Topographic pattern on kris

JeffS · 10th January 2025, 04:36 AM

Apologies for the bad photos. I am about to clean this up but am curious about the slightly raised patterning on this kris. I'm tempted to polish but wanted to see if others have experienced this with Moro kris. Hope the pictures demonstrate what I am describing. The raised material is enough to feel with fingernail but not enough to "catch" it.

Ian · 10th January 2025, 05:24 AM

Hi Jeff.

A 20th C Mindanao kris that seems to have been over-etched. I had a barung that was treated similarly. I think it may now belong to a fellow forumite.

The extent of over-etching starts at the tip of the "arrowhead" of the blade and extends down the blade. There is nothing above that line to suggest any etchant was used.

Sajen · 10th January 2025, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

I had a barung that was treated similarly. I think it may now belong to a fellow forumite.

Hi Ian,

Do you mean the barung you sold me via ebay 15-20 years back?

Regards,
Detlef

Sajen · 10th January 2025, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffS

Apologies for the bad photos. I am about to clean this up but am curious about the slightly raised patterning on this kris. I'm tempted to polish but wanted to see if others have experienced this with Moro kris. Hope the pictures demonstrate what I am describing. The raised material is enough to feel with fingernail but not enough to "catch" it.

Hi Jeff,

I guess that Ian means me, I bought a similar over etched barung from him via ebay years ago. I've thought about to repolish the blade but I have enough other projects which seems more important to my eyes!

Your kris blade looks very interesting in this state, I would let it in this state.

Regards,
Detlef

Ian · 10th January 2025, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Ian,

Do you mean the barung you sold me via ebay 15-20 years back?

Regards,
Detlef

Yes, Detlef, that's the one--right before I came down with an illness that kept me off these pages for several years. I've never seen another barung treated in that manner.

Sajen · 10th January 2025, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Yes, Detlef, that's the one--right before I came down with an illness that kept me off these pages for several years. I've never seen another barung treated in that manner.

Long ago but I still have it and was able to add a scabbard to it, it was my first barung. Will post pictures tomorrow for comparison.

Regards,
Detlef

Sajen · 11th January 2025, 02:52 PM

Here you go! Like said before, I was able to give the blade a fitting scabbard.
The blade is different from the kris blade in question, but over-etched for sure but I am sure that it would be possible to make the blade very nice again, you just need to polish the blade.

Regards,
Detlef

Ian · 11th January 2025, 08:19 PM

Nice match with the scabbard, Detlef. Correct era too.

Sajen · 12th January 2025, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Nice match with the scabbard, Detlef. Correct era too.

Hi Ian,

Jep, it was great luck to find this scabbard and the fit is not bad!

Regards,
Detlef

JeffS · 12th January 2025, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Ian,

Jep, it was great luck to find this scabbard and the fit is not bad!

Regards,
Detlef

Wow, that rarely happens! Thx for posting. Yes, I think I will polish it and light etch to show that cool pattern. Ian - you said 20th C, would that be pre-war. The ganja is separate, nice sword.

Ian · 12th January 2025, 05:46 AM

Jeff,

Yes, I think pre-WWII

Ian

Sajen · 12th January 2025, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffS

Wow, that rarely happens!

Hi Jeff,

And unbelievable, this was the second time I've had this luck.

And yes, I think it's a good idea to repolish the blade of your kris.

Regards,
Detlef

Ian · Yesterday, 02:44 PM

Hi Detlef,

I don't want to hijack Jeff's thread, but that second barung is older than your first, judging from the pommel, and you matched it with an older style of scabbard. Was that intentional or just happenstance?

Sajen · Yesterday, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi Detlef,

I don't want to hijack Jeff's thread, but that second barung is older than your first, judging from the pommel, and you matched it with an older style of scabbard. Was that intentional or just happenstance?

Hi Ian,

I also won't hijack Jeff's thread but I am nearly sure that he doesn't mind.

I bought the scabbard years ago for peanuts from a weapons forum in Spain (!), the Sulu barung, it's a shandigan blade, I bought years later at an auction and I was very surprised that the scabbard fits the blade nearly perfectly. And I think that it's a matching pair.

Best regards,
Detlef

10th January 2025, 04:36 AM	#1
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 370	Topographic pattern on kris Apologies for the bad photos. I am about to clean this up but am curious about the slightly raised patterning on this kris. I'm tempted to polish but wanted to see if others have experienced this with Moro kris. Hope the pictures demonstrate what I am describing. The raised material is enough to feel with fingernail but not enough to "catch" it. Attached Images

11th January 2025, 02:52 PM	#7
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,981	Here you go! Like said before, I was able to give the blade a fitting scabbard. The blade is different from the kris blade in question, but over-etched for sure but I am sure that it would be possible to make the blade very nice again, you just need to polish the blade. Regards, Detlef Attached Images

10th January 2025, 05:24 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,283	Hi Jeff. A 20th C Mindanao kris that seems to have been over-etched. I had a barung that was treated similarly. I think it may now belong to a fellow forumite. The extent of over-etching starts at the tip of the "arrowhead" of the blade and extends down the blade. There is nothing above that line to suggest any etchant was used.

11th January 2025, 08:19 PM	#8
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,283	Nice match with the scabbard, Detlef. Correct era too.

12th January 2025, 05:46 AM	#11
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,283	Jeff, Yes, I think pre-WWII Ian

Yesterday, 02:44 PM	#13
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,283	Hi Detlef, I don't want to hijack Jeff's thread, but that second barung is older than your first, judging from the pommel, and you matched it with an older style of scabbard. Was that intentional or just happenstance?