Sundang for comment

[Ian]

Agree with many of the comments so far, particularly with respect to an etching.

Drac, the nice thing about light etching with vinegar is that you can erase a mistake very easily by simply doing a fine polish to bring the blade back to bright metal. In fact, that is really the only way to learn about etching blades--it is somewhat trial and error, and a lot of experimentation. Because you never know quite what you have until you look, there really is no perfect procedure to follow that will produce an excellent result in all cases.

Take a crack at it, and you may be surprised by what you find.

Ian.

Originally Posted by drac2k

Thanks Detlef for the kind comments ; on the vinegar etch, maybe someday.

[drac2k]

Now I am about to show my ignorance ; would the original owner of a sundang or a barong (not a kris ), etch his blade , especially a fighting sword?
I suppose, my first etch, will be like learning to swim; you just have to jump in...........wait was that big dark shadow I see, is that a fin ?!?

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by drac2k

Now I am about to show my ignorance ; would the original owner of a sundang or a barong (not a kris ), etch his blade , especially a fighting sword?
I suppose, my first etch, will be like learning to swim; you just have to jump in...........wait was that big dark shadow I see, is that a fin ?!?

Hello Drac2k,

there is really no danger to find a white shark in your pool. It's like Ian write, when you don't like the result just clean the blade again like you describe byself. Clean the blade with aceton and brush the blade with a hot vinegar solution. I personally use vinegar essence (20%) with water. Heat the blade as well a little bit and brush the blade with the solution. Sometimes the reaction is fast, sometimes slow, just like Ian write before. Just try it, there is 100% not the tiniest risk to harm the blade! After this rinse the blade by very warm water, dry it and polish it up with oil. Maybe you will be very surprised.
As far if the Moros etch their blades: it seems that they have done it like a few old pictures show, it was a topic in some old discussions.
And frankly said look a bright blade by an antique weapon a little bit vexing, see the comment from Jose! An etch darken the blade. This you can control by the etching agent and the final polish. Vinegar is a very mild etching agent, like said, it can't harm the blade. Have a look here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=kris You see the result of a vinegar etch, one of my early attempts.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Here another example from my collection: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=kris

[drac2k]

Wow..........you got some very fantastic and remarkable results from your etchings; certainly a very compelling reason to do so.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by drac2k

Wow..........you got some very fantastic and remarkable results from your etchings; certainly a very compelling reason to do so.

Thank you and just try it and show the result here!