Kris & Sundang twist core Ganja or Gonjo

VVV · 17th August 2014, 12:09 PM

Back home again with my swords...
I have now checked all my twist core Moro Kris and Malay Keris Sundang and none, except the one in the link above, have any twist core ganja.
I find this a bit surprising because some of my Moro kris are quite old and otherwise "Keris-like".

Michael

Gavin Nugent · 17th August 2014, 03:52 PM

It is a strange thing Michael...I am sure that there would have been twist core off cuts available at the forge with which to make Moro Kris Ganja....

A. G. Maisey · 18th August 2014, 02:16 AM

From these small, incomplete images it is very difficult to form any opinion, but I think I can say that this gonjo was not made from any off-cut, it was very probably made as a separate forging, specifically for the gonjo.

When we make this type of pamor it tends to distort badly under forging, there are a couple of tricks that can be used to reduce this effect, but to take a piece of pattern welded material such as has been used in the core of this large blade, and bring it down to the size needed for a gonjo forging would cause very heavy distortion, and in the areas of pamor that have been presented for comment, I cannot see any such heavy distortion.

Jean · 18th August 2014, 03:47 PM

Excellent observation Alan, I agree and have noted the same with some recent javanese or madurese krisses also.
Regards

A. G. Maisey · 18th August 2014, 10:21 PM

Yes Jean, that is a distinct possibility, but because we can only see a small part of a small part of this complete blade I do not want to make indefensible statements or conjectures.

17th August 2014, 12:09 PM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Back home again with my swords... I have now checked all my twist core Moro Kris and Malay Keris Sundang and none, except the one in the link above, have any twist core ganja. I find this a bit surprising because some of my Moro kris are quite old and otherwise "Keris-like". Michael

17th August 2014, 03:52 PM	#2
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	It is a strange thing Michael...I am sure that there would have been twist core off cuts available at the forge with which to make Moro Kris Ganja....

18th August 2014, 02:16 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,738	From these small, incomplete images it is very difficult to form any opinion, but I think I can say that this gonjo was not made from any off-cut, it was very probably made as a separate forging, specifically for the gonjo. When we make this type of pamor it tends to distort badly under forging, there are a couple of tricks that can be used to reduce this effect, but to take a piece of pattern welded material such as has been used in the core of this large blade, and bring it down to the size needed for a gonjo forging would cause very heavy distortion, and in the areas of pamor that have been presented for comment, I cannot see any such heavy distortion.

18th August 2014, 03:47 PM	#4
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	Excellent observation Alan, I agree and have noted the same with some recent javanese or madurese krisses also. Regards

18th August 2014, 10:21 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,738	Yes Jean, that is a distinct possibility, but because we can only see a small part of a small part of this complete blade I do not want to make indefensible statements or conjectures.