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The P.C.P.S. Thailand Inspired Fighting Keris
So, here is the story of this uniquely designed totally new fighting Keris. As I investigated the art of Fon Jerng in Thailand, which is a vital portion of PCPS, I also wanted to look into what they have done with the Keris in Thailand. It is widely said that Thailand took the design of the other Malay keris that came across the border and copied it. I found this to be the case especially in the South of Thailand where there is an enclave of Indonesian immigrant makers who copy the keris from the Bugis area, with the Kingfisher type handle in predominance. There was nothing new for me to see there until the search was slightly expanded and in one place, I saw a very unusual version from one person. At first, I thought this person made an error but then it was repeated enough times to understand this was intentional. Only one person had a handle version I loved as well as a case design along with a combatively effective dapur (shape) blade to work with. However, there were tons of problems in dealing in the South, you never knew what you would be given and the quality could be very bad. I had seen enough however to recreate and improve the best example I saw. I then gave that to my best maker for this type of blade to reproduce in high quality and to exacting specifications.
What’s so different?1. The blade: take a close look and you will see the ganja is pointing down and not up as usual. Once I got this in my hand, I understood the great combat advantage. The lower fingers, the part grasping the handle are now much more protected. Take a look at the photo here that clearly shows this. The elephant trunk at the top does a good job of deflecting incoming blades up and away from the upper hand. Also note, I increased the ganja length and it is longer than the normal keris for this size, to cover the hand even better. I added a variety of traditional teeth and curves to snag and deflect a striking blade. It also adds a very attractive look. The entire blade is given a beautiful mirror polish like a jewel. The blade itself is 5 waves (standing for the four quadrants, archangels and elements of the four quadrants and the creator in the center of our circle of creation) and is 8 inches long, a perfect length for use and carry and represents the figure 8 -infinity symbol that is first utilized in our flowing hand moves and is one of the first things taught in fong jerng. The steel in this blade is fire-hardened and strong. In the keris copies you normally buy are not. These other blades can and will easily bend if used for real. The old blades, like this one were fire-hardened. 2. Look at how the blade is joined to the handle. In a regular keris the pesi, the long thin end of the blade is just slid through the decorative circular portion, the selut and or mendok, and held in the handle by some cloth wrapped around the pesi with nothing but friction holding it on. This makes a normal slash impossible, most likely on purpose to make it ineffective and quickly broken if picked up in war and used to make a regular slash by the enemy. Even with proper training, a traditional keris has to be used in a very specialized way to make any sort of a slash work. Even in a thrust, one must keep a strong pincer grip on the both sides of the blade with the thumb and forefinger to withdraw the blade if thrust into the target. Most handles are also either way too small or overly large figures uncomfortable to hold as they dig into the hand with all the edges and could damage your hand if actually used in combat. This creates a problem in any kind of conflict and makes a proper grasping of the handle very hard to do with our keris the blades long solid tang is inserted through a thinner form-fitting ferule and deeply inserted into the long beautiful hardwood handle with a strong solder like glue so it’s a permanent fixture, not intended to pull apart, so normal slashes and thrusts are both usable without the handle coming right off, breaking etc. like in the normal construction. I asked when did this start and what is the history of the change. No one knew. They just knew it was a later design from some maker in Thailand which i suspect was from the north where ancient combative ideas were not modified.
3. Now look at the handle shape itself. Instead of the other less than desirable ones, this one ergonomically fits the hand as well as being beautiful with the flowing symmetrical curves. The handle is very secure, won't roll, and has a lip for an extra secure hold and for easy leverage to withdraw and thrust. The sweeping up tip at the end is usable to strike with if needed as well. The actual shape is a representation of a Thailand naga head and is long enough for a western hand. The entire piece corresponds to the golden mean as we strive for in our art in all ways.
4. The case itself is also one of a kind and a radical departure from the norm. The normal keris case is composed of a variety of pieces. In many of them there is a paper-thin two-piece inner wooden cover as the keris is always put inside wood. Over that a very thin metal piece (the pendok) just slides over this. On top of all that the large piece at the top or wranka is glued on, this is done with a very thin lip of wood that slides down inside the other wooden pieces, and glue is applied. The weakness here is apparent and is created by a combination of all the fragile pieces, the thin part of the wranka, and the weight of the top-heavy wranka that is all glued together. Any parrying has to be a straight-on hit, less the wranka be torn off. There are variations of an all-wood pendok but even so, the wranka is still glued on the top and then is the major point of weakness in that case, which can easily be snapped off and then rendered useless. This new case is composed of only two solid pieces of heavy tropical wood that fit together like a clamshell and are glued on all three sides but for the central top opening where the keris is inserted. This makes an almost one-piece solid type case that can be used to parry and strike with unlike all other keris cases and is still the proper wood home for the blade. The top of the wranka is shaped after a wing and in Thai is called a sapae or sheath wing. It's very reminiscent of the silhouette of a batwing. Considering the bat hangs upside down and the keris blade here is inverted, this seems intentional. In this case instead of the edges upturned, they are slightly down. This way they are not hooking which could pull the case out of your hand, gives a wider area to parry and the edges are pointed so poison hand, short fast blows can be used and are effective with the solid heavy case. Look at the first “step “up from the bottom of the case. This works as a slide up hand stop so your hand won't slide up all the way to the top portion and it gives more control and will also serve as a stop to the leather belt loop case being made just for this blade so it can be easily carried and removed with one pull up on the wranka. Note this case also has a central raised rib for even more structural rigidity and strength. I present the P.C.P.S -Thailand-Inspired Keris. The first major improvement in a fighting keris for hundreds of years that respects its traditions as well. Because of the diamond-like reflective qualities of the blade, it's very hard to get the best photos. The real thing looks even better than the pictures can convey.
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