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-   -   SULU KALIS (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=26262)

xasterix 4th September 2020 10:34 AM
SULU KALIS
 
6 Attachment(s)
Hullo, just sharing pics of a partially restored kalis from my godfather's collection. Enjoy!

kino 4th September 2020 03:29 PM
Nice pattern. I like it.
What did you use to etch/stain the blade with?
Thanks for sharing.

xasterix 4th September 2020 03:33 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by kino
Nice pattern. I like it.
What did you use to etch/stain the blade with?
Thanks for sharing.
Halloo sir, just good old white vinegar =)

kino 4th September 2020 03:48 PM
1 Attachment(s)
Datu Puti?😊
Did you soak it or brushed on?
Here’s an old photo of a dark stained blade.

xasterix 4th September 2020 04:18 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by kino
Datu Puti?😊
Did you soak it or brushed on?
Here’s an old photo of a dark stained blade.
Yes Datu Puti indeed! I dunked it for hours. It had a loooot of rust, there are remnants still visible in the pics.

kai 4th September 2020 05:39 PM
Quote:
Halloo sir, just good old white vinegar =)
This contrast is more than unusual for etching by vinegar.

Soaking rusted blades in organic acids can activate earlier etchants, especially warangan.

Usage of warangan might not have been terribly common but the blade from the historic pic does look like it got a good dose of arsenic! (Or merely some kind of paint? :eek: )

Regards,
Kai

xasterix 4th September 2020 06:47 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by kai
This contrast is more than unusual for etching by vinegar.

Soaking rusted blades in organic acids can activate earlier etchants, especially warangan.

Usage of warangan might not have been terribly common but Date Puti's blade does look like it got a good dose of arsenic! (Or even some kind of paint? :eek: )

Regards,
Kai
I was also amazed by how the contrast jumped. Thanks very much for this assessment =)

kai 4th September 2020 09:36 PM
You're welcome, Xas!

BTW, could you add a close-up of the base of the blade, please?

Regards,
Kai

Battara 4th September 2020 10:56 PM
Nice pattern. They were making pattern welded up into the 1960s. I would place this piece around that time.

xasterix 5th September 2020 05:04 AM
1 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by kai
You're welcome, Xas!

BTW, could you add a close-up of the base of the blade, please?

Regards,
Kai
Hi Kai, sorry it's not yet fully restored, this was the last closeup I got. The background obscures the elephant face.

Ian 5th September 2020 08:12 AM
Nice example Xas! Very active pattern on the blade. Would you say mid-20th C or a little later? Classic Sulu kalis for that period.

xasterix 5th September 2020 09:00 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Nice example Xas! Very active pattern on the blade. Would you say mid-20th C or a little later? Classic Sulu kalis for that period.
Hullo Ian sorry am not versed at dating kalis- but thanks for that estimate! I'll clean this up further and give better pics in the future.

kai 5th September 2020 09:04 AM
Hello Xas,

Quote:
Hi Kai, sorry it's not yet fully restored, this was the last closeup I got. The background obscures the elephant face.
Yes, it is really tough to restore kalis without dismounting the blades; usually this can be achieved without too much hassle.

A pic with plain background would be great whenever you get a chance... ;)

The age estimates seem reasonable - the hilt looks well above average from that period though. I'm not convinced that production of laminated blades stopped throughout the Sulu archipelago - like with the separate katik, I'd guess that traditional production continued in remote areas...

Regards,
Kai

xasterix 8th September 2020 04:18 AM
1 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by kai
Hello Xas,


Yes, it is really tough to restore kalis without dismounting the blades; usually this can be achieved without too much hassle.

A pic with plain background would be great whenever you get a chance... ;)

The age estimates seem reasonable - the hilt looks well above average from that period though. I'm not convinced that production of laminated blades stopped throughout the Sulu archipelago - like with the separate katik, I'd guess that traditional production continued in remote areas...

Regards,
Kai
Hullo Kai,

I'm not yet done restoring it, sorry this is what I can manage at the moment.

xasterix 11th September 2020 01:05 AM
2 Attachment(s)
Finally made some progress in restoration, got tired of waiting for fine brass brush, and just straightaway sharpened and etched.

Battara 11th September 2020 01:20 AM
Oh yes much nicer now.


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