Hi folks
Ive posted this elsewhere but with no luck, so I'm hoping someone here might be able to point me in the right direction.
I'm in process of restoring a kaskara that came as a rather sad and rusty piece (
old thread here), and I was hoping the practical folks here might be able to help me with some questions.
I've done the blade work and cleaned as far as I want to using very gentle methods (primarily pineapple juice and lots of time, but the occaisional use of scotch-brite for heavy deposits, and even a scalpel for really nasty lumps). Same treatment for the guard, and now I'm happy with the metal work.
The next step is the grip and pommel. The pommel I can make from a piece of wood using other kaskara I own as a pattern, and the existing wood grip is fine and can be re-used. The problem I have is how to recreate the windings used to cover the grip and leather for the pommel. I don't have enough of the original of either and so I'd like to replace with new.
So here are my questions:
1) Is it possible to get something like this winding - as far as I can see it is a very thin kind of rattan or similar vegetation-based material?
2) How might this have been applied? - e.g. would it be soaked and applied. It also looks as though there is a kind of glue holding some of it in place, almost like thin wood glue or waxy substance.
3) The pommel was I think covered in thin goat skin leather. I can find big pieces of thick leather, but this very fine leather is eluding me, again any suggestions?
Failing the above I will have to go for the easier option of brass or silver wire, or leather for the windings - but much less authentic, at least for this old warrior.
Chris