Repurposed Something or Another Knife?

drac2k · 18th November 2025, 09:47 PM

I recently acquired this knife that is a composite. The blade looks like it could have been a Kris at one time or another and it has traces of silver inlay.
It is attached to a basic wooden handle.
The blade measures 14" long.

Battara · 19th November 2025, 06:25 PM

Oh W

W!

Must to have been heavily damaged from a wavy kris to be modified like this and originally silver inlaid.

drac2k · 19th November 2025, 10:39 PM

That it could have been a kris at one time is just a guess;I'm open to other/all suggestions.

RobT · 20th November 2025, 12:40 AM

Hi All,

On pg 127 of Ensiklopedi Keris, Harsrinuksmo shows a drawing of a very similar looking blade and lists it as "KERIS dapur Cengkrong. The illustration appears to show a ganja.

Sincerely,
RobT

drac2k · 20th November 2025, 02:48 PM

Any chance of getting a picture of the drawing?

Interested Party · 20th November 2025, 07:19 PM

Interesting piece! What script is this or is it something resembling an inscription? Am I right in that it says "Allah" 3 times?

Sajen · 20th November 2025, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drac2k

Any chance of getting a picture of the drawing?

Hi David,

Here at first the pic. from page 127 and also another one from page 133.

On page 127 is shown the dapur Cengkrong, on page 133 the dapur Cundrik.

Regards,
Detlef

RobT · Yesterday, 12:57 AM

drac2k,

Sajen beat me to it I see and also added another that I was going to add myself. So it shouldn’t be a total loss, here is a serpentine version plus two pedang of interest. It would appear that this clip point shape is fairly popular in Indonesia.

Sincerely,
RobT

drac2k · Yesterday, 05:07 AM

Thanks so much Guys! I would also like to know what the inscription is.

Ian · Yesterday, 11:26 AM

Hi drac,

I like this knife but I think it would look better without the rather clunky hilt. The published examples have no hilt—just a bare tang—so we don't really know what type of hilt it may have had. It seems the blade is meant to be kept white (not etched), so a clean and polish might be in order. Also, restoring the silver inlay would enhance its appearance IMHO. Battara might be able to help with that. After all that, you could have a pretty valuable knife like the ones in the publications. Just my $0.02.

RobT · Yesterday, 07:38 PM

drac2k,

A photo of one of the serpentine keris cengkrong I posted shows it with a Surakarta style hilt and mendak. If you wish to rehilt your blade, perhaps Alan Maisey could weigh in to confirm that what you have is a keris rather than a pedang and also to recommend appropriate hilts/mendaks.

Sincerely,
RobT

A. G. Maisey · Yesterday, 10:26 PM

Thank you RobT, for your prompt for me to comment on this implement under discussion.

I'm sorry, but although the overall form of this implement does imply some sort of influence from Javanese forms, I cannot recognise any elements of the workmanship involved and I really have no foundation upon which to make any relevant comment.

Again, my apologies for being unable to comment.

18th November 2025, 09:47 PM	#1
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,300	Repurposed Something or Another Knife? I recently acquired this knife that is a composite. The blade looks like it could have been a Kris at one time or another and it has traces of silver inlay. It is attached to a basic wooden handle. The blade measures 14" long. Attached Images

19th November 2025, 06:25 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,349	Oh WW! Must to have been heavily damaged from a wavy kris to be modified like this and originally silver inlaid.

20th November 2025, 12:40 AM	#4
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 586	Missing Ganja? Hi All, On pg 127 of Ensiklopedi Keris, Harsrinuksmo shows a drawing of a very similar looking blade and lists it as "KERIS dapur Cengkrong. The illustration appears to show a ganja. Sincerely, RobT

Yesterday, 12:57 AM	#8
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 586	Some Other Pieces drac2k, Sajen beat me to it I see and also added another that I was going to add myself. So it shouldn’t be a total loss, here is a serpentine version plus two pedang of interest. It would appear that this clip point shape is fairly popular in Indonesia. Sincerely, RobT Attached Images

Yesterday, 07:38 PM	#11
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 586	Surakarta Hilt & Mendak drac2k, A photo of one of the serpentine keris cengkrong I posted shows it with a Surakarta style hilt and mendak. If you wish to rehilt your blade, perhaps Alan Maisey could weigh in to confirm that what you have is a keris rather than a pedang and also to recommend appropriate hilts/mendaks. Sincerely, RobT

19th November 2025, 10:39 PM	#3
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,300	That it could have been a kris at one time is just a guess;I'm open to other/all suggestions.

20th November 2025, 02:48 PM	#5
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,300	Any chance of getting a picture of the drawing?

20th November 2025, 07:19 PM	#6
Interested Party Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Eastern Sierra Posts: 514	Interesting piece! What script is this or is it something resembling an inscription? Am I right in that it says "Allah" 3 times?

Yesterday, 05:07 AM	#9
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,300	Thanks so much Guys! I would also like to know what the inscription is.

Yesterday, 11:26 AM	#10
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,551	Hi drac, I like this knife but I think it would look better without the rather clunky hilt. The published examples have no hilt—just a bare tang—so we don't really know what type of hilt it may have had. It seems the blade is meant to be kept white (not etched), so a clean and polish might be in order. Also, restoring the silver inlay would enhance its appearance IMHO. Battara might be able to help with that. After all that, you could have a pretty valuable knife like the ones in the publications. Just my $0.02.

Yesterday, 10:26 PM	#12
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,092	Thank you RobT, for your prompt for me to comment on this implement under discussion. I'm sorry, but although the overall form of this implement does imply some sort of influence from Javanese forms, I cannot recognise any elements of the workmanship involved and I really have no foundation upon which to make any relevant comment. Again, my apologies for being unable to comment.