The keris is an asymmetrical dagger indigenous/ short sword (pointy and sharp on both sides) that have function of culture, it has unique parts like pamor, pendok, ganja, dapur, tangguh, warangka, deder, etc.Long time ago, keris was used for war (java=curiga), ritual (indonesia=sesajian), and as well as complementary fashion (java=ageman). people who use the keris is a society that affected by the Majapahit emperor, such as Java, Madura, Bali, Sumatra, Kalimantan coast, most of Sulawesi, the Malay Peninsula, southern Thailand and southern Philippines (wikipedia).
Men who make keris is called empu (metalworkers),only empu (men) that make keris. Materials have often used to make dagger is an iron, steel, silver, meteors, and gold, it depends on pamor of the desired.
Keris Java specialists will classify the Keris according to:
- Tangguh, which is the estimated age of the Keris or the period when it was made
- Sepuh, which is the age of the Keris
- Wutuh, which is the condition of the Keris
Parts Of Keris :
1. Hilt, keris handle
2. Hilt Cup
- Mendak = lower ring below the hilt
- Selut = larger upper ring that fits into the hilt
3. Blade
- Wilah (Indonesia)
- Mata (Malaysia)
4. Sheath
- Warangka (Indonesia)
- Sarung (Malaysia)
Parts name of Sheath
- Gambar or Sampir (Malaysia) = upper wooden part
- Gandar or Batang (Malaysia) = lower wooden part
- Pendok = metal cover
- Buntut = shoe