Kris Kris The kris (ngoko Javanese: ; krama inggil Javanese: ; ngoko: keris; krama; "dhuwung"; krama inggil: "wangkingan", lit. "to slice"; Jawi: کريس, Thai: กริช "krit", Minangkabau: "karih", Tagalog: "kalis"; Bugis and Makassarese: "sele") is an asymmetrical dagger with distinctive blade-patterning achieved through alternating laminations of iron and nickelous iron ("pamor"). Kris is most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade, although many have straight blades as well. Kris have been produced in many regions of Indonesia for centuries, but nowhere—although the island of Bali comes close—is the kris so embedded in
Kris to Charles Knaud, a Dutch physician, by Paku Alam V in the 19th century Yogyakarta in Java, the kris is on display at the Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam. The kris bears the date of 1264 Saka (which correspondends to 1342 AD) in its iron blade. Scientists suspect that due to its special features the kris might be even older, but was decorated during Majapahit period to celebrate an important event. The kris bears scenes from the Ramayana on an unusual thin copper layer which partially covers it. Although the people of Southeast Asia were already familiar with this type of stabbing weapon,