Sumatran kris

[A. G. Maisey]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[A. G. Maisey]

Actually, the jejeran does have cecekan.

In Jawa Tengah, a planar hilt lacking cecekan is usually used for sandang walikat dress, it does not relate to hierarchical status.

[A. G. Maisey]

That little bit of adjustment that I did prompted me to have a closer look at what remains of the tikel alis.

This keris has the older style of tikel alis that goes right through to the front of the gandhik, & the blade overall has suffered some erosion. That erosion has taken definition from the lower edge of the tikel alis, that is the reason that it looks a bit queer. There have not been any alterations to the blade intended to increase perceived value, it is just an old, simple blade that has suffered some neglect.

It is always difficult to try to make a balanced assessment of a keris from a photo, in the hand many things become apparent that are simply not obvious in even the very best of professional photographs.

[Pak Daud]

Pak Alan, perhaps this additional information would be useful.
According to pak Kuntadi in his thesis: "Existence and development of Javanese Keris through a cultural perspective." Program Studi Kriya, Fakultas Senirupa dan design, Institute Seni Indonesia, Surakarta 2019.

Keris Banyumasan (Eastern region Central Java) as well Central Java in general, usually using "ring" (mendak) for their Kerises. You are right, "planar hilt" (selut) is additional esthetics and social status. In his argument, that s ring (mendak) is a must for 3 in 1, either for keris and his dress (dandanan).
Because representation of philosophy of keris itself.
Additionally, Keris must consist of 3 parts: Wilah, Gonjo and Pesi. These rules are also applied to them dressings. It must consist of 3 parts as well. Such as Warongko (scabbard), Mendak (ring), and Deder (hilt). If one would add planar (selut), it is still considered as "ring section".
There is an adagium within Tosan Aji (keris/dhuwung/tombak) that says:
"Curiga manjing warongko jumbuhing kawulo lan Gusti" in soft transtlation we can say "Keris inserted to it's scabbard, is sybolizing harmony between mortal to his Supreme Being." So, I think I agree to what pak Kuntadi said. In conclusion: that ring is a must between Keris and Deder (hilt), if one would go to perfection that is.

Unfortunately, them pictures were one sided, only turned same side but upside down. I wonder if we were fortunate enough to have another side to make further assament to be discussed further, as to make comparison.

I agree, upon inspection, the tikel alis is leaning toward Middle Mataram, the difference perhaps berm-gap between Blumbangan/Pejetan to bottom of Tikel-alis clearly looked as if it was pinched.
By contrast early Madura was leaning toward Hindu Majapahit/Singhasari. In which the tikel alis should be like "J" as in fishing Hook, with bottom end of hook crashing toward edge of gandik.
(pardon: As newbie so I think I need to wait a tad more to be able to upload pictures). Pray thou wilt illuminate tis simpleton sire