A whole lot of keris!

Lew · 15th December 2005, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nechesh

Yeah Lew, i was watching that one too. If i had the time that could have made a very nice winter restoration project.

I think in the end the buyer did OK as it looks like there are a couple of nice blades in there. The Bali w/the hair wrapped hilt looks solid and would probably clean up nice. The hardest part, for Western collectors at least, is replacing sheaths. I think one would have a real tough time piecing together even one good wrongko from those parts.

Nechesh

I am the buyer

I was really interested in the Bali keris and the other two large blades they should keep me busy this winter. The leather scabbard seems to be made for the Bali keris very strange? Maybe the keris was carried around by some westerner for hunting or even during WW1 or 2 as a combat dagger?? Did the Dutch soldiers carry these keris at one time early in the 20th century?

Lew

nechesh · 15th December 2005, 06:18 PM

Hey Lew, i wouldn't count on that leather sheath being nearly that old. I think it is just something some Western collector gerry-rigged to do the job. It looks like there may be a few other interesting keris in there but i don't think the others are Bali. I will be interestred in the close-ups when your package arrives.

kai · 15th December 2005, 10:31 PM

Hi Lew,

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Did the Dutch soldiers carry these keris at one time early in the 20th century?

AFAIK the Dutch army never issued military keris - as evinced by the widespread notion of it being an unsuitable weapon amongst outsiders, I guess it was never thought worthy by the Dutch military leaders. I'm not sure wether Indonesian recruits were allowed to carry their own keris as an back-up. If so, I'm pretty sure this would have been a traditional scabbard and not leather. This leather piece looks pretty intact and hasn't seen much use in tropical climate (if any - I also guess this was done in Europe).

Regards,
Kai

Henk · 16th December 2005, 07:13 AM

The dutch soldiers didn't used the keris. Neither the Indonesian soldiers in the KNIL service. The klewang or the bajonet was the weapon when firearms weren't used. Keris or other weapons were not permitted to wear with the uniform.

Of course in the heat of the battle a weapon could be picked up for temporarily use.

BluErf · 17th December 2005, 01:03 AM

Wow, that's a lot of keris projects to keep busy for a long while.

Lew, could you pls post close-up pics of the 5th blade from the top when the shipment arrives? I think that is one of the best blades in the lot. 2 shallow fullers running to the tip, good greneng, strong spine, handsome gandik, and a good size too. I think it could be Sumatran, or possibly Malay.

Thanks!

Ferguson · 17th December 2005, 01:22 AM

Nice snag Lew, You're going to be busy!

Steve

Lew · 10th January 2006, 04:14 AM

Hi All

The keris arrived today and here are a few pics. Let me know what you think?
The blade at the bottom is 14" the othe two are 15" the bali keris is 17" long.
They all show some nice pamor that needs to be brought out.

Lew

17th December 2005, 01:03 AM	#5
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Wow, that's a lot of keris projects to keep busy for a long while. Lew, could you pls post close-up pics of the 5th blade from the top when the shipment arrives? I think that is one of the best blades in the lot. 2 shallow fullers running to the tip, good greneng, strong spine, handsome gandik, and a good size too. I think it could be Sumatran, or possibly Malay. Thanks! Last edited by BluErf; 17th December 2005 at 02:36 AM.

10th January 2006, 04:14 AM	#7
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi All The keris arrived today and here are a few pics. Let me know what you think? The blade at the bottom is 14" the othe two are 15" the bali keris is 17" long. They all show some nice pamor that needs to be brought out. Lew Attached Images

15th December 2005, 06:18 PM	#2
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Hey Lew, i wouldn't count on that leather sheath being nearly that old. I think it is just something some Western collector gerry-rigged to do the job. It looks like there may be a few other interesting keris in there but i don't think the others are Bali. I will be interestred in the close-ups when your package arrives.

16th December 2005, 07:13 AM	#4
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	The dutch soldiers didn't used the keris. Neither the Indonesian soldiers in the KNIL service. The klewang or the bajonet was the weapon when firearms weren't used. Keris or other weapons were not permitted to wear with the uniform. Of course in the heat of the battle a weapon could be picked up for temporarily use.

17th December 2005, 01:22 AM	#6
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Nice snag Lew, You're going to be busy! Steve