Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Preservation vs. restoration

mross · 29th January 2007, 05:05 PM

I think the answer is; It depends!

What does it depend on? Well that is a cultural bias. If you own a nihonto and let it get a nice overal patina, you are thought of as abusing the blade. Japanese blades look much better when in full, CORRECT polish. The key is correct. What is correct? Good question. Correct is done by someone who has completed a full appreticeship in polishing from a qualified teacher.
I believe the same applies to Keris and Kris. Keris are routinely etched and have there fittings changed. If it is ok from a cultural standpoint then it's ok as long as it's done right.
Moro's held their weapons in very high regard and kept them polished and etched. It is reasonable to assume that fittings where replaced when they became unusable. The problem is there are very few who can replace the fittings and do it correctly. We have one or two on this list that can do Moro right. One thing to be aware of and beware of is this does not mean just because you are Japanese you can correctly polish a nihonto, and just because you are related to Moro does not mean you can get the fittings right.
Nihonto is unique because there is a long and highly documented traditon on how to do it and how to evaluate it.
Moro swords are hard because there are none of the old timers left that know what it means to do it right. To the best of my knowledge there is little to no documentation on Moro sword's, and the one's that knew are no longer around.
The easy and hard answer is EDUCATION. (easy and hard, how's that for a very Zen answer) Know what was done for the area you collect in. Learn the culture, how the weapon was cared for. Then go from there.

29th January 2007, 05:05 PM	#5
mross Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 478	I think the answer is; It depends! What does it depend on? Well that is a cultural bias. If you own a nihonto and let it get a nice overal patina, you are thought of as abusing the blade. Japanese blades look much better when in full, CORRECT polish. The key is correct. What is correct? Good question. Correct is done by someone who has completed a full appreticeship in polishing from a qualified teacher. I believe the same applies to Keris and Kris. Keris are routinely etched and have there fittings changed. If it is ok from a cultural standpoint then it's ok as long as it's done right. Moro's held their weapons in very high regard and kept them polished and etched. It is reasonable to assume that fittings where replaced when they became unusable. The problem is there are very few who can replace the fittings and do it correctly. We have one or two on this list that can do Moro right. One thing to be aware of and beware of is this does not mean just because you are Japanese you can correctly polish a nihonto, and just because you are related to Moro does not mean you can get the fittings right. Nihonto is unique because there is a long and highly documented traditon on how to do it and how to evaluate it. Moro swords are hard because there are none of the old timers left that know what it means to do it right. To the best of my knowledge there is little to no documentation on Moro sword's, and the one's that knew are no longer around. The easy and hard answer is EDUCATION. (easy and hard, how's that for a very Zen answer) Know what was done for the area you collect in. Learn the culture, how the weapon was cared for. Then go from there.