Keris Hilt Material

Newsteel · 4th June 2008, 01:23 AM

Alam Shah, your hilt is buffed mirror shine and looks almost like a glass

I think it is hippo tusk too.

BluErf · 4th June 2008, 03:36 PM

I've also been told to differentiate hippo ivory from elephant ivory by their heavier weight, non-criss crossed grains and the 'stitch-line' down the length of the ivory. However, I've not come across pictures from reputable books which show those exactly. I guess maybe I haven't looked hard enough.

But my question is - is the "stitch-line" unique to hippo ivory? I've seen quite a number of gigantic sized pekaka hilts (the jawa demam form from N. Malaysia; not the tajong, which shd NOT be called a pekaka at all.) and wondered if the hippo tusk could grow to such epic proportions (the length can be wider than my palm). Considering the wastage and the distance between the tanjak (the sharp 'nose'), the garuda mungkur (the spike rising from the back) and the buah pinang (the base of the hilt), it must have been a HUGE tusk to begin with. It has never ceased to amaze me...

On a side-topic, Lew's picture showing the various daggers has convinced me permanently that despite not specializing in collecting in any specific dagger types, he has impeccable tastes and eagle eyes to pick out the really good specimens...

Congratulations.

David · 5th June 2008, 02:01 PM

I have seen hippo tusks for sale on the internet that are 17 inches long.

4th June 2008, 01:23 AM	#1
Newsteel Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 132	Alam Shah, your hilt is buffed mirror shine and looks almost like a glass I think it is hippo tusk too.

4th June 2008, 03:36 PM	#2
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	I've also been told to differentiate hippo ivory from elephant ivory by their heavier weight, non-criss crossed grains and the 'stitch-line' down the length of the ivory. However, I've not come across pictures from reputable books which show those exactly. I guess maybe I haven't looked hard enough. But my question is - is the "stitch-line" unique to hippo ivory? I've seen quite a number of gigantic sized pekaka hilts (the jawa demam form from N. Malaysia; not the tajong, which shd NOT be called a pekaka at all.) and wondered if the hippo tusk could grow to such epic proportions (the length can be wider than my palm). Considering the wastage and the distance between the tanjak (the sharp 'nose'), the garuda mungkur (the spike rising from the back) and the buah pinang (the base of the hilt), it must have been a HUGE tusk to begin with. It has never ceased to amaze me... On a side-topic, Lew's picture showing the various daggers has convinced me permanently that despite not specializing in collecting in any specific dagger types, he has impeccable tastes and eagle eyes to pick out the really good specimens... Congratulations.

5th June 2008, 02:01 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,229	I have seen hippo tusks for sale on the internet that are 17 inches long.