Two sikin panjang enter my collection

[Sajen]

Most of the inlay work is gone, sadly.

[Maurice]

Hi Detlef,

Nice job with cleaning the blade.
It looks so much better without the active rust and pitting. It also shows a nice lamination!
I have no clue about the surface of the blade near the tip.
The missing gold inlay (partly or totally) on several old sikins is more common.
It once looked like this in its best days....
Always keep in mind that they were all warriors, so war related damages and missing parts can occur

Kind regards,
Maurice

[Pendita65]

Detlef,

you did an outstandig job on the Sikin, and i love how it came out of the TLC

Regards, Martin

[Maurice]

PS, and a photo of my sikin Peusangan with remnants of gold inlay, mostly gone...

[Pertinax]

Good job Detlef!

Happy New Year!

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Pertinax

Good job Detlef!

Happy New Year!

Thank you Juri! All the best for the new year!

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Pendita65

Detlef,

you did an outstandig job on the Sikin, and i love how it came out of the TLC

Regards, Martin

Thank you Martin!

Best regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Maurice

Nice job with cleaning the blade.
It looks so much better without the active rust and pitting. It also shows a nice lamination!
I have no clue about the surface of the blade near the tip.
The missing gold inlay (partly or totally) on several old sikins is more common.
It once looked like this in its best days....
Always keep in mind that they were all warriors, so war related damages and missing parts can occur

Hi Maurice,

Thank you! And yes, I've handled several sikins with missing gold inlays. But it's nice when it is still there like in the one from the example you show.

Best regards,
Detlef

[Ian]

Detlef, I think the alteration to the tip is a fix for a bent blade at that spot. It may well have been done by a blacksmith or the owner, rather than a panday. The repair looks village quality at best, and not particularly "professional."

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

Detlef, I think the alteration to the tip is a fix for a bent blade at that spot. It may well have been done by a blacksmith or the owner, rather than a panday. The repair looks village quality at best, and not particularly "professional."

Hi Ian,

That was my thought as well but now, after the cleaning I think it has to do with the lamination, the dings go confirm with the lamination. I will show it by pics as soon as I am ready with the cleaning and the light it allows here in Germany.

Regards,
Detlef

[Marc M.]

Out of my comfort zone, a sikin panjang, Sumatra. I have a weakness for simple straightforward choppers. Oal 72.5 cm, laminated blade, horn handle with a large dry crack. Should I do anything to keep the crack from getting bigger?
From the seller's photos, I suspect it was a laminated blade. Upon receiving the blade cleaned up and tried to etch it. The etching product I had left was old and did nothing. Tried with household remedies, vinegar and lemon juice. Vinegar did little or nothing, lemon juice more. Two days of regular rubbing with lemon and a soft etched result.

Regards
Marc

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Marc M.

Oal 72.5 cm, laminated blade, horn handle with a large dry crack. Should I do anything to keep the crack from getting bigger?

Hi Marc,

To find a sikin panjang without a cracked handle is nearly impossible. I have four in my possession and all four have an age crack, small ones and bigger ones. all four handles are stable to the blade.
Just oil the handle from time to time with for example linseed oil.

Regards,
Detlef