Worth Repairing or Not?

drac2k · 5th June 2023, 04:49 PM

Once again I am grateful for all of the comments! The replies to my post have been very educational to me.
My plan of action will be(God Willing), to carry the Kris to the Baltimore Show next year and search out a proper handle and possibly a scabbard with the guidance (hopefully), of some of the forum members who I have met there before. At the show, there is a vendor whose father married an Indonesian woman many years ago, who made many trips to her country and brought back literally tons of items; he has passed, but his son, has taken over his spot; he is knowledgeable, he has loads of inventory, and he is reasonable.
Once I have found a handle, I will not discard the old one but rather put it in a drawer until if and/or when an opportunity should present itself for its rehabilitation.
Having a sheath, while nice, isn't of great importance to me, however, I have noted the spirituality that the Kris, in general, is held by the Forum Community and I am wondering if I am committing some breach of etiquette by not having a scabbard?

Sajen · 6th June 2023, 06:15 AM

Here you can see an old blade from my collection I've given a "new" old sarung (scabbard): http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=keris+kebo

Regards,
Detlef

A. G. Maisey · 6th June 2023, 07:39 AM

David, the degree to which this gonjo is proud of the wrongko is in my opinion not really any sort of inadequacy. In Solo a blade that is a perfect fit in the dry season can look pretty much like your keris in the wet season.

Keris that I have packed in Solo that have been a perfect fit in the wrongko when packed have looked like yours after a few weeks in Australia.

Wood moves. It is natural & normal.

Take your keris into the Mexican desert it might become a perfect fit.

Actually, in very old keris, the normal fit was for the gonjo to be proud of the wrongko, just as many Bugis style keris still are.

5th June 2023, 04:49 PM	#1
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,269	Once again I am grateful for all of the comments! The replies to my post have been very educational to me. My plan of action will be(God Willing), to carry the Kris to the Baltimore Show next year and search out a proper handle and possibly a scabbard with the guidance (hopefully), of some of the forum members who I have met there before. At the show, there is a vendor whose father married an Indonesian woman many years ago, who made many trips to her country and brought back literally tons of items; he has passed, but his son, has taken over his spot; he is knowledgeable, he has loads of inventory, and he is reasonable. Once I have found a handle, I will not discard the old one but rather put it in a drawer until if and/or when an opportunity should present itself for its rehabilitation. Having a sheath, while nice, isn't of great importance to me, however, I have noted the spirituality that the Kris, in general, is held by the Forum Community and I am wondering if I am committing some breach of etiquette by not having a scabbard? Last edited by drac2k; 5th June 2023 at 05:47 PM. Reason: to add proper context

6th June 2023, 06:15 AM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,272	Here you can see an old blade from my collection I've given a "new" old sarung (scabbard): http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=keris+kebo Regards, Detlef Attached Images

6th June 2023, 07:39 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,048	David, the degree to which this gonjo is proud of the wrongko is in my opinion not really any sort of inadequacy. In Solo a blade that is a perfect fit in the dry season can look pretty much like your keris in the wet season. Keris that I have packed in Solo that have been a perfect fit in the wrongko when packed have looked like yours after a few weeks in Australia. Wood moves. It is natural & normal. Take your keris into the Mexican desert it might become a perfect fit. Actually, in very old keris, the normal fit was for the gonjo to be proud of the wrongko, just as many Bugis style keris still are.