Strange twist core Moro _____???

T. Koch · 30th August 2012, 04:12 PM

Wow, interesting piece! It looks as if the pattern weld is starting to come apart. Could this be the result of unskilled hands, i.e. the re-forging done by a smith who was perhaps unfamiliar with the principles of patterned steel? The handle and ferrule looks similar to that of a barong.

Whatever it is, it's coooool!

Michael, sorry for the semi-OT, but is there a convenient Scandinavian source for FeCl, or do you just buy it online? I'd like to try out a more aggressive etch.

All the best, - Thor

VANDOO · 30th August 2012, 04:34 PM

MAYBE A REWORKED KRIS BUT MORE LIKELY SOMEONE TRYING TO MAKE A TWISTCORE BARONG. THE BLADE BEING NARROW DOES MAKE ONE WONDER IF IT WAS A KERIS AT ONE TIME. PICTURES OF THE BLADE FORTE (BOTH SIDES) COULD REVEAL IF IT WAS REFORGED FROM A KERIS. THOSE WHO FORGE AND MAKE KNIVES SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL WHAT WAS DONE BUT AS USUAL ITS DIFFICULT TO KNOW FOR CERTIAN FROM PICTURES ONLY. A VERY INTERESTING BARONG.

Rick · 30th August 2012, 04:54 PM

I'm pretty sure those are cold shuts showing on the blade .

Anorexic Barung ?

VVV · 30th August 2012, 10:20 PM

Thanks for all comments!

Rick, I don't know about cold shuts but I just returned home after seeing Coldplay here in Stockholm and they were GREAT!!!
Maybe it is an anorexic barung with bangkung-envy?

Roy, I diluted the vinegar with hot water and let it sit in it for several hours, after I failed with FeCl.

Thor, I got the FeCl from a fellow collector when he was visiting Sweden. It seems to be hard to buy it here in non-industrial doses.

And I will shoot additional close up pictures tomorrow of the blade details.

Michael

Spunjer · 30th August 2012, 11:01 PM

hello michael,
yup, that's moro. i believe it's similar to this here newer version, tho not as pretty as yours. the local term escapes me at the moment (those darn Sulu terms, lol), but yeah, it's kinda like a barung on weight watchers. yours does looks like it was salvaged from a twistcore kris, but then again, what's the dimension of this beaut you got?
btw, your would be the double edge version, while mine would be the shandigan type...

Battara · 31st August 2012, 02:07 AM

Could it be a shadrigan/sipput barong? I don't know.

Or it could also be a type of Moro piece unaccounted for in the literature?

Interesting whatever it is.

VVV · 31st August 2012, 09:41 AM

Thanks for the reference pictures, Ron!

Mine is quite small - 22" with a 16" blade.
The width is 2 cm closest to the hilt and then reaches 3,3 cm.
On the sides it is like a barong, thick at the back and then an edge all the way on the business side.

It doesn't have any shandigan traits at the center of the blade etc.

Michael

30th August 2012, 11:01 PM	#5
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	hello michael, yup, that's moro. i believe it's similar to this here newer version, tho not as pretty as yours. the local term escapes me at the moment (those darn Sulu terms, lol), but yeah, it's kinda like a barung on weight watchers. yours does looks like it was salvaged from a twistcore kris, but then again, what's the dimension of this beaut you got? btw, your would be the double edge version, while mine would be the shandigan type... Attached Images

31st August 2012, 09:41 AM	#7
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks for the reference pictures, Ron! Mine is quite small - 22" with a 16" blade. The width is 2 cm closest to the hilt and then reaches 3,3 cm. On the sides it is like a barong, thick at the back and then an edge all the way on the business side. It doesn't have any shandigan traits at the center of the blade etc. Michael Attached Images

30th August 2012, 04:12 PM	#1
T. Koch Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Mother North Posts: 189	Wow, interesting piece! It looks as if the pattern weld is starting to come apart. Could this be the result of unskilled hands, i.e. the re-forging done by a smith who was perhaps unfamiliar with the principles of patterned steel? The handle and ferrule looks similar to that of a barong. Whatever it is, it's coooool! Michael, sorry for the semi-OT, but is there a convenient Scandinavian source for FeCl, or do you just buy it online? I'd like to try out a more aggressive etch. All the best, - Thor

30th August 2012, 04:34 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	MAYBE A REWORKED KRIS BUT MORE LIKELY SOMEONE TRYING TO MAKE A TWISTCORE BARONG. THE BLADE BEING NARROW DOES MAKE ONE WONDER IF IT WAS A KERIS AT ONE TIME. PICTURES OF THE BLADE FORTE (BOTH SIDES) COULD REVEAL IF IT WAS REFORGED FROM A KERIS. THOSE WHO FORGE AND MAKE KNIVES SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL WHAT WAS DONE BUT AS USUAL ITS DIFFICULT TO KNOW FOR CERTIAN FROM PICTURES ONLY. A VERY INTERESTING BARONG.

30th August 2012, 04:54 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	I'm pretty sure those are cold shuts showing on the blade . Anorexic Barung ?

30th August 2012, 10:20 PM	#4
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks for all comments! Rick, I don't know about cold shuts but I just returned home after seeing Coldplay here in Stockholm and they were GREAT!!! Maybe it is an anorexic barung with bangkung-envy? Roy, I diluted the vinegar with hot water and let it sit in it for several hours, after I failed with FeCl. Thor, I got the FeCl from a fellow collector when he was visiting Sweden. It seems to be hard to buy it here in non-industrial doses. And I will shoot additional close up pictures tomorrow of the blade details. Michael

31st August 2012, 02:07 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Could it be a shadrigan/sipput barong? I don't know. Or it could also be a type of Moro piece unaccounted for in the literature? Interesting whatever it is.