Today I got a chance to show this piece to a friend who is a wood expert. He also grew up in Thailand and knows native, tropical woods like the back of his hand. His family was in the lumber business and, so to speak, wood is in his blood!
While not a weapons guy, he studied it a bit and believes the scabbard is made of either tamarind or mango wood. A long shot would be wood from a rubber tree.
He's calling around to locate a little of both to do a comparison.
I think he's intrigued to the point where he may be able to help a bit.
However, I will need to find out what the missing bit looks like.
Thanks, Jose, for the lead to a person who is the ivory restorer. One thing I'm wondering, though, is, will be putting my kris at risk by mailing it? The new laws and seizures scare me to death!
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