A Moro Kris With Restoration Questions

[Ian]

Hi Chief,

Nice restoration and cleaning. I agree that keeping the braided rings would have been more in keeping how it looked in the original culture, but the whipped black cord looks very neat. Having an original anting anting is a nice touch too.

Kino's suggestion about a prior repair to the pommel sounds right to me. I've seen similar repairs on a barung hilt as well. The quality of the repair on kino's kampilan looks particularly good to me and might have been done by the original carver of that hilt.

Ian

[chiefheadknocker]

I have really enjoyed restoring this sword ,which I dedicated a whole day to get it done , I was in two minds about the brading , there was only one section that was intact and so I left it off as it wouldn't match the new ones , I lightly etched the blade which came up very nice , I prefer not to clean these sword up too much as they can loose there aged look but this one had to be put right ,I couldn't live with the loose hilt , now it looks quite impressive with the bright silver bands against the black braiding , I dont think I will try to tackle putting a wooden inlay into the pommel !
Thanks for all your responses

[Tim Simmons]

I am in the process of purchasing this Kris here in the UK. What I would like to know, what would have originally been inlayed into the pommel? To my eyes the hole was cut at the time of making the pommel, just does not look natural. This is a well travelled kris.

[Sajen]

Like stated in up, the same type of wood as the pommel.

Regards,
Detlef

[Tim Simmons]

Clearly been cut at the time of making. Why cut a hole to fill with the same wood? I have ivory and mop, also human teeth but that is a Fijian thing.

[Tim Simmons]

conch?

[David]

Could have been ivory or MOP. At this point we will never know for sure, so if you choose to fill it with some material i would say it is dealer's choice.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Clearly been cut at the time of making. Why cut a hole to fill with the same wood? I have ivory and mop, also human teeth but that is a Fijian thing.

Hi Tim,

I don't think that there was any other material inlaid than wood, it could be that there was a knothole so the maker inlayed the same type of wood.

This place would be very unusual for an amulette.

Regards,
Detlef

[Tim Simmons]

I should stick to what I know . There is no going back know.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Tim,

I don't think that there was any other material inlaid than wood, it could be that there was a knothole so the maker inlayed the same type of wood.

This place would be very unusual for an amulette.

Regards,
Detlef

Agree with Detlef. These woods have very contorted grain patterns and can often have voids or checks in the material. I expect these inlays are for this purpose.
Imagine putting all the work into shaping a beautifully grained pommel and coming across a void. Throw out your work or patch it with a matching piece.
I doubt these are talismanic at all.