My new kris comes with a dilemma

imas560 · 10th May 2013, 07:46 AM

Hello all,
my latest kris has turned up but I now have a dilemma. There is no bindings on the handle so I arranged to get some rattan for binding after I knew I had won the kris. But when the kris turned up the wood is so beautiful I don't want to cover it up. My dilemma is as follows: I would like to secure the asang-asang tail but I don't want to fully cover the wood. Is there any examples of half bound kris? I'm thinking I'd like to bind the handle until the asag-asang tail is covered but leave the rest of the handle exposed.
Anyway my notes after looking through Cato:
sulu fighting kris, long copper asang asang, late 1800s - early 1900s?
Any suggestions appreciated
thanks

kai · 10th May 2013, 09:51 PM

Hello,

I wouldn't mind to face a similar dilemma...

Is that intentional carving at the base of the hilt? (Looks like a slightly wider ring which might suggest that no typical ferrule ever was there.)

I'm not sure the clamp is original.

IMHO it is pretty certain that there would have been grip binding originally (if only to assure a positive grip). But I could imagine just adding 2 silver bands in similar width and okir than the still present final band. (This would also cover the majority of the chipped wood area.)

Regards,
Kai

Rick · 11th May 2013, 12:28 AM

I'm sure it was wrapped once; probably whoever hilted that sword must have hated to see that magnificent grain covered up .

Finer looking than Silver or Gold .

Sajen · 12th May 2013, 10:36 AM

Agree with you that the grain is beautiful but I am sure that it was covered once by a grip binding.

Regards,

Detlef

imas560 · 12th May 2013, 12:00 PM

Thanks for the comments, much appreciated.
I like Kai's suggestion of 2 silver bands, I'm going to have a wee think on how to approach this.

10th May 2013, 07:46 AM	#1
imas560 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 180	My new kris comes with a dilemma Hello all, my latest kris has turned up but I now have a dilemma. There is no bindings on the handle so I arranged to get some rattan for binding after I knew I had won the kris. But when the kris turned up the wood is so beautiful I don't want to cover it up. My dilemma is as follows: I would like to secure the asang-asang tail but I don't want to fully cover the wood. Is there any examples of half bound kris? I'm thinking I'd like to bind the handle until the asag-asang tail is covered but leave the rest of the handle exposed. Anyway my notes after looking through Cato: sulu fighting kris, long copper asang asang, late 1800s - early 1900s? Any suggestions appreciated thanks Attached Images

10th May 2013, 09:51 PM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello, I wouldn't mind to face a similar dilemma... Is that intentional carving at the base of the hilt? (Looks like a slightly wider ring which might suggest that no typical ferrule ever was there.) I'm not sure the clamp is original. IMHO it is pretty certain that there would have been grip binding originally (if only to assure a positive grip). But I could imagine just adding 2 silver bands in similar width and okir than the still present final band. (This would also cover the majority of the chipped wood area.) Regards, Kai

11th May 2013, 12:28 AM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	I'm sure it was wrapped once; probably whoever hilted that sword must have hated to see that magnificent grain covered up . Finer looking than Silver or Gold .

12th May 2013, 10:36 AM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Agree with you that the grain is beautiful but I am sure that it was covered once by a grip binding. Regards, Detlef

12th May 2013, 12:00 PM	#5
imas560 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 180	Thanks for the comments, much appreciated. I like Kai's suggestion of 2 silver bands, I'm going to have a wee think on how to approach this.