Just a sundang restoration

Ferguson · 24th June 2007, 09:06 PM

Hello friends,
I picked up this kris on Ebay. The description was

"Steel Sword and Rustic Wood Scabbard - Great Stage Prop or collectable Orc medieval Weapon - Dull edge but dangerous."

Now I'm not a collector of "Orc" weapons, but the pictures told a different story. On receipt, I found a nice solid sundang. The blade was in good shape. Separate gangya. Nice lines. The hilt had a missing rattan braid, but was solid. The scabbard was a basket case, but complete. It's a pretty soft mahogany, and had 2 big cracks. The previous owner had taped it up with packing tape, which had pulled off all the finish and patina. So I glued the cracks, stained and finished the wood, and learned how to braid rattan for the wraps.

I added a braid to the hilt to replace the broken ring. Looking back, I should have stained the rattan first, to better match the original wrap. That will be the next job.
There was a fairly large crack in the wood of the hilt, so I mixed some epoxy and filled it.

I etched the blade and found it laminated. After neutralizing, most of the contrast was gone except for the edge. The pictures show the faint pattern.

All in all I was very happy with my medieval Orc sword.

Comments, positive or negative, are welcomed.

Thanks,
Steve

The ebay pic.

The end product.

Lew · 24th June 2007, 10:46 PM

Steve

That is a real ugly kris

Better box it up and send to me so I can bury it in my crowded closet

Lew

Berkley · 24th June 2007, 11:28 PM

I thought I'd figured out every possible search term to use on eBay, but now I better add "orc". Who knew?

Congrats, great snag and super restoration.
Berk

CharlesS · 25th June 2007, 01:30 AM

Did you weave the rattan?

If so, can you create a thread to show us all how to do it??

Thanks.

Ferguson · 25th June 2007, 03:40 AM

Thank you gentlemen,

It was a fun project for a Sunday.

Charles, I'll try to do that. I got the start from this web page.
http://www.folsoms.net/knots/turkshead.htm

That example works fine on a round pole, but I had to repeat step 5 twice. I'll try to take some pictures this week. I'm sure I don't do it the "right" way, but it worked.

Steve

Bill M · 25th June 2007, 06:07 AM

Steve,

Very pleased for you. Very nice work and an incredibly good buy! Easily worth 3 or 4 times what you paid!

Couldn't happen to a nicer and more deserving collector.

Ian · 25th June 2007, 04:42 PM

Hi Steve:

I know exactly what you mean -- these knots are a bear to learn to tie correctly and what works for a "woggle" doesn't seem to come out right on hilt.

Nice restoration BTW. Sometimes your good, sometimes your lucky, and sometimes your good and lucky.

Ian.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferguson

That example works fine on a round pole, but I had to repeat step 5 twice. I'll try to take some pictures this week. I'm sure I don't do it the "right" way, but it worked.

Steve

24th June 2007, 09:06 PM	#1
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Just a sundang restoration Hello friends, I picked up this kris on Ebay. The description was "Steel Sword and Rustic Wood Scabbard - Great Stage Prop or collectable Orc medieval Weapon - Dull edge but dangerous." Now I'm not a collector of "Orc" weapons, but the pictures told a different story. On receipt, I found a nice solid sundang. The blade was in good shape. Separate gangya. Nice lines. The hilt had a missing rattan braid, but was solid. The scabbard was a basket case, but complete. It's a pretty soft mahogany, and had 2 big cracks. The previous owner had taped it up with packing tape, which had pulled off all the finish and patina. So I glued the cracks, stained and finished the wood, and learned how to braid rattan for the wraps. I added a braid to the hilt to replace the broken ring. Looking back, I should have stained the rattan first, to better match the original wrap. That will be the next job. There was a fairly large crack in the wood of the hilt, so I mixed some epoxy and filled it. I etched the blade and found it laminated. After neutralizing, most of the contrast was gone except for the edge. The pictures show the faint pattern. All in all I was very happy with my medieval Orc sword. Comments, positive or negative, are welcomed. Thanks, Steve The ebay pic. The end product.

25th June 2007, 01:30 AM	#4
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Did you weave the rattan? If so, can you create a thread to show us all how to do it?? Thanks. Last edited by CharlesS; 25th June 2007 at 11:27 AM.

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24th June 2007, 10:46 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Steve That is a real ugly kris Better box it up and send to me so I can bury it in my crowded closet Lew

24th June 2007, 11:28 PM	#3
Berkley Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 257	I thought I'd figured out every possible search term to use on eBay, but now I better add "orc". Who knew? Congrats, great snag and super restoration. Berk

25th June 2007, 03:40 AM	#5
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Thank you gentlemen, It was a fun project for a Sunday. Charles, I'll try to do that. I got the start from this web page. http://www.folsoms.net/knots/turkshead.htm That example works fine on a round pole, but I had to repeat step 5 twice. I'll try to take some pictures this week. I'm sure I don't do it the "right" way, but it worked. Steve

25th June 2007, 06:07 AM	#6
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Steve, Very pleased for you. Very nice work and an incredibly good buy! Easily worth 3 or 4 times what you paid! Couldn't happen to a nicer and more deserving collector.