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A keris bahari is a long version of a
A keris bahari is a long version of a keris
The kris, or ''keris'' in the Indonesian language, is an asymmetrical dagger with distinctive blade-patterning achieved through alternating laminations of iron and nickelous iron (''pamor''). Of Javanese origin, the kris is famous for its disti ...
dagger mainly used in Sumatra.Gardner (1936). p. 8. It is also called keris panjang. Keris bahari is dubbed by European people as "Sumatran rapier
A rapier () or is a type of sword with a slender and sharply-pointed two-edged blade that was popular in Western Europe, both for civilian use (dueling and self-defense) and as a military side arm, throughout the 16th and 17th centuries.
Impo ...
kris" or "execution keris".Gardner (1936). p. 37
History
Keris bahari evolved from the original keris, which is a dagger. As men fought, they needed a weapon with greater reach, and keris became longer and heavier. Two forms then evolved: The first is rapier keris (keris bahari), and the second is broadsword keris (sundang
A bolo ( tl, iták, ilo, bunéng, pag, baráng, ceb, súndang, hil, binangon) is a general term for traditional pre-colonial small to medium-sized single-edged swords or large knives of the Philippines that function as both tools and weapo ...
). Because the blade became longer, the handle had to be straightened to balance it.
Description
The hilt of keris bahari is made of horn, sometimes of silver and fishivory
Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks (traditionally from elephants) and teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mammals ...
, usually beautifully carved. The shape of the hilt is straight or slightly curving at the end. The sheath tip is usually rounded, but if cased in silver it often has square tip. The blade of keris bahari is long and narrow. Keris bahari is classified to 3 type depending on the length: The longest is called keris panjang, the medium keris alang, and the shortest, keris pendek.
Execution by keris
The execution by keris is called ''hukuman'' ''salang''. ''Salang'' is synonymous with keris panjang. The executioner made the victim to squat then drove the keris panjang from certain spot inside his collar bone down to the heart.Gardner (1936). p. 37.See also
*Kalis
A kalis (Baybayin: or ; Jawi script: كاليس ; Abecedario: ''cáli'', ''cális'') is a type of double-edged Philippine sword, often with a "wavy" section. The kalis has a double-edged blade, which is commonly straight from the tip but wavy n ...
* Langgai Tinggang
* Luwuk (sword)
References
Further reading
* Gardner, G. B. (1936). Keris and Other Malay Weapons. Singapore: Progressive Publishing Company. Southeast Asian swords Malayan swords Blade weapons Weapons of Indonesia Weapons of Malaysia {{Indonesia-hist-stub