Bali Keris Info & Advice Requested

milandro · 24th March 2024, 10:08 AM

incredibly strange , although I cannot claim any in depth knowledge , my gut feeling is that this is a kris which was , as A.G. Maisey writes, a heavily modified kris, by someone outside the Indonesian culture (and not only the Balinese).

The setting of the hilt with screws is absolutely incredible and the warangka was certainly reshaped after some major damage.

So all an all, a conversation piece.

Heat gun may free the hilt but then, what are you going to do? Are you going to change all the parts of this kris that are incongruous?

If you are not , then you may as well leave it as it is, and if you are going to replace the hilt, the gandar en warangka, the paint of the sogokan would be the last of your concerns (let alone the fact hat if the blade would be stained they would probably disappear in the process unless you use the brushing and tapping technique.

In my opinion you may leave it as it is af a Xenomorph ( just made this word up, as foreign form to the original culture) kris . Enjoy it for what it is

Having taken a look to your previous posts I couldn't help to notice you apparent preference for things that are best defined as oddballs , which is a criterium for collecting in its own right.

Sajen · 24th March 2024, 05:38 PM

Hello Rob,

Like the others I've never seen something similar. The "wrongko" is reshaped in my opinion, can you show pics from that area? But it seems that this was done very long ago. The handle is unusual too and the orange paint in the sogokan is unusual indeed.
I personally wouldn't change anything by this keris and would keep it like this as a curiosity.

Regards,
Detlef

David · 24th March 2024, 05:47 PM

I don't really have much to add here and i am basically in agreement with Alan Milandro and Detlef.
The hilt is indeed out-of-culture, but i'm not sure it is a Western design. Something about it (perhaps that mother of pearl inlays) leads me to think of the Philippines as a a possible origin. I can't place the blade, but agree that it probably Balinese.
I would leave this odd ensemble as is also.

Sajen · 24th March 2024, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

I can't place the blade, but agree that it os not Balinese.
I would leave this odd ensemble as is also.

Hello David,

To my eyes the blade looks Balinese/Lombok.

Regards,
Detlef

David · 24th March 2024, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello David,

To my eyes the blade looks Balinese/Lombok.

Regards,
Detlef

Sorry, that was a typing error. As you may have noted, i was trying to agree with the consensus, not disagree. LOL! Not sure why i stuck that "not" in there. But yes, possibly Lombok also. Hard to say.
I will adjust my post. Thanks for pointing out may error.

Sajen · 24th March 2024, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Sorry, that was a typing error. As you may have noted, i was trying to agree with the consensus, not disagree. LOL! Not sure why i stuck that "not" in there. But yes, possibly Lombok also. Hard to say.
I will adjust my post. Thanks for pointing out may error.

Hi David,

I was guessing like that and was jarred by your post!

Regards,
Detlef

24th March 2024, 05:47 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,047	I don't really have much to add here and i am basically in agreement with Alan Milandro and Detlef. The hilt is indeed out-of-culture, but i'm not sure it is a Western design. Something about it (perhaps that mother of pearl inlays) leads me to think of the Philippines as a a possible origin. I can't place the blade, but agree that it probably Balinese. I would leave this odd ensemble as is also. Last edited by David; 24th March 2024 at 07:22 PM. Reason: typing error

24th March 2024, 10:08 AM	#1
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 422	incredibly strange , although I cannot claim any in depth knowledge , my gut feeling is that this is a kris which was , as A.G. Maisey writes, a heavily modified kris, by someone outside the Indonesian culture (and not only the Balinese). The setting of the hilt with screws is absolutely incredible and the warangka was certainly reshaped after some major damage. So all an all, a conversation piece. Heat gun may free the hilt but then, what are you going to do? Are you going to change all the parts of this kris that are incongruous? If you are not , then you may as well leave it as it is, and if you are going to replace the hilt, the gandar en warangka, the paint of the sogokan would be the last of your concerns (let alone the fact hat if the blade would be stained they would probably disappear in the process unless you use the brushing and tapping technique. In my opinion you may leave it as it is af a Xenomorph ( just made this word up, as foreign form to the original culture) kris . Enjoy it for what it is Having taken a look to your previous posts I couldn't help to notice you apparent preference for things that are best defined as oddballs , which is a criterium for collecting in its own right.

24th March 2024, 05:38 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,574	Hello Rob, Like the others I've never seen something similar. The "wrongko" is reshaped in my opinion, can you show pics from that area? But it seems that this was done very long ago. The handle is unusual too and the orange paint in the sogokan is unusual indeed. I personally wouldn't change anything by this keris and would keep it like this as a curiosity. Regards, Detlef