Unusual figural hilt

[Rick]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Personally I doubt that it is a keris hilt.

A ferrule like this is very, very non-typical for a keris hilt. But it could be a keris hilt, a person who was outside the mainstream may have carved and fitted it.

It looks more like nondescript knife/dagger/tool handle than a keris hilt.

If I could handle it I could form a better opinion, from a photo these things are always difficult.

I'd bet it was originally made as a handle for a betel nut chisel.