Restoration Workshop Library.

[kai]

Hi TPS,

My only concern is the amount of moisture this wood still absorbs. I want to give it a few more coats of oil to fill the grain, but am not sure how this will affect the patina. As it is, I think it is well preserved, but like I said it "drinks" up the moisture from my hand fairly quickly still.

Would a coat of Renaissance Wax help keep a reasonably safe barrier against moisture and further deterioration or should I keep oiling it till the grain is filled?

Wax would help but also tend to give a glossy finish. I agree that repeated oiling the hilt over an extended period is preferable, especially if you're from a low-humidity climate. Just make sure to work in little amounts by intensive rubbing with your hands and don't forget to remove any excess after each session, especially from the crevices. Undiluted linseed oil is great for this but you can also apply boiled linseed oil or some other hardening oil (each formula will need some adapting). I avoid mineral oil on wood or other organic materials. None of these will affect genuine patina though - the only backdrop with utilizing natural oils is that they can favor mold in high-humidity climates if not regularly handled.

The hilt of your kris looks nice and old but I do wonder why it has so open pores - the usual antique bunti doesn't absorb a lot of moisture nor oil.

I'm afraid the ferrule/clamp construction seems dubious to me. I'd guess it's either not antique or not done by traditional Moro craftsmen (or both). Also the "fit" of the hilt on the blade looks weird with the missing katik - I'd love to examine it disassembled to verify wether these ever were intended to go together (and just got compromised by later wood shrinkage/etc.) or wether this happens to be a "forced marriage"...

Regards,
Kai