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Sajen
15th April 2012, 12:30 PM
Hello all,

recently I win the ebay auction of this kris: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251033416723?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
After I have paid the seller offered me a second kris which one I take as well. Since both kris need some restore work I ask Jose aka Battara if I can let them send to him to do this work and he agreed to to do it.
The one from the ebay auction seems to be a Maguindanao kris and I think the second one is a Maranao. The Maranao kris have some corrosion and I hope and cross my fingers that it isn't to deep.
Here at first the pictures from the Mag. kris.

Sajen
15th April 2012, 12:35 PM
And here the pictures of the other one, Maranao kris.

Maybe it's possible that the seller will be able to provide the name of the soldier who bring this both kris to the States. He will contact me when he is successful.

As usual all comments are welcome.

A.alnakkas
15th April 2012, 12:39 PM
Nice pieces would certainly love to see them restored!

Sajen
15th April 2012, 01:04 PM
Nice pieces would certainly love to see them restored!


Thank's mate, I am as well! :D

Regards,

Detlef

Robert
15th April 2012, 04:29 PM
Hello Detlef, Very nice kris you have there. I will be very interested is seeing them again after Jose works his magic on them. Having the seller offer you the second was a real stroke of luck. My congratulation to you on these new additions. Maybe Jose will be able to supply you with progress picture to post as he works on them.

Robert

Sajen
15th April 2012, 04:43 PM
Maybe Jose will be able to supply you with progress picture to post as he works on them.

Robert


Thank you Robert! Hope this as well. Would be nice to see how they come to old glory again! :D

Regards,

Detlef

Indianajones
16th April 2012, 12:02 PM
Hi Sajen,
nicely picked up!! I think the corrosion is just lying on top of the metal. Dont think you have to woory about that. On the contrary the metal bands on the second kris on the grip will give you (us too? :D )a nice surpise! Possibly a silver alloy (hopefully).
The scabbards will also be restored? Ai that will be a more serious 'job'.
Also; seen the two iron nailstubs on top of the second kris grip there may have been a rounded (ivory??) top attached originally.
Whats the age of these; around 1900? slightly after?

Congrats!

Sajen
16th April 2012, 07:16 PM
Hi Sajen,
nicely picked up!! I think the corrosion is just lying on top of the metal. Dont think you have to woory about that. On the contrary the metal bands on the second kris on the grip will give you (us too? :D )a nice surpise! Possibly a silver alloy (hopefully).
The scabbards will also be restored? Ai that will be a more serious 'job'.
Also; seen the two iron nailstubs on top of the second kris grip there may have been a rounded (ivory??) top attached originally.
Whats the age of these; around 1900? slightly after?

Congrats!


Thank you Wouter,

think that the metal bands from the second kris are from silver or silver plated, when Jose received it he will tell us. Have as well recognized the two nail pins on the top of the handle, don't know what have been there.

The sheaths will be maybe a later project, not for the moment.

About the age I am unsure, the soldier bring them with after the Spanish American War which was 1898, so they are from end of the 19th century when this story is true.

Regards,

Detlef

Indianajones
16th April 2012, 09:01 PM
Also; did you see the strange square hole in the scabbard of the 2nd kris!?!?
Wonder why that is there? It seems to have patine in the inneredges. (I am not an expert on these Southern krisses)

Amuk Murugul
17th April 2012, 08:30 AM
Also; did you see the strange square hole in the scabbard of the 2nd kris!?!?
Wonder why that is there? It seems to have patine in the inneredges. (I am not an expert on these Southern krisses)

..... hole for belt-clasp/hanger insert.:)

BTW ..... Both items appear to be of last quarter of 19thC manufacture.

Best,

Sajen
17th April 2012, 03:13 PM
..... hole for belt-clasp/hanger insert.:)
Best,

Good possible!

Regards,

Detlef

kai
17th April 2012, 09:30 PM
Hello Detlef,

Both kris look like turn-of-century examples to me. The first blade also looks a bit Maranao-ish to me...

I don't think the excision was meant for a hanger block - these tend to be rare and situated at the center of the scabbard (only needed for the crosspiece-less Maguindanao scabbards anyway). Could you please try to get a close-up of this?

Regards,
Kai

Sajen
17th April 2012, 09:36 PM
Hello Detlef,

Both kris look like turn-of-century examples to me. The first blade also looks a bit Maranao-ish to me...

Regards,
Kai

Hello Kai,

the attribution was from Jose by pm. But since both kris come from the same source... Could it maybe a trade blade? Or a cross cultural piece?

Regards,

Detlef

Sajen
17th April 2012, 09:38 PM
Could you please try to get a close-up of this?


Can't, both kris was send to Jose who received them today! :)

Battara
17th April 2012, 11:20 PM
Both kris look like turn-of-century examples to me. The first blade also looks a bit Maranao-ish to me...
The first one says Maguindanao to me and the second says Maranao. They would be very similar in style since they are next door neighbors.

Sajen
23rd April 2012, 04:22 PM
The seller send me today the name from the soldier who bring with this bot kris: James Hart from Pennsylvania. Is it possible to find this name in some list from the Spanish American War? Where I have to search?

Regards,

Detlef

Ferguson
24th April 2012, 03:55 AM
The seller send me today the name from the soldier who bring with this bot kris: James Hart from Pennsylvania. Is it possible to find this name in some list from the Spanish American War? Where I have to search?

