eBay Toss of the Dice (NEW PICS!)

David · 30th January 2011, 10:04 PM

I may have just thrown away a few bucks, but i took a chance on this based on just one of the 4 bad seller photos. The dress is obviously a bit cheap and touristy and the hilt has a chip, but in that one image where you can clearly see a deep cut, well shaped sogokan and what looks like it just might be an original Balinese stain i think i may have got myself a nice old Bali blade for relatively little money.
I don't care too much for the 2-tone sarong, but figure i can strip and re-stain it all one dark color and i can replace the hilt if the damage really bothers me.
I'll update when i receive it, but my fingers are crossed.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...#ht_500wt_1156

EDIT: I have added the auction photos before they are removed from eBay for comparison.

Sajen · 30th January 2011, 11:18 PM

Hi David,

keep my fingers crossed for you!

It's good possible that the blade is a very good one and the dress isn't bad at all also when it's a tourist one, the carvings don't look to crude but it will need some work that the blade will get a good fit inside. The real prize will be the blade. I am curious to see the blade by good pictures.

Best regards,

Detlef

Rick · 31st January 2011, 02:23 AM

Have hope David .
The last example of this tourist oriented dress I purchased from Rand contained that beautiful Lombok / E.Jawa iras blade you stained for me .

Looks like your chances may be good, my friend .

Rick

BluErf · 31st January 2011, 08:28 AM

This keris looks a lot better than 99% of the 'tourist' keris out there. At least the small daunan still flows nicely, and does not jut out like an extra appendage.

David · 4th February 2011, 04:50 PM

I received this keris today and would say that my gamble was fairly successful. The blade is a fairly well formed old Bali 9 luk blade that is extremely edge sharp. It has a nice clear pamor and well executed ricikan. As a bonus there seems to be a small triangle of gold applied to the blade on one side at the Bawang Sebungkul.

Unfortunately on the reverse side there is a rough patch in this area that may have once held gold and has since lost it.
Someone also covered the entire blade in a cosmoline-type rust inhibitor. I am assuming that this will come off with mineral spirits, but it leaves a very ugly finish for now. And the hilt is stuck in the wrong position for now so i'll be slowly heating the blade to try to remove it so that i can properly clean it.
The newer cheap dress actually doesn't look all that bad in person. With a little work it will at least be acceptable for the time being. It should be too hard to fix the fit of the blade either.
All in all i am pleased and i will post when i can attend to some of this restoration.

Sajen · 4th February 2011, 05:21 PM

Congratulations David, sounds very good. I am curious to see better pictures.

Detlef

30th January 2011, 10:04 PM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,125	eBay Toss of the Dice (NEW PICS!) I may have just thrown away a few bucks, but i took a chance on this based on just one of the 4 bad seller photos. The dress is obviously a bit cheap and touristy and the hilt has a chip, but in that one image where you can clearly see a deep cut, well shaped sogokan and what looks like it just might be an original Balinese stain i think i may have got myself a nice old Bali blade for relatively little money. I don't care too much for the 2-tone sarong, but figure i can strip and re-stain it all one dark color and i can replace the hilt if the damage really bothers me. I'll update when i receive it, but my fingers are crossed. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...#ht_500wt_1156 EDIT: I have added the auction photos before they are removed from eBay for comparison. Attached Images Last edited by David; 16th February 2011 at 04:43 PM.

30th January 2011, 11:18 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Hi David, keep my fingers crossed for you! It's good possible that the blade is a very good one and the dress isn't bad at all also when it's a tourist one, the carvings don't look to crude but it will need some work that the blade will get a good fit inside. The real prize will be the blade. I am curious to see the blade by good pictures. Best regards, Detlef

31st January 2011, 02:23 AM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Have hope David . The last example of this tourist oriented dress I purchased from Rand contained that beautiful Lombok / E.Jawa iras blade you stained for me . Looks like your chances may be good, my friend . Rick

31st January 2011, 08:28 AM	#4
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	This keris looks a lot better than 99% of the 'tourist' keris out there. At least the small daunan still flows nicely, and does not jut out like an extra appendage.

4th February 2011, 04:50 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,125	I received this keris today and would say that my gamble was fairly successful. The blade is a fairly well formed old Bali 9 luk blade that is extremely edge sharp. It has a nice clear pamor and well executed ricikan. As a bonus there seems to be a small triangle of gold applied to the blade on one side at the Bawang Sebungkul. Unfortunately on the reverse side there is a rough patch in this area that may have once held gold and has since lost it. Someone also covered the entire blade in a cosmoline-type rust inhibitor. I am assuming that this will come off with mineral spirits, but it leaves a very ugly finish for now. And the hilt is stuck in the wrong position for now so i'll be slowly heating the blade to try to remove it so that i can properly clean it. The newer cheap dress actually doesn't look all that bad in person. With a little work it will at least be acceptable for the time being. It should be too hard to fix the fit of the blade either. All in all i am pleased and i will post when i can attend to some of this restoration.

4th February 2011, 05:21 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Congratulations David, sounds very good. I am curious to see better pictures. Detlef