Sumatran kris

AHite · 4th May 2025, 02:22 PM

My comment about the edge sharpness of this blade is just an observation. However it happened the edges are very sharp, despite all of the erosion of the surface.

I am not sure where I would source the appropriate ring. I had the suspicion that it was missing one, based on the photos of similar keris I have looked at. Also, how is the handle supposed to be aligned? Thanks for the information!

Andrew Hite

milandro · 4th May 2025, 09:28 PM

the hilt should be turned 180º, in other words it has to face the other way around. Please observe other Javanese krises on the forum and you will understand how to turn it.

The Mendak or as you say " ring" can be purchased there are many sellers who sell rings of many types. You need one which would go on a a Keris like this please take a look here

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=madura+mendak

David · 4th May 2025, 10:50 PM

I tend to agree with Rasdan on the blade origin. Certainly not Sumatran. Blade is most likely 19th century. It is difficult to know if the wrongko is original to the blade based upon your photos. How well does the blade fit into the sheath? I would think it is unlikely that the hilt is original to this keris since this is a Surakarta form of planar hilt that would not be a natural fit for it.
You can find both new and used mendhaks fairly easily in places like eBay. And yes, the hilt should be turned 180º for a proper orientation.

A. G. Maisey · 5th May 2025, 02:33 AM

I'd be inclined to think of this keris as "generic Javanese".

As Rasdan has said, blade is most likely East Jawa, maybe Madura.

The wrongko could be from anywhere, when I see these slightly fatter gayamans I tend to think of Banyumas, but I've seen the same or similar from along the North Coast of Jawa, & the far East of Jawa, around Banyuwangi.

The hilt is a Javanese planar hilt, stylistically very possibly Surakarta, but again it could be from anywhere, East Jawa uses this planar style also, & it actually originated in Cirebon. Photographs can often distort the true form of a subject, and this hilt looks a bit to short and bunkul a bit too heavy for Jawa Tengah.

In any case, a pretty nice old "every man's" keris, well worth a bit of effort to give it a facelift.

milandro · 5th May 2025, 09:13 AM

I have a similar looking blade (also of some age) on a Bugis dress, cross contamination of blades and dress are very common and not necessarily the product of foul play. It still happens and happened in the past too.

A. G. Maisey · 5th May 2025, 12:44 PM

Jawa was a big exporter of weapon blades for a very long time & over a very big area. We can expect to find weapon blades that were made in Jawa in many places.

Pak Daud · 29th May 2025, 09:23 AM

Greetings Gentlemen,
If I may post a comment upon this Keris, is a mixmatched between several "pakem" or I sould say "langgam" (perceived style). Obviously this keris blade was forged using langgam East Jawa/Madura. But to my best guess, that it have a tendency toward Madura. Since the Pamor is "Nggajih- ngambang" (floating and staggered as in animal's raw fat). I can not tell if keris was forged using two-toned pamor, until it was dipped in warangan to show pamor's gradation. The resemble of "tikel alis", is a tad off from "pejetan", I suspect that this practice was meant to uppen the offered price, from regular Keris Brojol.
Scabbard is standard Gayaman, with kind of thick upper head, I think it's Ponorogo style. Hilt is obviously Surakartan, for commoner (abangan) since it has no intricate details. No "mendak" (ring).
Thus far, even if the Keris was OK, it's kind of "owahan" (modified). But surely sufficient for beginers to have one.
But again, sincere appology if I made wrong interpretations.

4th May 2025, 02:22 PM	#1
AHite Member Join Date: Dec 2022 Posts: 64	My comment about the edge sharpness of this blade is just an observation. However it happened the edges are very sharp, despite all of the erosion of the surface. I am not sure where I would source the appropriate ring. I had the suspicion that it was missing one, based on the photos of similar keris I have looked at. Also, how is the handle supposed to be aligned? Thanks for the information! Andrew Hite

4th May 2025, 09:28 PM	#2
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 492	the hilt should be turned 180º, in other words it has to face the other way around. Please observe other Javanese krises on the forum and you will understand how to turn it. The Mendak or as you say " ring" can be purchased there are many sellers who sell rings of many types. You need one which would go on a a Keris like this please take a look here http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=madura+mendak

4th May 2025, 10:50 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	I tend to agree with Rasdan on the blade origin. Certainly not Sumatran. Blade is most likely 19th century. It is difficult to know if the wrongko is original to the blade based upon your photos. How well does the blade fit into the sheath? I would think it is unlikely that the hilt is original to this keris since this is a Surakarta form of planar hilt that would not be a natural fit for it. You can find both new and used mendhaks fairly easily in places like eBay. And yes, the hilt should be turned 180º for a proper orientation.

5th May 2025, 02:33 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	I'd be inclined to think of this keris as "generic Javanese". As Rasdan has said, blade is most likely East Jawa, maybe Madura. The wrongko could be from anywhere, when I see these slightly fatter gayamans I tend to think of Banyumas, but I've seen the same or similar from along the North Coast of Jawa, & the far East of Jawa, around Banyuwangi. The hilt is a Javanese planar hilt, stylistically very possibly Surakarta, but again it could be from anywhere, East Jawa uses this planar style also, & it actually originated in Cirebon. Photographs can often distort the true form of a subject, and this hilt looks a bit to short and bunkul a bit too heavy for Jawa Tengah. In any case, a pretty nice old "every man's" keris, well worth a bit of effort to give it a facelift.

5th May 2025, 09:13 AM	#5
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 492	I have a similar looking blade (also of some age) on a Bugis dress, cross contamination of blades and dress are very common and not necessarily the product of foul play. It still happens and happened in the past too.

5th May 2025, 12:44 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Jawa was a big exporter of weapon blades for a very long time & over a very big area. We can expect to find weapon blades that were made in Jawa in many places.

29th May 2025, 09:23 AM	#7
Pak Daud Member Join Date: May 2024 Posts: 6	Greetings Gentlemen, If I may post a comment upon this Keris, is a mixmatched between several "pakem" or I sould say "langgam" (perceived style). Obviously this keris blade was forged using langgam East Jawa/Madura. But to my best guess, that it have a tendency toward Madura. Since the Pamor is "Nggajih- ngambang" (floating and staggered as in animal's raw fat). I can not tell if keris was forged using two-toned pamor, until it was dipped in warangan to show pamor's gradation. The resemble of "tikel alis", is a tad off from "pejetan", I suspect that this practice was meant to uppen the offered price, from regular Keris Brojol. Scabbard is standard Gayaman, with kind of thick upper head, I think it's Ponorogo style. Hilt is obviously Surakartan, for commoner (abangan) since it has no intricate details. No "mendak" (ring). Thus far, even if the Keris was OK, it's kind of "owahan" (modified). But surely sufficient for beginers to have one. But again, sincere appology if I made wrong interpretations.