Keris and other Malay Weapons

Keris and Other Malay Weapons is a detailed study of traditional Malay arms, originally published in 1936. The work focuses particularly on the keris, the asymmetrical dagger that is both a functional weapon and a culturally significant ceremonial object in Malay society. It includes descriptions of different types of weapons, their parts, methods of manufacture, and classifications, illustrated with photographs and line drawings.

The 1973 edition reissued this seminal work, preserving the original text while making it more accessible to contemporary readers. In addition to the keris, the book surveys swords, spears, blowpipes, and other traditional arms, as well as aspects of war dress, fortifications, and the symbolic and ceremonial roles of these weapons. With a glossary and explanatory notes, the 1973 edition continues to serve as an essential reference for historians, collectors, and enthusiasts of Southeast Asian material culture, bridging the original scholarship with modern readership.