Well, Tim, actually, the ivory one is more rare than you think, especially if it has a full pommel with nothing missing. As for the other, yeah, I agree, not big deal.

I have seen three for sale in the past month, one with only minor chips. Perhaps it is the coincidence of the cosmic forces.:)

BTW... what I HAVEN'T seen for sale is a kris with a WOODEN, not-so-stylised, kakatua pommel still showing its head, crest and tail plumage. Perhaps someone reading this will oblige me and put one up for sale.:D

Regards.

Something like this perhaps ? :D
Twisted core with applied laminated edge ?
Not quite yet ........ ;) :D

pangeran datu,

three junggayans? technically yes, there were three. but if you're referring to the big elaborate ones, actually there were only two; the one on live ebay, and the recent one. the one that naga basuki won (if that's what you're referring to) is actually a different type of kakatua pommel; yes, it's junggayan but it's smaller variation, which is relatively more common, while the one that's on the beginning of this thread and the latest one are much larger, i would estimate them to be around 6 inches long (around 8 inches unbroken) and prolly at the widest, about three inches. the other time i saw a similar kakaktua was the one that punal posted a year ago, but it was made out of carabao horn. back to what bill just won, i would say the pommel is more similar to this:









edited for spelling...

... so i concur with Battara stating that, yeah, the bigger ones are rarer than you think. i would bet that you won't see another one of those big ivory junggayans on ebay for awhile. ;)

ok, CPR on this dead thread. found this two websites

http://www.ivoryrepair.com/

http://www.scrimshawstudio.com/restorations.html

on 'restoration'
 

funny, I was actually thinking about restoration yesterday, while looking at japanese swords (and seeing so many either being sold as bare blades or with very poor fittings (or WW2 fittings, which I have no interest in)).

There are companies that will remake saya, rebuild handles, even reform habaki to your blade.

On top of that, as the japanese sword aesthetic is a bit different than others (it seems), if you were to get a sword to full polish, you could never put it back in its old saya for fear of scratching the blade. You'd either have to keep it in shirasaya or have a new saya made.

Begs the question on what we're really collecting :) Personally, I want to find a sword that is 'good enough' without restoration, not just to avoid the cost, but because I really don't want to be looking at something that looks brand new - a little patina is nice.

my nickel.

j.

Thanks for the links. Very helpful. BTW - I don't do scrimshaw.

you're welcome, jose! here's another site that has helpful hints on taking care of ivory.

http://www.ivorybuyer.com/sales/workingtips.htm