Keris Luk Identification / Comments

GregR57 · 22nd May 2026, 03:48 PM

I bought a collection of Keris recently. This is my favorite. I would appreciate any feedback from this forum. I found this forum really helpful. Please let me know what you think. Thanks!

A. G. Maisey · 24th May 2026, 01:29 AM

Greg, when I am faced with a question that is phrased as a request for a broad ranging commentary I invariably ask for the person who needs information to rephrase his question in a form where he asks a specific question about a specific aspect of the item concerned.

If you could do this I will be pleased to try to provide some answers, & I believe other members of this forum would be equally pleased to try to assist.

GregR57 · 24th May 2026, 04:50 PM

Thanks for the feedback A.G. I'm new to this and the terminology... Some research I'm trying to sort out:

The Wilah seems to be very old. 13 Luk? Great details and smells like sandalwood. Do you think this is a reproduction? Age relative to the Pendok? Quality of the Naga at the base?

The Warangka Pendok has what looks like a royal crest and is inscribed "2602" which I think refers to 1942, the Japanese Imperial Year. Do you think this was a royal commission? There is a date inscribed on the Sampir "1807". So I'm confused about the age.

The Hulu I think may be Buta Bajang / Crouching Guardian. What do you think?

Finally, does the Wilah match the age of the "clothing"?

Thanks for your consideration.

David · 25th May 2026, 07:04 PM

Hi Greg. Welcome to the forum. Just a moderator note:
Please note that you are still a member under moderation so you posts do not automatically appear on this page. We try to check for new posts daily so please be patient and do not repost because you did not see post immediately appear on the forum. We will get to you, i promise. Thanks!

Rick · 26th May 2026, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregR57

Do you think this is a reproduction?

I'm not sure what you mean by this, Greg.

Is this a reproduction keris?
This is new work, but not a reproduction; I think you refer to age rather than authenticity.

David · 26th May 2026, 03:28 AM

There's that keris again Rick! I do like that ensemble.

Gustav · 26th May 2026, 10:50 AM

Looks like an older sheath and Mendak have been reused to hold a post-1980ties blade and hilt.
(This is about the original Keris of this thread).

A. G. Maisey · 31st May 2026, 06:05 AM

Sorry it has taken me a while to respond to your questions Greg.

The blade is not old, it is post 1980.It appears to be of nice quality relative to age & type.

It is not a reproduction, keris are still actively produced in a number of places in Indonesia, most production is targeted at the local market. The keris is a required item of formal dress, so there is an active market for this artefact today. This blade was made in East Jawa, very probably in Madura, & if in Madura, most likely in the village of Aeng Tong-Tong.

The 2602 number could as well refer 2602 of our current Gregorian calendar. This number seems to have been inscribed in a rather peculiar way, it might not be a date at all, it could easily have some other purpose. One thing we can be fairly certain of is that 2602 has nothing at all to do with Japan.

The same can be said for the number 1807, we cannot have any idea at all what that number means, but personally, I would never wish to understand it as a date.

The crest appears to be the crest of the Jogja Kraton (ie, Ngayogyakarta Kraton). It is very common for Kraton & other crests to appear on the reverse face of a pendok, this most definitely is not any indication of a kraton or royal connection. Its a bit like the way a lot of people will wear the pullovers of their favourite football team or whatever, it simply indicates a personal support for the team, in this case it supports the idea of the kraton as a cultural leader.

Buta Bajang is as good a name as any for the hilt. Other people might well use different names, but Buta Bajang is OK.

Blade & pendok I consider to be current era. I am unable to estimate the age of the atasan (sampir) of the wrongko, I think it it most likely current era, but I would need to handle it to be sure, it is well sculpted & from a nice piece of pelet wood, I think I'd probably opt to name this pelet motif as nyamel, but others might have different ideas.

The separate elements of this complete keris appear to be of mid-quality current era production. The hilt makes it unwearable with Jogja formal dress, but as a collectable item, the complete keris presents well. To allow it to be worn as an item of Jogja formal dress the hilt would need to be changed to the Jogja nunggak semi style.

The mendak is a style that has been in use for many years, however, mendak of exactly this same style are still being made today. The gemstones are rose-cut rock crystal, a stone we call "yakut". I believe this mendak is very likely current era too.

