Help! Advice on Repairs

rahman · 13th January 2005, 01:16 AM

If your "hilt and sheath are made of a very brittle material", it may not be wood but buffalo horn. Are they black in color? Do a search on the old forums about caring for horn and ivory.

vinny · 13th January 2005, 09:02 AM

Hi Guys

Thank you all for you help. I will put some photos on, but I am away on a course at the moment, so will do at the weekend. Unfortunately I do not have any before photos.

I thought that the material was some kind of tropical hard wood at first, because it is dark brown with some kind ot grain pattern. But now it has broken, I can see it is yellow on the inside, and it is very hard. I will put some photos on at the weekend you can see.

Michael,

You workmanship looks fantastic.

Regards
Vinny

vinny · 14th January 2005, 07:04 PM

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the advice. I have a couple of photos. Let me know if you want to see better ones. I think htese are good enough to see the damage to the hilt and to the sheath.

Rahman - after looking back through the old posts, I think maybe it is made from buffalo horn.

Also, please see pictures of my Keris. I believe it is about my age. I think the pamur is water melon skin, but please correct me if I am wrong. If anyone can give me anymore info that would be great.

Thanks.

Vinny

nechesh · 14th January 2005, 07:59 PM

Hi Vinny. Judging from the creamy carmel colored "nougat" center to your Rencong's dress my guess is it is made of a plastic composite. This looks like the kind made for tourists with the Islamic inscriptions on the blade. This is a new piece. Crazy glue might work. Hope that's not too dissapointing.

rahman · 15th January 2005, 04:50 AM

Vinny - Hate to tell you this, but there is a long piece missing from the handle. Rencong normally have a long extenstion from where yours has broken off. Take a look at pictures here and elsewhere. See if you can locate it.

I don't know if it's plastic, but it's best to ask around. I have a plastic ukiran with an ugly hole because someone tested it by putting a hot needle (or cigarette butt) into it. The heat treatment on a small area around the break might help you confirm it.

vinny · 15th January 2005, 10:43 AM

Hi

I am not dissappointed, I suspected this may have been a 'tourist' piece, but was not sure; I turned up in a shop near where I live, and it was pretty cheap. Will try a heat test to see if it melts.

All said and done, I like the way it feels, and even if it is not the real thing, I would still like to get it fixed.

I know a piece is missing, I realise it should be an 'L' shape, but I have no idea what happened to that piece, it just diappeared! Hopefully, I can get someone local to make me a new hilt and sheath as my wood working skills are not very good.

Thanks guys!

Regards
Vinny

Henk · 15th January 2005, 08:40 PM

Don't give to much effort to this piece. The scabbard can be glued together with very fast drying glue. Maybe you can make the missing piece from the grip from a piece of wood and attach it to the remains of the grip.

This piece is certainly not a new grip and scabbard worth. It probably will cost you more than buying an authentic one.

14th January 2005, 07:04 PM	#3
vinny Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: England Posts: 31	Rencong photos Hi everyone, Thanks for all the advice. I have a couple of photos. Let me know if you want to see better ones. I think htese are good enough to see the damage to the hilt and to the sheath. Rahman - after looking back through the old posts, I think maybe it is made from buffalo horn. Also, please see pictures of my Keris. I believe it is about my age. I think the pamur is water melon skin, but please correct me if I am wrong. If anyone can give me anymore info that would be great. Thanks. Vinny Attached Images

15th January 2005, 10:43 AM	#6
vinny Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: England Posts: 31	Thanks Hi I am not dissappointed, I suspected this may have been a 'tourist' piece, but was not sure; I turned up in a shop near where I live, and it was pretty cheap. Will try a heat test to see if it melts. All said and done, I like the way it feels, and even if it is not the real thing, I would still like to get it fixed. I know a piece is missing, I realise it should be an 'L' shape, but I have no idea what happened to that piece, it just diappeared! Hopefully, I can get someone local to make me a new hilt and sheath as my wood working skills are not very good. Thanks guys! Regards Vinny

13th January 2005, 01:16 AM	#1
rahman Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 84	If your "hilt and sheath are made of a very brittle material", it may not be wood but buffalo horn. Are they black in color? Do a search on the old forums about caring for horn and ivory.

13th January 2005, 09:02 AM	#2
vinny Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: England Posts: 31	Hi Guys Thank you all for you help. I will put some photos on, but I am away on a course at the moment, so will do at the weekend. Unfortunately I do not have any before photos. I thought that the material was some kind of tropical hard wood at first, because it is dark brown with some kind ot grain pattern. But now it has broken, I can see it is yellow on the inside, and it is very hard. I will put some photos on at the weekend you can see. Michael, You workmanship looks fantastic. Regards Vinny

14th January 2005, 07:59 PM	#4
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Hi Vinny. Judging from the creamy carmel colored "nougat" center to your Rencong's dress my guess is it is made of a plastic composite. This looks like the kind made for tourists with the Islamic inscriptions on the blade. This is a new piece. Crazy glue might work. Hope that's not too dissapointing.

15th January 2005, 04:50 AM	#5
rahman Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 84	Vinny - Hate to tell you this, but there is a long piece missing from the handle. Rencong normally have a long extenstion from where yours has broken off. Take a look at pictures here and elsewhere. See if you can locate it. I don't know if it's plastic, but it's best to ask around. I have a plastic ukiran with an ugly hole because someone tested it by putting a hot needle (or cigarette butt) into it. The heat treatment on a small area around the break might help you confirm it.

15th January 2005, 08:40 PM	#7
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Don't give to much effort to this piece. The scabbard can be glued together with very fast drying glue. Maybe you can make the missing piece from the grip from a piece of wood and attach it to the remains of the grip. This piece is certainly not a new grip and scabbard worth. It probably will cost you more than buying an authentic one.