Malaysian Kris

[Ridgegrass]

Backstory: My wife's great uncle was an international banker working in Malaysia in the late 1930's. They were overrun by the invading Japanese army and barely escaped with their lives. Their house servant/gardener carried this weapon in his back belt everyday. He gave to them when the Japanese came as a remembrance of him as he expected to be killed.He asked them to care for it as it was very old and important. It was one of very few possessions they took with them.

The blade is 14-3/4 long,(17-1/2" overall), meteorite iron, Damascus, highly carved with a demon at the guard. The hardwood sheath is in the shape of a boat. The pommel is a craved Kingfisher's head and the metalwork, while dirty is untarnished. We have never tried to clean or polish it. I may well be gold or an alloy. ??

The Malaysian lore on a Kris says it has mystical powers of flight and may be sent to kill a cursed enemy on it's own! Neat stuff. We display it and enjoy it as a family heirloom.

[Doc B]

Very interesting!!!

[doglegg]

BIG cool factor!!!

[Montanaman]

IMO, the blade looks cast, not forged and carved.

[Ridgegrass]

If you mean "cast" as in pouring molten metal into a mold, I'm not sure how to cast Damascus and produce a wavy pattern. My research says no one has cast traditional Damascus steel since the 1700's when Indian "wootz" ceased to be made. I am not claiming anything authority on this but I don't know how the Malaysians could cast Damascus as the process is said to require extremely precise temperature control. The metal in this blade is evenly wavy like welded Damascus. Probably doubtful anyone will ever know. I don't know how old this piece is; maybe it does go back to the 1700's ??
Another reason I would doubt it is cast is the metal seems to be separating in an almost microscopic sense along the pattern. It would seem cast metal would have a more consistent density. Rubbing it produces nearly microscopic splinters. Not at all like rust. Definitely a mystery. Adds to the fun. Thanks J.O'.

[Montanaman]

Looks like garbage cast steel to me, neat story though.

[Ridgegrass]

Hmmmmm

[knife7knut]

Beautiful example of a Malaysian keris! I have a couple of them and I do not believe they are cast but rather hand forged.I still don't know how they get the intricate carving details near the handle. Here are two that I have;only one has a scabbard.

[kootenay joe]

Looks like garbage cast steel to me, neat story though.

Malaysian Kris are a subject that requires a lot of study of many examples to begin to be able to assess them.
We quite often see family heirloom knives that come with a very specific piece of family history. Sometimes when it is regarding a USA made knife the dates of manufacture do not fit with the story given even though the knife owner is 100% sure the story is fully accurate.
I think assessment in a forum of Malaysian Kris collectors is needed to know exactly what it is you have and how old it might be. But is there such a forum ?
kj