which is very important is the shape of the top of the ganja.

Would it be possible to provide a photograph looking straight down onto the base of the blade, as in the example I have posted?

Blade classification , or tangguh, is only an opinion, and it is an opinion that can alter according to the school of study with which one is associated. It can give an indication of blade age, but except in a few very limited contexts, it cannot give a true blade age.

The pattern on the surface of the blade is what we call "pamor".
The pamor in this blade appears to be the most usually encountered one, "wos wutah" (scattered rice grains). It is a random pattern, that is, essentially uncontrolled by the smith, and as such no other will be precisely the same.

To read this pamor well, the blade needs to be stained; much will be found in this site that deals with blade staining.

Regarding the scabbard, or wrongko ( wrangka, warangka).

I would not replace this.

The large chip that is visible in the photos can be easily repaired, and the smaller chips around the edges can be cleaned up a little. If the piece of wood used for the repair were to be carefully chosen so that it had a tight grain and was very dark, perhaps even stained black, when this scabbard was repolished, nothing would look out of place, and the original dress would be retained, which in a case such as this is always a plus.

My approach could vary with a more valuable blade, but with a good, honest utilitarian blade such as this one is, I'd do my best to keep it all original.
Bear this in mind:- the attitude of collectors in the western world varies very considerably to that of collectors within Indonesia. Most Indonesian collectors would regard this wrongko as not much more than junk, and replace it with the finest new one they could afford, however, many western collectors do not like this approach, and prefer to repair, restore and retain an old wrongko, if this is possible. My approach falls between the two. For a fine blade I prefer to replace a damaged wrongko; for an average or middle of the road blade I prefer to repair the old wrongko if this is possible.

schmoozer · 23rd February 2010, 10:21 PM

In your picture it appears that the hilt has been removed? What is the best way to do that without damaging it?

Is there someone in the Pacific Northwest region who could restore the blade? I have read the process but do not feel comfortable doing it myself just yet.

kai · 24th February 2010, 12:05 AM

Hello Brad,

Quote:

In your picture it appears that the hilt has been removed?

Yes.

Quote:

What is the best way to do that without damaging it?

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...35&postcount=3

Quote:

Is there someone in the Pacific Northwest region who could restore the blade?

Won't be easy to find someone in the US (and elsewhere). Several members are working on blades from their collections.

Regards,
Kai

kai · 24th February 2010, 12:07 AM

Quote:

I found the date of 1848 on the hilt

Isn't that 1948?

Looks like good quality carving though.

David · 24th February 2010, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Isn't that 1948? Looks like good quality carving though.

It is hard to tell given the angle that the photo was taken, however, i don't believe that the date (if it is a date) can be taken as an actual date of creation in any case.
It is both an unusual and nice carving though.

schmoozer · 24th February 2010, 12:16 AM

1848, new picture.

OK, so I get it off and take the picture.
How do I reattach it?
Probably won't get to this until the wekend...

A. G. Maisey · 24th February 2010, 12:27 AM

Very often a hilt is simply a pressure fitting, where the tang is wound with thread, however, sometimes an old hilt can be difficult to remove for one reason or another, so I suggest that if the hilt will not turn off fairly easily, that you don't force it at this stage, just provide a couple of pics where we can see the shape of the gonjo on either side of the hilt. That should be sufficient.

The re-stain process can be a bit difficult, and to do it properly, you need a pretty high committment as well as access to arsenic, however, you may find that if you remove the hilt, give the blade a thorough wash with a toothbrush, hot water and detergent , then soak in ordinary household vinegar for a day or so, that you will be able to see the pamor clearly. It won't be as good as a proper restain, but it could well serve the purpose for you. Make sure to kill the vinegar by painting on a slurry of bicarbonate of soda, rinsing thoroughly and drying thoroughly, then drench with WD40 when you're finished.

Marcokeris · 24th February 2010, 12:53 AM

A very nice well made rather old and unusual handle. Without doubts a very good carver

schmoozer · 24th February 2010, 12:55 AM

got it off, some old wrapping around the tang.
Once I got it off I noticed there is a definite offset in the axis of the tang and the blade. I read that the blade was supposed to point slightly downward when held level? If that is so, I think maybe my hilt was on 180-degrees off?

That level of cleaning I am up to...

A. G. Maisey · 24th February 2010, 01:48 AM

Thanks schmoozer.

We really need to look straight down onto the top of the gonjo, because the angled shots do not always give a correct impression of the outline or the proportion.

We need to see the shape of the thick end of the gonjo (the sirah cecak), but we also need to see the outline of the top of the gonjo between the tang and thin end of the gonjo.This is important, because if there is even the slightest inward curve in the line of the gonjo here, it is not Tuban.

Can you confirm that the line along the sides of the top of the gonjo, between the mid-point of the tang, and the thin end of the gonjo does not have any curve in it?

