holes in Moro kris and kampilan

[Battara]

I was wondering, is it consensus that the holes had silver in them and they were taken out due to sell them off, or were the holes there not to be filled in all the time. On some of the older complete pieces I have noticed that the holes are filled in with silver. Later PI restorers fill them in with brass (as Ian once mentioned, a 20thc practice). Hopefully this topic is not "deja vous all over again".

[Rick]

Hi Jose,
The inserts in my mid 19th century kampilan are not brass .
I hesitate to polish them for fear of disturbing the patina .

[Battara]

I assume that they are silver then? That is helpful, thank you Rick.

[Rick]

Either that or German silver I'd guess . :confused:

[Battara]

German "nickel" silver is very hard, perhaps even harder than yellow brass. Thus, I would suggest that your "plugs" are indeed coin or sterling silver. :)