My new Moro kris

[Sajen]

I just win this kris by e-bay. What do you think about? I will have some work with it, have to clean the blade from the unknown coat and also the sheat need some restore work. Would you wash the attached fabric?

Here the link from the auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWNX:IT

And the pictures from the seller.

Detlef

[Battara]

Sort of looks Maguindanao. A fighting piece. Would shake out the dust from the mansala cloth but not wash it (if you do, do it very carefully) because it might disintegrate. Nice to have a mansala on it.

[David]

Yeah, i was watching this one. Looks like a nice battle piece. A good cleaning should go a long way on this one. Too bad about the damage at the bottom of the sheath, but the rest looks restorable.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by David

Yeah, i was watching this one. Looks like a nice battle piece. A good cleaning should go a long way on this one. Too bad about the damage at the bottom of the sheath, but the rest looks restorable.

Hi David,

I think that it isn't to much work to restore it, the blade have only a little bit corrosion, most is this varnish on it. Like you write is only the demage at the sheat a problem. I will look what I can do when I hold it in my hands (hope that the volcano stop soon in Iceland).

Regards,

Detlef

[Maurice]

Hi Detlef,

I like your kris!
It looks like an old warrior!

Recently a moro kris arrived here with the same kind of varnish that is on your blade.
Try to get that off, and give the blade a slight etch after getting rid of the surface rust, it will look as reborn than.
Please don't wash the fabric. I would leave it as it is, just as the handle!
It is better that it smells like moro than if it would smell like lotion.
Maybe you could give the scabbard a light wax to bring new live in the wood.

Maurice

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Maurice

Hi Detlef,

I like your kris!
It looks like an old warrior!

Recently a moro kris arrived here with the same kind of varnish that is on your blade.
Try to get that off, and give the blade a slight etch after getting rid of the surface rust, it will look as reborn than.
Please don't wash the fabric. I would leave it as it is, just as the handle!
It is better that it smells like moro than if it would smell like lotion.
Maybe you could give the scabbard a light wax to bring new live in the wood.

Maurice

Hi Maurice,

yeah, I have seen your kris and think that it is the same sort of varnish on my blade. What you have used to remove it?

Will let the mansala like this and hope that it don't smell to strong!

The sheat will get a good care, only the demage will be a problem.

Best,

Detlef

[kino]

Good score. I should have placed a larger bid amount . I really like it for the munsala It would look good cleaned up. Congrats.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kino

Good score. I should have placed a larger bid amount . I really like it for the munsala It would look good cleaned up. Congrats.

Oh sorry! But I am sure that you have some very nice ones in your collection and this one is just my second.

Regards,

Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Battara

Sort of looks Maguindanao. A fighting piece. Would shake out the dust from the mansala cloth but not wash it (if you do, do it very carefully) because it might disintegrate. Nice to have a mansala on it.

Thank you Jose for classification since I have problems to differentiate between Moro kris. About the mansala: This have been the reason to ask to wash it or not. I am also afraid to destroy it.

Do you have a hunch how old this pice may be?

Regards,

Detlef

[VANDOO]

A NICE OLD KERIS! IF POSSIBLE REMOVE THE CLOTH WHILE WORKING ON THE KRIS AND REPLACE IT AFTER YOU ARE DONE. THE CLOTH IS LIKELY THE MOST FRAGILE PART, THE WOVEN FIBER GRIP AND BANDS ON THE SCABBARD BEING THE SECOND MOST FRAGILE. AS JOSE SAID WASHING THE CLOTH MIGHT CAUSE IT TO FALL APART.
ACETONE MAY REMOVE THE VARNISH AND STUFF FROM THE BLADE BUT TRY NOT TO GET IT ON THE FIBER ON THE GRIP AS IT OFTEN MESSES UP THE PATINA AND MAKES IT LOOK WHITE. A LIGHT COATING OF MINERAL OIL WILL HELP THE WOVEN FIBER GRIP AND SCABBARD BANDS MAKEING THEM LESS BRITTLE AND DARKENING THE PATINA. iF YOU PREFER NOT TO DARKEN THE FIBER OR WOOD SCABBARD DON'T USE THE MINERAL OIL OR WAX. I PERSONALLY LIKE THE RESTORATION AND RICHER COLOR BUT SOME DON'T.
USE ACETONE IN THE OPEN AIR WITH NO FIRE AROUND AS IT IS HIGHLY FLAMABLE AND CONCENTRATED FUMES CAN KNOCK YOU OUT. GOOD LUCK

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

A NICE OLD KERIS! IF POSSIBLE REMOVE THE CLOTH WHILE WORKING ON THE KRIS AND REPLACE IT AFTER YOU ARE DONE. THE CLOTH IS LIKELY THE MOST FRAGILE PART, THE WOVEN FIBER GRIP AND BANDS ON THE SCABBARD BEING THE SECOND MOST FRAGILE. AS JOSE SAID WASHING THE CLOTH MIGHT CAUSE IT TO FALL APART.
ACETONE MAY REMOVE THE VARNISH AND STUFF FROM THE BLADE BUT TRY NOT TO GET IT ON THE FIBER ON THE GRIP AS IT OFTEN MESSES UP THE PATINA AND MAKES IT LOOK WHITE. A LIGHT COATING OF MINERAL OIL WILL HELP THE WOVEN FIBER GRIP AND SCABBARD BANDS MAKEING THEM LESS BRITTLE AND DARKENING THE PATINA. iF YOU PREFER NOT TO DARKEN THE FIBER OR WOOD SCABBARD DON'T USE THE MINERAL OIL OR WAX. I PERSONALLY LIKE THE RESTORATION AND RICHER COLOR BUT SOME DON'T.
USE ACETONE IN THE OPEN AIR WITH NO FIRE AROUND AS IT IS HIGHLY FLAMABLE AND CONCENTRATED FUMES CAN KNOCK YOU OUT. GOOD LUCK

Thank you, and you guys have made me afraid to wash the mansala so I don't will do it.

Thank you also for the tip with the acetone, I have handled it already so I know that the smell is very strong and that it is highley flamable.

I personally like it too when the patination becomes more dark and the colour of the wood is richer and will try your tip with the mineral oil. And of course I will open the mansala before all restore works.

Best,

Detlef

[Gavin Nugent]

Hi,

I would ask the seller if there is any provenance with this piece, I ask as I saw a very similar one with 3 other weapons from the region in a US auction house with a name and period being attached to the pieces.

Gav

[Battara]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Thank you Jose for classification since I have problems to differentiate between Moro kris. About the mansala: This have been the reason to ask to wash it or not. I am also afraid to destroy it.

Regards,

Detlef

I truly agree. The mansala is a part of the weapon just as much as the hilt or scabbard. It is blessed and talismanic. It is a piece of identifiable culture. I am glad it will not be destroyed.