23rd February 2010, 06:32 PM	#1
schmoozer Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Seattle, Wa. USA Posts: 12	First Keris for me I live in Seattle Washington area, USA. I normally buy and sell straight razors, and sometimes knives as a hobby. I recently bought a group of razors from the previous owner's grandson. He also had a lot of interesting knives that I ended up buying, only recognizing a few, taking a gamble on the remainder. At first I passed this off as a tourist piece, not knowing anything about the keris. Looking later I found the date of 1848 on the hilt, which pushed me over the edge into researching the keris. I sent pictures to numerous people I found on the Internet and eBay, got back some good responses. A dealer in Indonesia gave me the most detailed opinion, which I will share. (I do not know if he is a member here or not.) Madurese Donoriko hilt, the date looks authentic. Blade - Tuban period, Pamor - Ngulit Semangka Warngka - Ladrang Jawa Timuran style The keris is 20" long with a 16" blade. I have seen many different blade patterns and finishes but few if any similar to mine. Does mine need to be treated somehow to recover the original finish? Or is it the original finish? He mentioned how the wrangka is replaced when needed, on the Suroan ceremony. The sheath has some missing wood but I would like to keep the hilt. Is there a location in the US where I could get this replaced in a traditional manner? I have spent many hours poring over this site but my language barrier prevents it from sticking very well.. I appreciate any and all comments, Regards, Brad Attached Images

23rd February 2010, 08:05 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,262	Made that picture of the crest a bit bigger . Attached Images

23rd February 2010, 09:11 PM	#3
schmoozer Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Seattle, Wa. USA Posts: 12	more pics of the hilt My first thought was that the hilt was plastic... Attached Images

23rd February 2010, 10:03 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,697	This is respectable old keris, and it would not be out of place in any collection. You have been given a classification of Tuban. It is very difficult in most cases to affix a classification to a keris from photographs. This one could possibly be Tuban, most likely Tuban-Mataram, indicated by the way in which the ganja widens as it moves to the thinner side of the blade. (the ganja is the separate, mechanically fixed piece of steel at the base of the blade). Determination of classification depends upon weight of evidence provided by a number of indicators. One of those indicators which is very important is the shape of the top of the ganja. Would it be possible to provide a photograph looking straight down onto the base of the blade, as in the example I have posted? Blade classification , or tangguh, is only an opinion, and it is an opinion that can alter according to the school of study with which one is associated. It can give an indication of blade age, but except in a few very limited contexts, it cannot give a true blade age. The pattern on the surface of the blade is what we call "pamor". The pamor in this blade appears to be the most usually encountered one, "wos wutah" (scattered rice grains). It is a random pattern, that is, essentially uncontrolled by the smith, and as such no other will be precisely the same. To read this pamor well, the blade needs to be stained; much will be found in this site that deals with blade staining. Regarding the scabbard, or wrongko ( wrangka, warangka). I would not replace this. The large chip that is visible in the photos can be easily repaired, and the smaller chips around the edges can be cleaned up a little. If the piece of wood used for the repair were to be carefully chosen so that it had a tight grain and was very dark, perhaps even stained black, when this scabbard was repolished, nothing would look out of place, and the original dress would be retained, which in a case such as this is always a plus. My approach could vary with a more valuable blade, but with a good, honest utilitarian blade such as this one is, I'd do my best to keep it all original. Bear this in mind:- the attitude of collectors in the western world varies very considerably to that of collectors within Indonesia. Most Indonesian collectors would regard this wrongko as not much more than junk, and replace it with the finest new one they could afford, however, many western collectors do not like this approach, and prefer to repair, restore and retain an old wrongko, if this is possible. My approach falls between the two. For a fine blade I prefer to replace a damaged wrongko; for an average or middle of the road blade I prefer to repair the old wrongko if this is possible. Attached Images

24th February 2010, 12:16 AM	#10
schmoozer Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Seattle, Wa. USA Posts: 12	1848, new picture. OK, so I get it off and take the picture. How do I reattach it? Probably won't get to this until the wekend... Attached Images

23rd February 2010, 09:47 PM	#4
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	A lovely maduran keris to start with. Congrats on this find. I would leave the dress as it is. If possible the blade could be etched in the traditional way with warangan.

23rd February 2010, 10:21 PM	#6
schmoozer Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Seattle, Wa. USA Posts: 12	In your picture it appears that the hilt has been removed? What is the best way to do that without damaging it? Is there someone in the Pacific Northwest region who could restore the blade? I have read the process but do not feel comfortable doing it myself just yet.

24th February 2010, 12:27 AM	#11
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,697	Very often a hilt is simply a pressure fitting, where the tang is wound with thread, however, sometimes an old hilt can be difficult to remove for one reason or another, so I suggest that if the hilt will not turn off fairly easily, that you don't force it at this stage, just provide a couple of pics where we can see the shape of the gonjo on either side of the hilt. That should be sufficient. The re-stain process can be a bit difficult, and to do it properly, you need a pretty high committment as well as access to arsenic, however, you may find that if you remove the hilt, give the blade a thorough wash with a toothbrush, hot water and detergent , then soak in ordinary household vinegar for a day or so, that you will be able to see the pamor clearly. It won't be as good as a proper restain, but it could well serve the purpose for you. Make sure to kill the vinegar by painting on a slurry of bicarbonate of soda, rinsing thoroughly and drying thoroughly, then drench with WD40 when you're finished.

24th February 2010, 12:53 AM	#12
Marcokeris Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 928	A very nice well made rather old and unusual handle. Without doubts a very good carver

24th February 2010, 12:55 AM	#13
schmoozer Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Seattle, Wa. USA Posts: 12	Success got it off, some old wrapping around the tang. Once I got it off I noticed there is a definite offset in the axis of the tang and the blade. I read that the blade was supposed to point slightly downward when held level? If that is so, I think maybe my hilt was on 180-degrees off? That level of cleaning I am up to... Attached Images

24th February 2010, 01:48 AM	#14
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,697	Thanks schmoozer. We really need to look straight down onto the top of the gonjo, because the angled shots do not always give a correct impression of the outline or the proportion. We need to see the shape of the thick end of the gonjo (the sirah cecak), but we also need to see the outline of the top of the gonjo between the tang and thin end of the gonjo.This is important, because if there is even the slightest inward curve in the line of the gonjo here, it is not Tuban. Can you confirm that the line along the sides of the top of the gonjo, between the mid-point of the tang, and the thin end of the gonjo does not have any curve in it?