Restoration of a Sulawesi alameng

[Sajen]

Hello dear members,

I won a rusted Sulawesi sword (alameng) for low money by a German auction house. It was described as mandau! I've decided to let you see my restoration, first step has been to give some linseed oil to the nice horn hilt.

The blade was/is badly rusted, the first step will be to de-rust it, one side I have nearly finished. When the blade is rust free I will work further at the blade to let it look nice again but it will take time so this thread will continue.

The alameng is 60 cm long, the blade is 44 cm and 8 mm thick at the spine behind the handle and quite heavy with 621 gram.
The blade is ground slightly hollow on both sides and has a "V" shaped cutting edge.

[Sajen]

Pics from the handle.

[JeffS]

Excellent - great to see restoration process. Interesting piece, I have not seen thst style of hilt. What was your method for removing rust from the first side?

[Pendita65]

Hi Detlef,

looks good the de-rusting, the linseed oil you used was it boiled or cold pressed oil? And did you soak the handle or used a rag to apply the oil?
I am curious if you used a wire wheel for derusting or only waterproof sandpaper?

Nice Alameng btw.

Regards, Martin

[Sajen]

Hi Jeff and Martin,

Thank you both! For the cleaning of the blade I used a rust rubber gum and at places where it was hard and encrusted rust I used a stone. No power tools involved!
I have used cold pressed linseed oil for years for wood, horn and other natural materials.

Attached are two pictures from "Senjata Pusaka Bugis" of a very similar sword.

Regards,
Detlef

[kino]

Originally Posted by Sajen

For the cleaning of the blade I used a rust rubber gum and at places where it was hard and encrusted rust I used a stone.

Congrats on your recent acquisition. It’s coming out very nice.
Thanks for sharing your restoration methods. For us that don’t know, could you please tell us what a “rust rubber gum” is? I like to other rust removal items other than sand paper.