22nd May 2026, 03:48 PM	#1
GregR57 Member Join Date: May 2026 Posts: 2	Keris Luk Identification / Comments I bought a collection of Keris recently. This is my favorite. I would appreciate any feedback from this forum. I found this forum really helpful. Please let me know what you think. Thanks! Attached Images

24th May 2026, 04:50 PM	#3
GregR57 Member Join Date: May 2026 Posts: 2	Questions for the forum Thanks for the feedback A.G. I'm new to this and the terminology... Some research I'm trying to sort out: The Wilah seems to be very old. 13 Luk? Great details and smells like sandalwood. Do you think this is a reproduction? Age relative to the Pendok? Quality of the Naga at the base? The Warangka Pendok has what looks like a royal crest and is inscribed "2602" which I think refers to 1942, the Japanese Imperial Year. Do you think this was a royal commission? There is a date inscribed on the Sampir "1807". So I'm confused about the age. The Hulu I think may be Buta Bajang / Crouching Guardian. What do you think? Finally, does the Wilah match the age of the "clothing"? Thanks for your consideration.

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24th May 2026, 01:29 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,225	Greg, when I am faced with a question that is phrased as a request for a broad ranging commentary I invariably ask for the person who needs information to rephrase his question in a form where he asks a specific question about a specific aspect of the item concerned. If you could do this I will be pleased to try to provide some answers, & I believe other members of this forum would be equally pleased to try to assist.

25th May 2026, 07:04 PM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,296	Hi Greg. Welcome to the forum. Just a moderator note: Please note that you are still a member under moderation so you posts do not automatically appear on this page. We try to check for new posts daily so please be patient and do not repost because you did not see post immediately appear on the forum. We will get to you, i promise. Thanks!

26th May 2026, 03:28 AM	#6
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,296	There's that keris again Rick! I do like that ensemble.

26th May 2026, 10:50 AM	#7
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,341	Looks like an older sheath and Mendak have been reused to hold a post-1980ties blade and hilt. (This is about the original Keris of this thread).

31st May 2026, 06:05 AM	#8
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,225	Sorry it has taken me a while to respond to your questions Greg. The blade is not old, it is post 1980.It appears to be of nice quality relative to age & type. It is not a reproduction, keris are still actively produced in a number of places in Indonesia, most production is targeted at the local market. The keris is a required item of formal dress, so there is an active market for this artefact today. This blade was made in East Jawa, very probably in Madura, & if in Madura, most likely in the village of Aeng Tong-Tong. The 2602 number could as well refer 2602 of our current Gregorian calendar. This number seems to have been inscribed in a rather peculiar way, it might not be a date at all, it could easily have some other purpose. One thing we can be fairly certain of is that 2602 has nothing at all to do with Japan. The same can be said for the number 1807, we cannot have any idea at all what that number means, but personally, I would never wish to understand it as a date. The crest appears to be the crest of the Jogja Kraton (ie, Ngayogyakarta Kraton). It is very common for Kraton & other crests to appear on the reverse face of a pendok, this most definitely is not any indication of a kraton or royal connection. Its a bit like the way a lot of people will wear the pullovers of their favourite football team or whatever, it simply indicates a personal support for the team, in this case it supports the idea of the kraton as a cultural leader. Buta Bajang is as good a name as any for the hilt. Other people might well use different names, but Buta Bajang is OK. Blade & pendok I consider to be current era. I am unable to estimate the age of the atasan (sampir) of the wrongko, I think it it most likely current era, but I would need to handle it to be sure, it is well sculpted & from a nice piece of pelet wood, I think I'd probably opt to name this pelet motif as nyamel, but others might have different ideas. The separate elements of this complete keris appear to be of mid-quality current era production. The hilt makes it unwearable with Jogja formal dress, but as a collectable item, the complete keris presents well. To allow it to be worn as an item of Jogja formal dress the hilt would need to be changed to the Jogja nunggak semi style. The mendak is a style that has been in use for many years, however, mendak of exactly this same style are still being made today. The gemstones are rose-cut rock crystal, a stone we call "yakut". I believe this mendak is very likely current era too.