Mazen Abdul Jamil lives in Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Malaysia, and is a renowned swordsmith in the area. He began learning the art of making the Malay short sword "Keris" at the age of 12, as the fourth generation of his family to do so.

The blade of the "Keris" is forged with a mixture of metals, and after molding, it is left to stand for a period of time to allow subtle changes to occur on its own, which is believed by the Malays to be a magical and supernatural force.

The hilt is usually made from lime wood or a local species similar to the soapberry tree, and is personalized to fit the user's hand.