New Tajong with copper beak

ariel · 24th December 2011, 12:54 AM

Gentlemen,
This is definitely not my area of knowledge and passion, but I could not resist the e-bay offering.
Therefore, I would most appreciate your help and opinions on the age and quality of this tajong.

The scabbard consists of two parts, and they are separated. the line beween them is not straight, with a small gap, but doesn't look broken. The largest " wing" has some small losses of wood.

The handle is covered in some kind of black varnish, and a lot of it. The beak looks like copper. I took it to local jewelry store to test for swaasa. They got a new laser gizmo to test for precious metals, and the beak was the first time they actually used it. I was told that there was no gold, but may take it to another store to retest ( they did not seem to know how to use the gizmo very well).

The blade is very healthy, thick, with no active rust and no obvious losses. However, it is completely covered with dark patina-like darkening.

To show the details of the carving and the blade, I photographed them both with and w/o flash.

Should I try and remove the varnish? How? should I clean and polish the blade? Should I try and re-glue the scabbard? Fill the gap?

Do you need any more pictures?

Thank you very much in advance.

ariel · 24th December 2011, 12:59 AM

+1

ariel · 24th December 2011, 01:01 AM

+2

David · 24th December 2011, 01:04 AM

I'd like to see better photos of the hilt. I can't tell much about it from these as to the quality of it from these shots. As you say Ariel, this is not really your avenue. I would therefore recommend you do very little to this. There are special methods for cleaning keris blades and if it is not your thing the less done the better. I would oil the blade well, maybe brushing it with a soft toothbrush a bit to remove any surface rust. The hilt need a pendokok so you might want to look into that.
I wouldn't necessarily fill gaps, but i would re-glue the sheath.

David · 24th December 2011, 01:05 AM

Nevermind, seems you posted more pics while i was writing...

ariel · 24th December 2011, 12:34 PM

Glad that's enough for you to render your opinion on the quality and age, as I asked.
The biggest problem is that the varnish is so thick that the crispness of carving is obscured by it. You can see on some pics that there were at least 2 and possibly more layers. I cannot even see the material of the handle. Since there are some cracks at the back of it, I assume it is wood. But what kind, I do not know.

David · 24th December 2011, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Glad that's enough for you to render your opinion on the quality and age, as I asked.

Well Ariel, since i rendered an opinion on neither i find it hard not to read this statement as sarcasm and can only advise that you reel that in...

ariel · 24th December 2011, 06:11 PM

No sarcasm was intended. I just reiterated the scope of my inquiries after you said the pics were OK.

Sajen · 24th December 2011, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Gentlemen,
This is definitely not my area of knowledge and passion, but I could not resist the e-bay offering.
Therefore, I would most appreciate your help and opinions on the age and quality of this tajong.

The scabbard consists of two parts, and they are separated. the line beween them is not straight, with a small gap, but doesn't look broken. The largest " wing" has some small losses of wood.

The handle is covered in some kind of black varnish, and a lot of it. The beak looks like copper. I took it to local jewelry store to test for swaasa. They got a new laser gizmo to test for precious metals, and the beak was the first time they actually used it. I was told that there was no gold, but may take it to another store to retest ( they did not seem to know how to use the gizmo very well).

The blade is very healthy, thick, with no active rust and no obvious losses. However, it is completely covered with dark patina-like darkening.

To show the details of the carving and the blade, I photographed them both with and w/o flash.

Should I try and remove the varnish? How? should I clean and polish the blade? Should I try and re-glue the scabbard? Fill the gap?

Do you need any more pictures?

Thank you very much in advance.

Hello Ariel,

I think you have get a good old Tajong there. The first step I would do is to reglue the two parts of the sheath. Look before if there is old glue and when remove carefully this old glue with a sharp knife. When you have removed this old glue put them together and look, maybe the gap isn't anymore. Use wood glue and not any chemical glue for this.
About the handle: Try carefully at a small area to remove the varnish with lighter fuel. It is maybe shellac and it will be possible to remove it with it. When this will be possible you have very good luck since it will be possible to remove this ugly varnish without destroy the very nice handle. the beak I would polish carefully, by the colour you will see if it is suassa.
This is what I would do. But please do all very carefully because you have a very nice and worthy keris in your hands. You can be happy that I haven't seen this auction!!

Please inform about your success.
Look also this thread where I have done a restauration of a Tajong: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=tajong
Maybe this thread will be of some help for your project.

Regards,

Detlef

24th December 2011, 12:54 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	New Tajong with copper beak Gentlemen, This is definitely not my area of knowledge and passion, but I could not resist the e-bay offering. Therefore, I would most appreciate your help and opinions on the age and quality of this tajong. The scabbard consists of two parts, and they are separated. the line beween them is not straight, with a small gap, but doesn't look broken. The largest " wing" has some small losses of wood. The handle is covered in some kind of black varnish, and a lot of it. The beak looks like copper. I took it to local jewelry store to test for swaasa. They got a new laser gizmo to test for precious metals, and the beak was the first time they actually used it. I was told that there was no gold, but may take it to another store to retest ( they did not seem to know how to use the gizmo very well). The blade is very healthy, thick, with no active rust and no obvious losses. However, it is completely covered with dark patina-like darkening. To show the details of the carving and the blade, I photographed them both with and w/o flash. Should I try and remove the varnish? How? should I clean and polish the blade? Should I try and re-glue the scabbard? Fill the gap? Do you need any more pictures? Thank you very much in advance. Attached Images

24th December 2011, 12:59 AM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	+1 Attached Images

24th December 2011, 01:01 AM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	+2 Attached Images

24th December 2011, 01:04 AM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,100	I'd like to see better photos of the hilt. I can't tell much about it from these as to the quality of it from these shots. As you say Ariel, this is not really your avenue. I would therefore recommend you do very little to this. There are special methods for cleaning keris blades and if it is not your thing the less done the better. I would oil the blade well, maybe brushing it with a soft toothbrush a bit to remove any surface rust. The hilt need a pendokok so you might want to look into that. I wouldn't necessarily fill gaps, but i would re-glue the sheath.

24th December 2011, 01:05 AM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,100	Nevermind, seems you posted more pics while i was writing...

24th December 2011, 12:34 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Glad that's enough for you to render your opinion on the quality and age, as I asked. The biggest problem is that the varnish is so thick that the crispness of carving is obscured by it. You can see on some pics that there were at least 2 and possibly more layers. I cannot even see the material of the handle. Since there are some cracks at the back of it, I assume it is wood. But what kind, I do not know.

24th December 2011, 06:11 PM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	No sarcasm was intended. I just reiterated the scope of my inquiries after you said the pics were OK.