Sraits(?), Malay(?), need your opinion

[kai]

Hello Detlef,

I'm more leaning towards Bugis-influenced blade from the northern Melayu regions. Hilt & scabbard seem consistent, too.

Regards,
Kai

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kai

I'm more leaning towards Bugis-influenced blade from the northern Melayu regions. Hilt & scabbard seem consistent, too.

Hello Kai,

Thanks for your comment. As I said at the beginning, I'm not sure and had considered that. Are you able to justify that? Are you able to show a similar example?

Regards,
Detlef

[Gavin Nugent]

Need new glasses.... disregard

[Gavin Nugent]

I can't get a read on it as a whole. IF I was to through out a guess i'd say Sumatran side of the northern straits.

Question, is the blade true to the sheath?

I ask as there is extra worn opening at the gonjo end where it typically should be sitting over that space.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Gavin Nugent

I can't get a read on it as a whole. IF I was to through out a guess i'd say Sumatran side of the northern straits.

Hello Gav,

Another option I had reservations about but like always I can be very wrong!

Originally Posted by Gavin Nugent

Question, is the blade true to the sheath?

I ask as there is extra worn opening at the gonjo end where it typically should be sitting over that space.

You have sharp eyes, yes there is a gap in front and back of the gonjo when it is in scabbard but I am nearly convinced that it's the original scabbard, the visible patina inside the scabbard and the secure fit let me think like this.

Regards,
Detlef

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Gav,

Another option I had reservations about but like always I can be very wrong!

Me too! It is all learning.

Some wear can be expected from the belalai, yet I don't expect the kerawang to wear so much away.

This is how I see a the blades should be seated in original dress.

[David]

I'm afraid i need to agree with Gavin on this one. It would seem that your sheath was adapted to fit your blade. Especially considering the area where this keris seems to come from, a proper fit would look like the examples Gavin shows with the blade fitting somewhat proud in the sheath. Considering the space both behind and in front of your blade it seems most likely that it was re-adjusted to to fit.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Sajen

You have sharp eyes, yes there is a gap in front and back of the gonjo when it is in scabbard but I am nearly convinced that it's the original scabbard, the visible patina inside the scabbard and the secure fit let me think like this.

Regards,
Detlef

Hi Detlef,

The blending of styles across the sarung, hulu and blade, I did not recognise as harmonious, and I still ask questions to my peers and mentors most weeks as there are always little nuances that are sometimes overlooked, in my case, on items I have had for years.

It was what I personally could not see as harmonious that prompted me to save the photos and zoom in, hence the need glasses comments above, then I saw in more detail these gaps.

For reference, I have several keris here that I can interchange the sarung and blades for a perfectly acceptable fit, so I can see how you came to feel this about the piece you have. I feel it is OK to have wear on older examples on the belalai side, and perhaps even a little sunken in on this side of the sampir, but not the kerawang end, it doesn't make practical sense to me.

Unravelling the confusion in my mind when viewing this as a whole leads me to think Sumatra side, particularly coupled with the gonjo shape, which can be Perak too, but other aspects of the blade I don't see Perak at all. I kind of get glimpses of Kedah in small parts, but aligned with certain angles in the features and luks, and the clear hexagonal cross section, I come back to Bugis Sumatra.

Regardless, these things can be changed if desired or required.
It is a genuine old blade and all aspects of the dress carry appropriate age aligning with the blade.

[Sajen]

Hello Gav and David,

Of course I agree with you and I know how the seat from the blade inside the scabbard looks normally (like shown by Gav in several examples), especially by Malay keris. But I am nearly sure that this scabbard is already some decades old together with the blade, the patina inside the opening tells me that. Of course it could be a replacement scabbard, this never could be ruled out. But it's for sure not done from a dealer or collector I assume.
I've owned and still own, especially some Bugis keris where the upside from the gonjo is in line with the opening in the scabbard.

Attached a few close ups.

Regards,
Detlef