Relic of a Javanese kriss whith original warangka

A. G. Maisey · 30th October 2018, 01:40 AM

Athanase, have you polished the pendok with a good metal polish?

Unpolished mamas often has a yellowish tint, polished it looks like silver, and in fact a number of unscrupulous dealers will present it as "native silver".

Pendoks should be polished, not left with so-called patina intact. A keris is an item of dress, or a weapon, as well as many other things, and in all cases the pendok should be polished.

Keris should always be presented in the best possible condition, not to do so is culturally incorrect and in certain circumstances can be very offensive to some people.

Jean · 30th October 2018, 10:48 AM

If this kris was mine I will not only polish the pendok but improve the joint with the gandar at the top and try to reduce the dents & creases with a sunglon (bronze or hard wood piece inserted inside the pendok). Thank you Alan for the corrections.
Regards

A. G. Maisey · 30th October 2018, 12:05 PM

an error

Athanase · 2nd November 2018, 01:33 AM

I spent part of the pendok soaking in citric acid during a whole afternoon, after rinsing well, rubbing with a cloth and then drying the color is indeed much more silvery but still with a touch of yellow.
At one place there was a black oxide crust which has now become the same color as pure copper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jean

If this kris was mine I will not only polish the pendok but improve the joint with the gandar at the top and try to reduce the dents & creases with a sunglon (bronze or hard wood piece inserted inside the pendok). Thank you Alan for the corrections.
Regards

The wood is stuck inside the pendok so it is not possible to correct the many bumps of the metal.

David · 2nd November 2018, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athanase

I spent part of the pendok soaking in citric acid during a whole afternoon, after rinsing well, rubbing with a cloth and then drying the color is indeed much more silvery but still with a touch of yellow.
At one place there was a black oxide crust which has now become the same color as pure copper.

It doesn't sound like you have actually tried metal polish.

A. G. Maisey · 2nd November 2018, 08:06 AM

I've said hello to a lot of pendoks, very large number of pendoks, so many I've forgotten their names.

A lot of these pendoks were like stubborn women, but I can truthfully say that I have never met one pendok that did not open up for me after the gentle application of a little heat.

An LPG blow torch is good, provided you can be delicate, an LPG camp stove is safer and probably more gentle, but whatever the adhesive is that is holding that pendok, it will let go if heated. It is a good idea to use industrial rubber gloves to grip the pendok as you gently, but forcefully persuade it to let go.

If the gandar breaks or lets go of the wrongko first, its no big deal, you just fix it, everything about a keris can be fixed.

In respect of polishing, the stuff that is used to polish mag wheels is good, use it along with fine steel wool, polish with a light coloured cloth, when there is no more black on the cloth it will be as good as you can get it.

Paul B. · 2nd November 2018, 12:51 PM

True but if you happen to deal with a gandariras sheath but in case the gandar is an individual element then the risk of breaking at the weak point ( the glued neck part) is realistic. Then you're stuck with the a pendok completely hidden inside the pendok and if you are lucky the tongues haven't broken. If so there is little grip to reglue afterwards....
Worse, some gandar break of at the very end and stay in the bottom end of a pendok. Then you do have a real problem so consider doing so.
In the past I bought a few nice pendok meant to replace other less valuable ones and I found out there was a gandar remnent, nasty experience!

A. G. Maisey · 2nd November 2018, 09:01 PM

None of the things you mention --- plus a whole swathe of things you do not mention --- are even the smallest problem Paul.

You use a segrek to remove a gandar that comes off the gambar, if you do not have a segrek, a Swiss Army Knife saw or a keyhole saw works reasonably well.

Broken tongues are easily replaced and the replacement will be better and stronger than the original. Bambu is the best material, 5 minute araldite is the best adhesive.

I have never had any part of a gandar break deep inside a pendok that could not be removed. Usually a segrek will remove small stuck pieces, but once or twice I have needed to use a long chisel to cut out small broken pieces.

There is absolutely nothing with a keris that cannot be fixed, and the removal of a glued pendok is about as simple as any job gets.

30th October 2018, 10:48 AM	#2
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	If this kris was mine I will not only polish the pendok but improve the joint with the gandar at the top and try to reduce the dents & creases with a sunglon (bronze or hard wood piece inserted inside the pendok). Thank you Alan for the corrections. Regards Last edited by Jean; 30th October 2018 at 06:35 PM.

30th October 2018, 01:40 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Athanase, have you polished the pendok with a good metal polish? Unpolished mamas often has a yellowish tint, polished it looks like silver, and in fact a number of unscrupulous dealers will present it as "native silver". Pendoks should be polished, not left with so-called patina intact. A keris is an item of dress, or a weapon, as well as many other things, and in all cases the pendok should be polished. Keris should always be presented in the best possible condition, not to do so is culturally incorrect and in certain circumstances can be very offensive to some people.

30th October 2018, 12:05 PM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	an error

2nd November 2018, 08:06 AM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	I've said hello to a lot of pendoks, very large number of pendoks, so many I've forgotten their names. A lot of these pendoks were like stubborn women, but I can truthfully say that I have never met one pendok that did not open up for me after the gentle application of a little heat. An LPG blow torch is good, provided you can be delicate, an LPG camp stove is safer and probably more gentle, but whatever the adhesive is that is holding that pendok, it will let go if heated. It is a good idea to use industrial rubber gloves to grip the pendok as you gently, but forcefully persuade it to let go. If the gandar breaks or lets go of the wrongko first, its no big deal, you just fix it, everything about a keris can be fixed. In respect of polishing, the stuff that is used to polish mag wheels is good, use it along with fine steel wool, polish with a light coloured cloth, when there is no more black on the cloth it will be as good as you can get it.

2nd November 2018, 12:51 PM	#7
Paul B. Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 205	True but if you happen to deal with a gandariras sheath but in case the gandar is an individual element then the risk of breaking at the weak point ( the glued neck part) is realistic. Then you're stuck with the a pendok completely hidden inside the pendok and if you are lucky the tongues haven't broken. If so there is little grip to reglue afterwards.... Worse, some gandar break of at the very end and stay in the bottom end of a pendok. Then you do have a real problem so consider doing so. In the past I bought a few nice pendok meant to replace other less valuable ones and I found out there was a gandar remnent, nasty experience!

2nd November 2018, 09:01 PM	#8
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	None of the things you mention --- plus a whole swathe of things you do not mention --- are even the smallest problem Paul. You use a segrek to remove a gandar that comes off the gambar, if you do not have a segrek, a Swiss Army Knife saw or a keyhole saw works reasonably well. Broken tongues are easily replaced and the replacement will be better and stronger than the original. Bambu is the best material, 5 minute araldite is the best adhesive. I have never had any part of a gandar break deep inside a pendok that could not be removed. Usually a segrek will remove small stuck pieces, but once or twice I have needed to use a long chisel to cut out small broken pieces. There is absolutely nothing with a keris that cannot be fixed, and the removal of a glued pendok is about as simple as any job gets.