Interesting big sized javanese keris

A. G. Maisey · 2nd May 2010, 03:43 AM

Only the one, I think, David.

Its a very recent timber, dating from probably only about the late 1970's. At that time it started to be planted all over Jawa to green the environment, then a few people tried the trunk base and root area of the tree for wrongkos, and found that it was most suitable for this use. Its not an expensive wood, but it has much to recommend it as a wrongko wood, and at its best the figure will rival any of the traditional woods.

Actually, a lot of people I know refer to wattles as acacias.

I've been around wood all my life, and when I was a kid I had the opportunity to see some truly exquisite cabinet timbers, both native Australian timbers, and exotics that were often in pieces that my dad had in for repair. In fact, I've still got a 1930's bespoke bedroom suite in Italian burl walnut, which has some of the best figure I've ever seen. I've been up close to the custom gunstock game, the custom knife game, and also to wrongko makers and hilt makers in Jawa. However, with all this experience, I don't consider myself at all competent to identify most timbers just from a picture, especially a picture on a computer screen. A few materials are probably pretty easy, but the vast bulk are not. Even with the wood in your hand it can often be very difficult to name what it is that you're holding.

2nd May 2010, 03:43 AM	#39
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,019	Only the one, I think, David. Its a very recent timber, dating from probably only about the late 1970's. At that time it started to be planted all over Jawa to green the environment, then a few people tried the trunk base and root area of the tree for wrongkos, and found that it was most suitable for this use. Its not an expensive wood, but it has much to recommend it as a wrongko wood, and at its best the figure will rival any of the traditional woods. Actually, a lot of people I know refer to wattles as acacias. I've been around wood all my life, and when I was a kid I had the opportunity to see some truly exquisite cabinet timbers, both native Australian timbers, and exotics that were often in pieces that my dad had in for repair. In fact, I've still got a 1930's bespoke bedroom suite in Italian burl walnut, which has some of the best figure I've ever seen. I've been up close to the custom gunstock game, the custom knife game, and also to wrongko makers and hilt makers in Jawa. However, with all this experience, I don't consider myself at all competent to identify most timbers just from a picture, especially a picture on a computer screen. A few materials are probably pretty easy, but the vast bulk are not. Even with the wood in your hand it can often be very difficult to name what it is that you're holding.