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.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kino

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.

Thanks Albert! Attached is a pic of such a rust rubber gum, I buy them on Amazon. They work well by surface rust and a little bit deeper rust.

Regards,
Detlef

[kino]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Thanks Albert! Attached is a pic of such a rust rubber gum, I buy them on Amazon. They work well by surface rust and a little bit deeper rust.

Regards,
Detlef

Thank you sir.
I will get it and give it a try.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Thanks Albert! Attached is a pic of such a rust rubber gum, I buy them on Amazon. They work well by surface rust and a little bit deeper rust.

Regards,
Detlef

I think you'll get the same effect as when using steel wool 0000?
(That's what I usually use)

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Maurice

I think you'll get the same effect as when using steel wool 0000?
(That's what I usually use)

No, it's better and much faster!

[JeffS]

Originally Posted by Maurice

I think you'll get the same effect as when using steel wool 0000?
(That's what I usually use)

Am I just not patient enough with 0000 (or 000) wool? I find it almost never removes anything but the most superficial rust, but I'm not sure if I give it enough time. Am I supposed to keep going even if I feel like I have not made noticeable progress after a few minutes? Also, I'm curious on the type of stone and method you (Detlef) use for deep rust pockets. If soft enough I will use a metal pick but often find rust crusts to be extremely hard and need abrasive anf/or repeated acid washes (vinegar) to remove.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by JeffS

Am I just not patient enough with 0000 (or 000) wool? I find it almost never removes anything but the most superficial rust, but I'm not sure if I give it enough time. Am I supposed to keep going even if I feel like I have not made noticeable progress after a few minutes? Also, I'm curious on the type of stone and method you (Detlef) use for deep rust pockets. If soft enough I will use a metal pick but often find rust crusts to be extremely hard and need abrasive anf/or repeated acid washes (vinegar) to remove.

Yes, only for superficial rust ofcourse. And I use it combined with oil. Works perfect for me. If the blade has more rust than superficial rust, steel wool 0000 will not work anymore at some point.

[Sajen]

It's cleaned now, here are some pictures. The last two pics show it together with two other similar Sulawesi swords from my collection.

[Maurice]

That's a cool Celebes grouping you've got their Detlef!

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Maurice

That's a cool Celebes grouping you've got their Detlef!

Thanks Maurice! The "new" one is a very massive chopper with heavy lamination. I've rubbed the blade with lemon juice but it needs a stronger etchant to show it better. Here a pic without flash to get an impression.

Best regards,
Detlef

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Thanks Maurice! The "new" one is a very massive chopper with heavy lamination. I've rubbed the blade with lemon juice but it needs a stronger etchant to show it better. Here a pic without flash to get an impression.

Best regards,
Detlef

Thank you for the photo which shows the lamination of your alameng. Celebes had imo top blacksmiths!

Regards,
Maurice

[Sajen]

Another short alameng entered the collection with another handle form. One side of the blade is cleaned from surface rust, when the other side is also cleaned I will post a new group picture. The blade was badly bent but I was able to straighten it again perfectly.
48 cm long with a blade from 38 cm.

[Pendita65]

Nice swords Detlef your collection keeps growing piece by piece "chapeau"

[JeffS]

Would you consider this the same style? 51cm blade with thick 8mm spine at base.

[Sajen]

Thank you Martin! Often I find them by accident!

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by JeffS

Would you consider this the same style? 51cm blade with thick 8mm spine at base.

Hi Jeff,

In principle, yes, I would attribute it to one of the Toraja groups.

Regards,
Detlef

[JeffS]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Jeff,

In principle, yes, I would attribute it to one of the Toraja groups.

Regards,
Detlef

For sure Toraja. Here it is next to a dua lalan and you can see the close match in style. Also the other alamang with more classic hilt shape has Toraja style.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by JeffS

For sure Toraja. Here it is next to a dua lalan and you can see the close match in style. Also the other alamang with more classic hilt shape has Toraja style.

Nice Sulawesi display!

[Sajen]

Here a new group picture, also a close up from the handles. Three blades show a talismanic pamor at the base.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Here a new group picture, also a close up from the handles. Three blades show a talismanic pamor at the base.

Very nice Detlef!

I've seen most of these kind of Sulawesi blades with this pamor at the base near the hilt.

Kind regards,
Maurice

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by JeffS

For sure Toraja. Here it is next to a dua lalan and you can see the close match in style. Also the other alamang with more classic hilt shape has Toraja style.

Very nice displayJeff!
And some nice Borneo swords too!

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Maurice

Very nice Detlef!

I've seen most of these kind of Sulawesi blades with this pamor at the base near the hilt.

Hi Maurice,

Thank you! And yes, these talismanic pamors at the base of Sulawesi blades seems to be a common feature so far I know.

Best regards,
Detlef

[JeffS]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Maurice,

Thank you! And yes, these talismanic pamors at the base of Sulawesi blades seems to be a common feature so far I know.

Best regards,
Detlef

Another example. Big one, 70cm OAL w/51cm blade & 7mm spine.

[Sajen]

Very nice alameng Jeff!