Keris is a typical Indonesian stabbing weapon, or perhaps more
accurately Archipelago. Based on ancient documents, the keris in preliminary form has
been used since the 9th century. Strong likelihood that the keris has been used before
that time. The use of the keris itself scattered in clumps community Malays. At present, the keris commonly known in the
area of Indonesia (especially in the areas of Java, Madura,Bali /Lombok, Sumatra, part of Borneo, and some of Sulawesi),Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, and Philippines (particularly in the Mindanaoregion). In Mindanao, the form of weapon which is also called the keris is not much resemblance
but also a stabbing weapon.
Keris has a variety of forms, for example, there is a winding blade
(always in odd count) and some are straight bladed. Javanese people assume different
forms have different effects esoteri. Besides being used as a weapon, the keris is also often
considered to have supernatural powers. This weapon is often mentioned in many traditional
legends, such as keris Mpu Gandring in legend of Ken Arok and Ken Dedes. The procedure to use keris is different in each
region. In areas such asJavanese and Sundanese, the keris is placed in the back of the waist in peacetime but is placed in
front in the war. Meanwhile, in Sumatra,Borneo, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines, the keris was placed in front. Besides keris, there are a number of other stabbing weapons in the archipelago
region, such as Rencong from Aceh, Badik fromSulawesi and West Java cleaver. Keris distinguished from
other stabbing weapons primarily from the blade. Keris is not made from a
single metal casted but a mixture of various metal layers. As a result of this manufacturing technique, the keris has a specificity of fame on the blade.