Repurposed Something or Another Knife?

RobT · 21st November 2025, 07:38 PM

drac2k,

A photo of one of the serpentine keris cengkrong I posted shows it with a Surakarta style hilt and mendak. If you wish to rehilt your blade, perhaps Alan Maisey could weigh in to confirm that what you have is a keris rather than a pedang and also to recommend appropriate hilts/mendaks.

Sincerely,
RobT

A. G. Maisey · 21st November 2025, 10:26 PM

Thank you RobT, for your prompt for me to comment on this implement under discussion.

I'm sorry, but although the overall form of this implement does imply some sort of influence from Javanese forms, I cannot recognise any elements of the workmanship involved and I really have no foundation upon which to make any relevant comment.

Again, my apologies for being unable to comment.

drac2k · 22nd November 2025, 02:58 PM

Thank you all for your insightful comments.I think , based upon what I have heard here,is that at one time this was a nice Kris, however through time, misuse, or even it having been acquired by a different ethnicity, it has been heavily altered as evidenced by the missing ganja, the crude handle, etc..There may even have been some blade modification.
Without an illustration of an exact match, I think I would do more harm trying to restore it into something I want it to be as opposed to what it is.

A. G. Maisey · 23rd November 2025, 12:17 AM

Yes, it might have been made from a repurposed blade, or it could also have been made from any piece of ferric material that was of adequate size to accommodate the design. I can see no evidence in the photos that might indicate that the material used is of laminated construction, so that in itself does limit possible sources.

21st November 2025, 07:38 PM	#1
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 604	Surakarta Hilt & Mendak drac2k, A photo of one of the serpentine keris cengkrong I posted shows it with a Surakarta style hilt and mendak. If you wish to rehilt your blade, perhaps Alan Maisey could weigh in to confirm that what you have is a keris rather than a pedang and also to recommend appropriate hilts/mendaks. Sincerely, RobT

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

21st November 2025, 10:26 PM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,154	Thank you RobT, for your prompt for me to comment on this implement under discussion. I'm sorry, but although the overall form of this implement does imply some sort of influence from Javanese forms, I cannot recognise any elements of the workmanship involved and I really have no foundation upon which to make any relevant comment. Again, my apologies for being unable to comment.

22nd November 2025, 02:58 PM	#3
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,313	Thank you all for your insightful comments.I think , based upon what I have heard here,is that at one time this was a nice Kris, however through time, misuse, or even it having been acquired by a different ethnicity, it has been heavily altered as evidenced by the missing ganja, the crude handle, etc..There may even have been some blade modification. Without an illustration of an exact match, I think I would do more harm trying to restore it into something I want it to be as opposed to what it is.

23rd November 2025, 12:17 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,154	Yes, it might have been made from a repurposed blade, or it could also have been made from any piece of ferric material that was of adequate size to accommodate the design. I can see no evidence in the photos that might indicate that the material used is of laminated construction, so that in itself does limit possible sources.