Regards,

Detlef

Maybe this fellow. Started with Google,

Steve



http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=27214008

http://www.paspanishamericanwar.com/tenthregiment/h.html

HART, James W. P., Private, Co. H; Residence: Washington, Pa.; Enrolled June 20, 1898; Mustered in June 25, 1898; Joined Regiment at Manila, P. I., Dec. 2, 1898; Mustered out with company Aug. 22, 1899.

http://www.paspanishamericanwar.com/tenthregiment/

But there are other Harts listed with the initial J in their names.
http://www.paspanishamericanwar.com/rosters.html

Sajen
24th April 2012, 04:14 PM
Maybe this fellow. Started with Google,

Steve



http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=27214008

http://www.paspanishamericanwar.com/tenthregiment/h.html

HART, James W. P., Private, Co. H; Residence: Washington, Pa.; Enrolled June 20, 1898; Mustered in June 25, 1898; Joined Regiment at Manila, P. I., Dec. 2, 1898; Mustered out with company Aug. 22, 1899.

http://www.paspanishamericanwar.com/tenthregiment/

But there are other Harts listed with the initial J in their names.
http://www.paspanishamericanwar.com/rosters.html

Hello Steve,

thank you so much! I think that it should be this man! I have searched by Google as well but found many many soldiers with this name but don't found your second link!

Great help!! :)

Regards,

Detlef

Ferguson
29th April 2012, 11:21 AM
You're very welcome Detlef. :)

Steve

Battara
6th May 2012, 03:56 AM
Well as requested here are some pictures of some of the process:

This one is of making the missing silver okir plates that were on top of the kris pommels. I chased them and then drilled holes in them for the brass nails. Also the plates and bands need to be etched in acid and then polished to blacken the lines to stand out.

Battara
6th May 2012, 04:02 AM
Here are some pictures of making the brass nails for the silver bands and silver plates all for the pommels. I first take brass wire and carefully melt the end to make a ball. Then I flatten the balls to make nail heads. Then I cut the section of wire in a way the makes a point on the other end. The nail heads are polished and eight nails were made.

Sajen
6th May 2012, 11:35 AM
Hello Jose,

very interesting to see how you do this and thank you very much for posting the pictures. Please continue! :)

Regards,

Detlef

Battara
10th May 2012, 03:21 AM
Here are pictures of my blackening the silver (and subsequently polishing it) so that the lines of design stand out. Then I use the premade brass nails and nail the silver plaques onto the tops of the kris (there were old holes where original nails for lost silver plaques were).

Sajen
10th May 2012, 06:11 PM
Thank you for sharing the pictures of your work! :)

Battara
11th May 2012, 11:31 PM
Here are more pictures of the making of the silver bands around the tops of the kris pommels. I draw out what I will cut out, cut, then stamp and chase the bands. After blackening them I polish them and drill holes in the ends where the brass nails will go. I drill into the pommels and hammer the nails through the silver bands into the wood. Pictures appear out of sequence, but you get the idea.

Rick
11th May 2012, 11:51 PM
Nice little chasing hammer, Jose; I've got one of those .
Handy little devils they are . :)

Ferguson
12th May 2012, 12:44 AM
Jose,
Thanks for the pictures!
What do you blacken the silver with?

Thanks,
Steve

Battara
12th May 2012, 02:22 AM
Rick - the chasing hammer is crazy useful.

Steve - I use "silver black". It is an acid exclusively for silver. You can also use "liver of sulfer" but that has a quick shelf life once opened.

Battara
17th May 2012, 03:25 AM
Here comes the tedious part - the winding of the string and then painting the section with black lacquer, all after I made the silver band for this kris.

Sajen
17th May 2012, 12:18 PM
Here comes the tedious part - the winding of the string and then painting the section with black lacquer, all after I made the silver band for this kris.

Hello Jose,

yes, I believe that this is the most tedious part! Some questions: What you use for the string? And which sort of lacquer you use? And at last, do you think that above from the last brass band have been nothing originally?

Regards,

Detlef

Battara
18th May 2012, 12:10 AM
I use cotton string because it absorbs the lacquer better and some of the string used on old Moro pieces are cotton.

Lacquer? Well I use commercial black lacquer. It is very similar (or the same?) as that used on old Moro kris and barong.

As far as the band is concerned, I believe that it is quite possible that there was a silver band there in the middle in this case - it balances out the rest of the silver and brass.

Nirghosa
18th May 2012, 02:50 AM
Where do you procure the silver sheet to start with?

On many trainers I have made in the past I've used black hemp cord, it comes in varying weights and sizes and is already black! very strong stuff that takes a wear.

On a recent barong I am making for a friend (I only make them primarily as gifts these days) I recenlty tried out pearled embroidery thread for the wrap. Fantastically amazing stuff, it has a wound rope like look. It's already black and comes very close to some of the wraps I've seen. I put some crazy glue into spots to help it hold up and the glue seeped right in and looked just like some old pieces that were laquered up!

The silver work is one of the last aspects I have yet to delve into so I'm very appreciative of what you've posted here.

Battara
18th May 2012, 03:09 AM
There are several sources for silver sheet. Fire Mountain Jewelry, Rio Grande, Hoover and Strong, to name a few.

Nirghosa
18th May 2012, 10:31 PM
There are several sources for silver sheet. Fire Mountain Jewelry, Rio Grande, Hoover and Strong, to name a few.

excellent! Thanks!

Battara
26th May 2012, 08:19 PM
Here is the final set of pictures for one kris:

Battara
26th May 2012, 08:21 PM
And here is the final set of pictures for the other kris:

Sajen
26th May 2012, 08:35 PM
Hello Jose,

look good from the pictures and i am curious to hold them in the hand! :)

Regards,

Detlef