WHICH SUNDANG?

A. G. Maisey · 2nd April 2010, 01:15 AM

That half-round cut is where you would expect to find a keyway.

There are a number of possible explanations for it being there, but we cannot really say with any certainty why it is there.

If the blade is truly old and genuine, something that from the photos I am inclined to doubt, the original fit of ganja to pesi may have been done with keyway and key (pin), on the other hand, if it is not old and genuine, perhaps the maker may have tried to fit with a key, but found he had made the ganja hole insufficiently neat to allow a key fitting, so he resorted to using a slip, or a wedge of metal, as we can see.

ganjawulung · 2nd April 2010, 03:03 AM

Thanks, for the explanation Alan,
It is still difficult to convince me that this blade is not old. The light material I feel in my hand is one thing, and the "wasuhan" (quenching) technique of the upper blade is another thing. And I am still quite sure too, that this not "maduran sundang". Except, if one trace the origin of this blade from the warangka, and not from the blade...

GANJAWULUNG

A. G. Maisey · 2nd April 2010, 04:57 AM

Pak Ganja, you have it in your hand.

Without doubt other experienced people would have seen the actual blade and given an opinion.

All we can see here is an image on a computer screen.

Based on that image I have the impression that this blade is recent, but it is more than probable that were I to hold it in my hand I would reverse that opinion.

In many cases the use for photos displayed on computer screens is worse than useless for any meaningful comment on a keris.The best we can hope for when we comment based on computer images is an impression created by that image, and the image is no substitute for the real thing.

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2nd April 2010, 01:15 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,048	That half-round cut is where you would expect to find a keyway. There are a number of possible explanations for it being there, but we cannot really say with any certainty why it is there. If the blade is truly old and genuine, something that from the photos I am inclined to doubt, the original fit of ganja to pesi may have been done with keyway and key (pin), on the other hand, if it is not old and genuine, perhaps the maker may have tried to fit with a key, but found he had made the ganja hole insufficiently neat to allow a key fitting, so he resorted to using a slip, or a wedge of metal, as we can see.

2nd April 2010, 03:03 AM	#2
ganjawulung Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: J a k a r t a Posts: 991	Thanks, for the explanation Alan, It is still difficult to convince me that this blade is not old. The light material I feel in my hand is one thing, and the "wasuhan" (quenching) technique of the upper blade is another thing. And I am still quite sure too, that this not "maduran sundang". Except, if one trace the origin of this blade from the warangka, and not from the blade... GANJAWULUNG

2nd April 2010, 04:57 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,048	Pak Ganja, you have it in your hand. Without doubt other experienced people would have seen the actual blade and given an opinion. All we can see here is an image on a computer screen. Based on that image I have the impression that this blade is recent, but it is more than probable that were I to hold it in my hand I would reverse that opinion. In many cases the use for photos displayed on computer screens is worse than useless for any meaningful comment on a keris.The best we can hope for when we comment based on computer images is an impression created by that image, and the image is no substitute for the real thing.