My Bugis keris

Johan van Zyl · 23rd October 2016, 12:58 PM

Rasdan, thank you. What still confuses me a bit (and it is nobody fault, because a keris does not have its place of origin printed on it for all eyes to see) is this: it has been suggested this Bugis keris blade comes from either Riau Lingga, or the Straits, or the Peninsula, or Sumatra. Simple minded me of course wants to have the origin pinned down to a few square miles, but I know that to be laughable! Fact is, these places are all in relatively close proximity to one another. What description do you suggest, can I give this Bugis keris: it is a Bugis keris from where? Is there an umbrella-like term that one can use to describe its origin?

And about something else: can you help me understand how my blade tip had been reshapen by someone in the past? To my inexperienced eyes it looks "normal"! Did some metal get removed?
Cheers
Johan

rasdan · 23rd October 2016, 02:25 PM

You're welcome Johan..

This type of blade can be found in Peninsula, Sumatra and Sulawesi. However I am inclined to say that it is peninsular due to the greneng. But, I cannot provide any evidence for this. In other words, I would rather keep it to myself. IMHO the safest description is probably "A Bugis Keris" - a very open description. The narrower the description, the higher the chance that it will raise questions.

The tip looks like it had been filed. You can see towards the tip the baja area is shiny with no pittings/erosions like other part of the blade. Also, it looks a bit off. Probably the tip was broken in the past. Not much, probably around 5 mm.

David · 23rd October 2016, 05:07 PM

Frankly Johan, from my perspective, it would be more of a shame if this keris still had a broken tip that was not reshaped. This stuff does happen from time to time and it is acceptable in a number of keris cultures to reshape a blade when it is necessary.

Johan van Zyl · 24th October 2016, 11:10 AM

Much obliged, David & Rasdan!
Johan

23rd October 2016, 05:07 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,261	Frankly Johan, from my perspective, it would be more of a shame if this keris still had a broken tip that was not reshaped. This stuff does happen from time to time and it is acceptable in a number of keris cultures to reshape a blade when it is necessary. Last edited by David; 24th October 2016 at 05:06 PM.

23rd October 2016, 12:58 PM	#1
Johan van Zyl Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: I live in Gordon's Bay, a village in the Western Cape Province in South Africa. Posts: 126	Rasdan, thank you. What still confuses me a bit (and it is nobody fault, because a keris does not have its place of origin printed on it for all eyes to see) is this: it has been suggested this Bugis keris blade comes from either Riau Lingga, or the Straits, or the Peninsula, or Sumatra. Simple minded me of course wants to have the origin pinned down to a few square miles, but I know that to be laughable! Fact is, these places are all in relatively close proximity to one another. What description do you suggest, can I give this Bugis keris: it is a Bugis keris from where? Is there an umbrella-like term that one can use to describe its origin? And about something else: can you help me understand how my blade tip had been reshapen by someone in the past? To my inexperienced eyes it looks "normal"! Did some metal get removed? Cheers Johan

23rd October 2016, 02:25 PM	#2
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 369	You're welcome Johan.. This type of blade can be found in Peninsula, Sumatra and Sulawesi. However I am inclined to say that it is peninsular due to the greneng. But, I cannot provide any evidence for this. In other words, I would rather keep it to myself. IMHO the safest description is probably "A Bugis Keris" - a very open description. The narrower the description, the higher the chance that it will raise questions. The tip looks like it had been filed. You can see towards the tip the baja area is shiny with no pittings/erosions like other part of the blade. Also, it looks a bit off. Probably the tip was broken in the past. Not much, probably around 5 mm.

24th October 2016, 11:10 AM	#4
Johan van Zyl Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: I live in Gordon's Bay, a village in the Western Cape Province in South Africa. Posts: 126	Much obliged, David & Rasdan! Johan