Gold and rusty kerises

[apolaki]

Hello David,

Thank you for the insight! Do you have or does there exist anywhere on this forum a general guideline on how to remove rust and basics on how to clean a keris? I have never engaged in such a process. Because it is an "old solider" as you stated, is it better not to attempt cleaning it if I am not experienced? Should I try practicing on a more recently made one so I don't risk ruining it?

Regarding the Kinatah, here is the hilt. It does look figural. Any ideas about it?

Thanks again!

Originally Posted by David

Well your rusty blade looks like and old soldier to me and the pamor would be called Sada Saler by many or more simply Adeg Siji (Adeg=standing, Siji=One (?), referring to pamor that runs in lines lengthwise along the blade). It is clothed in Surakarta style ladrang (formal) dress. Hopefully you will attend to the rust problem.
The "gold" keris is clothed in a Gabilan style Madurese sheath. I can't really tell from your photos what the hilt represents, but it seems to be figural. Better phos would help for identification.
When gold is applied to a keris blade in this manner it is generally called kinatah. However, i am not convinced that this is actually gold. It looks more like brass or, at best, brass with a thin gold plating over top. This is certainly a later blade than your "rusty" friend, but could say exactly how recent it is. It certainly isn't new and may have enough age to be considered "vintage".
Neither blade is upper level work. From my perspective the less flashy rusty blade is more "sincere".