Ivory Hilt Barong for Sharing

Ian · 18th December 2016, 11:30 PM

Arms and Antiques,

I have not seen any evidence of wootz used in Moro weapons or heard of it being reported.

If such a thing did occur it would be extremely rare. As I look at the pictures of the cleaned blade, I'm not seeing anything that would suggest wootz. Some older Moro pieces were treated by collectors with various agents, including cosmoline, to prevent rust. These sometimes produced patterns on blades that were removed with the cleaning of the blade. I wonder if something similar occurred here.

Ian.

Aslan Paladin · 19th December 2016, 05:51 AM

For Arms and Antiques, here are pictures of the same side of the blade all cleaned up and etched (it would have been great if the blade turned out to be wootz but all is good the way it is).

Sajen · 19th December 2016, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aslan Paladin

For Arms and Antiques, here are pictures of the same side of the blade all cleaned up and etched (it would have been great if the blade turned out to be wootz but all is good the way it is).

Hello Aslan,

the lamination would come out much better when you polish the blade better IMVHO.

Regards,
Detlef

ArmsAndAntiques · 19th December 2016, 11:43 PM

How unfortunate. It's always exciting to look for wootz where it shouldn't be. But lamination is a good substitute especially on a fine overall example such as this.

Wootz does surprisingly turns up in sometimes the most unexpected places.

Battara · 20th December 2016, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Arms and Antiques,

I have not seen any evidence of wootz used in Moro weapons or heard of it being reported.

If such a thing did occur it would be extremely rare. As I look at the pictures of the cleaned blade, I'm not seeing anything that would suggest wootz. Some older Moro pieces were treated by collectors with various agents, including cosmoline, to prevent rust. These sometimes produced patterns on blades that were removed with the cleaning of the blade. I wonder if something similar occurred here.

Ian.

Totally agree with Ian. In fact, the same can be said about the whole Indonesian-Malaysian-Philippine region. When the exceedingly rare example shows up (in Indonesia) it always seems to be a trade blade from Persia.

19th December 2016, 05:51 AM	#2
Aslan Paladin Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Te Aroha, New Zealand Posts: 122	For Arms and Antiques, here are pictures of the same side of the blade all cleaned up and etched (it would have been great if the blade turned out to be wootz but all is good the way it is). Attached Images Last edited by Aslan Paladin; 19th December 2016 at 03:19 PM.

18th December 2016, 11:30 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Arms and Antiques, I have not seen any evidence of wootz used in Moro weapons or heard of it being reported. If such a thing did occur it would be extremely rare. As I look at the pictures of the cleaned blade, I'm not seeing anything that would suggest wootz. Some older Moro pieces were treated by collectors with various agents, including cosmoline, to prevent rust. These sometimes produced patterns on blades that were removed with the cleaning of the blade. I wonder if something similar occurred here. Ian.

19th December 2016, 11:43 PM	#4
ArmsAndAntiques Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 80	How unfortunate. It's always exciting to look for wootz where it shouldn't be. But lamination is a good substitute especially on a fine overall example such as this. Wootz does surprisingly turns up in sometimes the most unexpected places.