18th Century Moro kris?

Sajen · 6th October 2010, 04:49 PM

Today I received the kris and I am pleased with it. (and proud too

)
The blade is very small in comparison with my other two kris. The pommel is broken at both sides.
I have two questions and it would be nice to get some advices from you.
The first: the blade have a nice old patination with nearly no rust. Do you would let the blade like this or you would polish it and stain it?
The second: since the pommel is so badly broken I think about to cut it and let carve a new one, this would open also the possibility to attach a new silver band in up without open the binding. I have contact a dealer in the Philippines who see the possibility to let carve a new pommel. And what material you would choice for the pommel?

Regards,

Detlef

Battara · 6th October 2010, 05:50 PM

By all means, etch the piece - probably no need for polish, and get the pommel remade. Just make sure you get it back and that the carver does it according to old tribal standards.

Sajen · 6th October 2010, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

By all means, etch the piece - probably no need for polish, and get the pommel remade. Just make sure you get it back and that the carver does it according to old tribal standards.

Hi Jose,

thank you for advice. What do you think, is it better to remove the handle (next problem: I don't know how) or cut it and hide the cut by a new silver band? I have nearly no experience with Moro kris restoration so all my stupid questions!

I don't want to destroy something.

Battara · 6th October 2010, 08:54 PM

Good question. You could cut the top and have the new pommel placed on top, with a new silver band.

kai · 6th October 2010, 09:28 PM

Hello Detlef,

For a traditional repair job you will have to remove the binding; this example exhibits a fairly simple pattern but still I'd prefer to keep it despite some loose threads near the pommel.

Quite a few pommels are socketed with a seperate piece of wood (of lesser quality hidden by the grip bindings/decorations). Usually these are secured by a wooden/bamboo pin - this will be tough to remove though (without some moving of the bindings). Can you peek under the loose thread to verify wether grip and pommel are seperate?

If not, you could still saw off the pommel and craft a good fit when the new pommel arrives (the socket should be rectangular so that the pommel can't turn). It's not easy to get a good fit but certainly worth to spend some time on.

BTW, I'd definitely go for a diminutive pommel; good quality bunti would be great.

Regards,
Kai

Sajen · 6th October 2010, 09:48 PM

Hello Jose and Kai,

so far I can see is the grip made from one piece of wood and I think that it would be the best (like you both instigate) to cut the pommel and fix a new one and to coat this with a new silver band. I would like to keep the old binding. Of course have to look the new pommel daintily in old style.

Thank you both for your help,

Detlef

Battara · 6th October 2010, 11:32 PM

I now have more time to answer: I agree with Kai 100%. I would add that the cord wrap would need to have another recoating of black lacquer.

kai · 8th October 2010, 07:18 AM

Hello Detlef,

BTW, don't saw off the pommel until you receive the replacement hilt!

I'd suggest to ask the carver to prepare the pommel with a rectangular socket and its final depth would determine where to saw off the damaged pommel. It's much easier to file the extending stump into a "nut" exactly fitting a given socket than having to carve the socket...

Maybe it would be good to provide the carver with a cast so that the fit is going to be as close as possible?

Regards,
Kai

6th October 2010, 04:49 PM	#1
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Today I received the kris and I am pleased with it. (and proud too ) The blade is very small in comparison with my other two kris. The pommel is broken at both sides. I have two questions and it would be nice to get some advices from you. The first: the blade have a nice old patination with nearly no rust. Do you would let the blade like this or you would polish it and stain it? The second: since the pommel is so badly broken I think about to cut it and let carve a new one, this would open also the possibility to attach a new silver band in up without open the binding. I have contact a dealer in the Philippines who see the possibility to let carve a new pommel. And what material you would choice for the pommel? Regards, Detlef Attached Images

6th October 2010, 05:50 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	By all means, etch the piece - probably no need for polish, and get the pommel remade. Just make sure you get it back and that the carver does it according to old tribal standards.

6th October 2010, 08:54 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Good question. You could cut the top and have the new pommel placed on top, with a new silver band.

6th October 2010, 09:28 PM	#5
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Detlef, For a traditional repair job you will have to remove the binding; this example exhibits a fairly simple pattern but still I'd prefer to keep it despite some loose threads near the pommel. Quite a few pommels are socketed with a seperate piece of wood (of lesser quality hidden by the grip bindings/decorations). Usually these are secured by a wooden/bamboo pin - this will be tough to remove though (without some moving of the bindings). Can you peek under the loose thread to verify wether grip and pommel are seperate? If not, you could still saw off the pommel and craft a good fit when the new pommel arrives (the socket should be rectangular so that the pommel can't turn). It's not easy to get a good fit but certainly worth to spend some time on. BTW, I'd definitely go for a diminutive pommel; good quality bunti would be great. Regards, Kai

6th October 2010, 09:48 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Hello Jose and Kai, so far I can see is the grip made from one piece of wood and I think that it would be the best (like you both instigate) to cut the pommel and fix a new one and to coat this with a new silver band. I would like to keep the old binding. Of course have to look the new pommel daintily in old style. Thank you both for your help, Detlef

6th October 2010, 11:32 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	I now have more time to answer: I agree with Kai 100%. I would add that the cord wrap would need to have another recoating of black lacquer.

8th October 2010, 07:18 AM	#8
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Detlef, BTW, don't saw off the pommel until you receive the replacement hilt! I'd suggest to ask the carver to prepare the pommel with a rectangular socket and its final depth would determine where to saw off the damaged pommel. It's much easier to file the extending stump into a "nut" exactly fitting a given socket than having to carve the socket... Maybe it would be good to provide the carver with a cast so that the fit is going to be as close as possible? Regards, Kai