Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 4th September 2020, 10:34 AM   #1
xasterix
Member
 
xasterix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 593
Default SULU KALIS

Hullo, just sharing pics of a partially restored kalis from my godfather's collection. Enjoy!
Attached Images
      
xasterix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4th September 2020, 03:29 PM   #2
kino
Member
 
kino's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 966
Default

Nice pattern. I like it.
What did you use to etch/stain the blade with?
Thanks for sharing.
kino is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4th September 2020, 03:33 PM   #3
xasterix
Member
 
xasterix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 593
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kino
Nice pattern. I like it.
What did you use to etch/stain the blade with?
Thanks for sharing.
Halloo sir, just good old white vinegar =)
xasterix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4th September 2020, 03:48 PM   #4
kino
Member
 
kino's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 966
Smile

Datu Puti?😊
Did you soak it or brushed on?
Here’s an old photo of a dark stained blade.
Attached Images
 
kino is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4th September 2020, 04:18 PM   #5
xasterix
Member
 
xasterix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 593
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kino
Datu Puti?😊
Did you soak it or brushed on?
Here’s an old photo of a dark stained blade.
Yes Datu Puti indeed! I dunked it for hours. It had a loooot of rust, there are remnants still visible in the pics.
xasterix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4th September 2020, 05:39 PM   #6
kai
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,213
Wink

Quote:
Halloo sir, just good old white vinegar =)
This contrast is more than unusual for etching by vinegar.

Soaking rusted blades in organic acids can activate earlier etchants, especially warangan.

Usage of warangan might not have been terribly common but the blade from the historic pic does look like it got a good dose of arsenic! (Or merely some kind of paint? )

Regards,
Kai

Last edited by kai; 5th September 2020 at 08:55 AM.
kai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4th September 2020, 06:47 PM   #7
xasterix
Member
 
xasterix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 593
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kai
This contrast is more than unusual for etching by vinegar.

Soaking rusted blades in organic acids can activate earlier etchants, especially warangan.

Usage of warangan might not have been terribly common but Date Puti's blade does look like it got a good dose of arsenic! (Or even some kind of paint? )

Regards,
Kai
I was also amazed by how the contrast jumped. Thanks very much for this assessment =)
xasterix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4th September 2020, 09:36 PM   #8
kai
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,213
Default

You're welcome, Xas!

BTW, could you add a close-up of the base of the blade, please?

Regards,
Kai
kai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4th September 2020, 10:56 PM   #9
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,135
Default

Nice pattern. They were making pattern welded up into the 1960s. I would place this piece around that time.
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th September 2020, 05:04 AM   #10
xasterix
Member
 
xasterix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 593
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kai
You're welcome, Xas!

BTW, could you add a close-up of the base of the blade, please?

Regards,
Kai
Hi Kai, sorry it's not yet fully restored, this was the last closeup I got. The background obscures the elephant face.
Attached Images
 
xasterix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th September 2020, 08:12 AM   #11
Ian
Vikingsword Staff
 
Ian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,007
Default

Nice example Xas! Very active pattern on the blade. Would you say mid-20th C or a little later? Classic Sulu kalis for that period.
Ian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th September 2020, 09:00 AM   #12
xasterix
Member
 
xasterix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 593
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Nice example Xas! Very active pattern on the blade. Would you say mid-20th C or a little later? Classic Sulu kalis for that period.
Hullo Ian sorry am not versed at dating kalis- but thanks for that estimate! I'll clean this up further and give better pics in the future.
xasterix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th September 2020, 09:04 AM   #13
kai
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,213
Cool

Hello Xas,

Quote:
Hi Kai, sorry it's not yet fully restored, this was the last closeup I got. The background obscures the elephant face.
Yes, it is really tough to restore kalis without dismounting the blades; usually this can be achieved without too much hassle.

A pic with plain background would be great whenever you get a chance...

The age estimates seem reasonable - the hilt looks well above average from that period though. I'm not convinced that production of laminated blades stopped throughout the Sulu archipelago - like with the separate katik, I'd guess that traditional production continued in remote areas...

Regards,
Kai
kai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 8th September 2020, 04:18 AM   #14
xasterix
Member
 
xasterix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 593
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kai
Hello Xas,


Yes, it is really tough to restore kalis without dismounting the blades; usually this can be achieved without too much hassle.

A pic with plain background would be great whenever you get a chance...

The age estimates seem reasonable - the hilt looks well above average from that period though. I'm not convinced that production of laminated blades stopped throughout the Sulu archipelago - like with the separate katik, I'd guess that traditional production continued in remote areas...

Regards,
Kai
Hullo Kai,

I'm not yet done restoring it, sorry this is what I can manage at the moment.
Attached Images
 
xasterix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11th September 2020, 01:05 AM   #15
xasterix
Member
 
xasterix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 593
Default

Finally made some progress in restoration, got tired of waiting for fine brass brush, and just straightaway sharpened and etched.
Attached Images
  
xasterix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11th September 2020, 01:20 AM   #16
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,135
Default

Oh yes much nicer now.
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 04:37 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.