Daggers Forged In Fire

Of the countless weapons bought and sold every day around the world, relatively few can be considered a valued part of a cultural heritage. Fewer still are thought to contain some element of the supernatural.

- Diego A. Garcia

The traditional dagger known as the keris is an exception. Indigenous to Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, the keris (or kris) is a precious cultural artifact that played a significant role in the history of the region that still resonates with people today, especially in a unique village on the outskirts of Yogyakarta.

In ancient times, the keris was the weapon of choice for the armies of Indonesia and Malaysia, used in battle or to carry out executions. It was common for men of all walks of life to don a keris, used mainly for self-defence. Nowadays, the keris is widely available as an ornament for the home or for special occasions. There are kerises that can be considered trinkets and curiosities, made by ordinary ironsmiths, costing between USD60–300 dollars apiece. And then there are those that are forged in history.