3 Balinese 'working' kerises

BluErf · 6th December 2004, 02:16 PM

Heh... doesn't that sound like people too? People with lots of money, but poor character, and people with great character, but a bit lacking in the cash department. heheheh

I guess we are first and foremost blade guys. The trimmings can always be added later with a bit of patience and research. The blade -- now that's the tough one because no one makes them the way they used to.

The 1st keris is a keris pedang and has notches and nicks on the forward-facing top one-third of the edge. Light yet very strong, it has always struck me as a fighting blade, right down to the animal (horse?) hair braiding on the hilt. Its a really firm grip.

The 2nd keris is probably the youngest of the 3 blades. Its light, but I don't feel so confident about its strength. Its got a great spine and all the perabots and deep grooves, but the piece has a very 'slightly awkward' feel to it. The lines don't flow as well as the last piece.

The last keris was covered in rust when I found it. Its a real biter. It bit me so many times when I tried to clean it and there are many rust spots that are so deep and stubborn that I have no way of removing them without taking away the beautiful dapur. This blade has some heft to it, and I suspect would make as good a slasher as a thruster. Its tempered halfway down the blade! A first for my Balinese keris collection. The dapur is also the most refined. I think this will be the 1st keris that I'll start putting gold pendok back on. I just need more examples and good pictures.

6th December 2004, 02:16 PM	#6
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Heh... doesn't that sound like people too? People with lots of money, but poor character, and people with great character, but a bit lacking in the cash department. heheheh I guess we are first and foremost blade guys. The trimmings can always be added later with a bit of patience and research. The blade -- now that's the tough one because no one makes them the way they used to. The 1st keris is a keris pedang and has notches and nicks on the forward-facing top one-third of the edge. Light yet very strong, it has always struck me as a fighting blade, right down to the animal (horse?) hair braiding on the hilt. Its a really firm grip. The 2nd keris is probably the youngest of the 3 blades. Its light, but I don't feel so confident about its strength. Its got a great spine and all the perabots and deep grooves, but the piece has a very 'slightly awkward' feel to it. The lines don't flow as well as the last piece. The last keris was covered in rust when I found it. Its a real biter. It bit me so many times when I tried to clean it and there are many rust spots that are so deep and stubborn that I have no way of removing them without taking away the beautiful dapur. This blade has some heft to it, and I suspect would make as good a slasher as a thruster. Its tempered halfway down the blade! A first for my Balinese keris collection. The dapur is also the most refined. I think this will be the 1st keris that I'll start putting gold pendok back on. I just need more examples and good pictures.