Battered Datu Kris for comment - restoration tips needed

kai · 20th September 2005, 10:58 PM

This Moro kris was sold by a Portugese family from California. It's supposed to have been "obtained" during the Spanish-American war but there are no details since the persons who may have heard the story first-hand are long dead. Actually, the poor blade must have spend considerable time "in storage" - there's some damage to the tip (maybe partly "original"?).

The half-waved blade is of the Mindanao "crossover" type (sensu Cato); the 7 luks are pretty subdued. It has a deeply forged fuller along the full length which makes it feel light for its size (length 549 mm/21.6" + 65 mm/2.6" tang; width 41.5 mm/1.6" and thickness 5 mm at base of blade; gangya spread 128.5 mm/5.1" and 12.2 mm/0.48" thick; weight 477 g). The utilized steels, the inner core and the outer layers, seem to be both pattern welded. The asang-asang is forged of iron - this integral type extends below the hilt till the end of the grip. The kakatua hilt carved from banati wood still has a silver band at the base but any wrapped twine (or braided wire) is long gone. I suppose this is a datu piece mainly based on the elaborate silver inlay which would be inappropriate for any Moro of lower status AFAIK. I guess this could originate from Maguindanao (i. e. a Luma) since the silver band is plain and I'd expect a far more elaborately embellished hilt if it were of Maranao origin. (No original scabbard to glean additional information from.)

The following pics show the blade after rust removal by pineapple juice. Most of the blade is in good condition (some pitting at the tip though) but quite rough which tends to obscure the nice lamination pattern, especially towards the tip. Would it be advisable to (moderately) repolish it by hand followed by a final etching to restore the original appearance of this Moro blade?

Any and all comments appreciated!

Regards,
Kai

kai · 20th September 2005, 11:04 PM

right side...

kai · 20th September 2005, 11:05 PM

left side...

kai · 20th September 2005, 11:08 PM

Left side of blade...

kai · 22nd September 2005, 12:21 AM

I have seen similar features on keris melayu - a shared (though rare) theme?

kai · 22nd September 2005, 12:30 AM

... in original condition (asang-asang already cleaned).

20th September 2005, 10:58 PM	#1
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,219	Battered Datu Kris for comment - restoration tips needed This Moro kris was sold by a Portugese family from California. It's supposed to have been "obtained" during the Spanish-American war but there are no details since the persons who may have heard the story first-hand are long dead. Actually, the poor blade must have spend considerable time "in storage" - there's some damage to the tip (maybe partly "original"?). The half-waved blade is of the Mindanao "crossover" type (sensu Cato); the 7 luks are pretty subdued. It has a deeply forged fuller along the full length which makes it feel light for its size (length 549 mm/21.6" + 65 mm/2.6" tang; width 41.5 mm/1.6" and thickness 5 mm at base of blade; gangya spread 128.5 mm/5.1" and 12.2 mm/0.48" thick; weight 477 g). The utilized steels, the inner core and the outer layers, seem to be both pattern welded. The asang-asang is forged of iron - this integral type extends below the hilt till the end of the grip. The kakatua hilt carved from banati wood still has a silver band at the base but any wrapped twine (or braided wire) is long gone. I suppose this is a datu piece mainly based on the elaborate silver inlay which would be inappropriate for any Moro of lower status AFAIK. I guess this could originate from Maguindanao (i. e. a Luma) since the silver band is plain and I'd expect a far more elaborately embellished hilt if it were of Maranao origin. (No original scabbard to glean additional information from.) The following pics show the blade after rust removal by pineapple juice. Most of the blade is in good condition (some pitting at the tip though) but quite rough which tends to obscure the nice lamination pattern, especially towards the tip. Would it be advisable to (moderately) repolish it by hand followed by a final etching to restore the original appearance of this Moro blade? Any and all comments appreciated! Regards, Kai Attached Images

20th September 2005, 11:04 PM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,219	Gangya right side... Attached Images

20th September 2005, 11:05 PM	#3
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,219	Gangya left side... Attached Images

20th September 2005, 11:08 PM	#4
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,219	Left side of blade... Attached Images

22nd September 2005, 12:21 AM	#5
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,219	markings on gangya I have seen similar features on keris melayu - a shared (though rare) theme? Attached Images

22nd September 2005, 12:30 AM	#6
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,219	Hilt ... ... in original condition (asang-asang already cleaned). Attached Images