Help with Identification please

Rick · 26th August 2010, 06:03 PM

That looks like a pretty good, but degraded blade .

The pamor is interesting and bold .

I also have one exactly like your example .

imas560 · 26th August 2010, 10:41 PM

I might have a go at trying to clean the blade up following some of the posts here on Keris cleaning (but maybe without the arsenic). When I was in Malaysia I spoke with a Keris maker in Kuala Kangsar who mentioned using a tamarind solution.
So far I have managed to clean up slightly rust speckled blades and strip gun blueing (the gun blueing strip was not intentional, left it on too long).
When I get a free stretch of time I'll take some photos.
If the keris cleaning process by a novice is not advisable please let me know, all advice is appreciated.

Rick · 26th August 2010, 11:00 PM

Pineapple juice; but I'd think about it a bit before diving in .
The blade may be out of stain; but a real cleaning will remove much of the 'patina' .

A. G. Maisey · 27th August 2010, 12:04 AM

Yeah Rick, it might, but sometimes with these older blades you'll find that what happens is that most of the rust comes off and you reach a point where the blade is pretty clean, then it starts to colour up again and if you're not too much of a fanatic, you can get a reasonable stain job straight out of the pineapple juice without using arsenic. I suspect that what might happen is that the residual arsenic is activated by the juice.

Just remember to brush daily with a soft toothbrush under running water.

Rick · 27th August 2010, 03:02 AM

Would you try to degrease it before a pineapple juice soak, Alan ?

Or no ?

A. G. Maisey · 27th August 2010, 03:28 AM

Definitely yes, Rick.

This is a standard part of the process.

I usually do it in the kitchen sink with warm water, dishwash liquid and soft toothbrush, then I rinse off and dry thoroughly before putting into the juice.

Rick · 27th August 2010, 03:32 AM

No solvents ?
I have a Sumatran/Bugis blade that I cannot get free of oil; no matter what I do to it, including acetone .
I have used everything ; and still it smells of scented oil !!
If it still smells of oil; then it is not degreased; no ?

Sorry to digress ......

26th August 2010, 06:03 PM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	That looks like a pretty good, but degraded blade . The pamor is interesting and bold . I also have one exactly like your example .

26th August 2010, 10:41 PM	#2
imas560 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 180	I might have a go at trying to clean the blade up following some of the posts here on Keris cleaning (but maybe without the arsenic). When I was in Malaysia I spoke with a Keris maker in Kuala Kangsar who mentioned using a tamarind solution. So far I have managed to clean up slightly rust speckled blades and strip gun blueing (the gun blueing strip was not intentional, left it on too long). When I get a free stretch of time I'll take some photos. If the keris cleaning process by a novice is not advisable please let me know, all advice is appreciated.

26th August 2010, 11:00 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Pineapple juice; but I'd think about it a bit before diving in . The blade may be out of stain; but a real cleaning will remove much of the 'patina' .

27th August 2010, 12:04 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Yeah Rick, it might, but sometimes with these older blades you'll find that what happens is that most of the rust comes off and you reach a point where the blade is pretty clean, then it starts to colour up again and if you're not too much of a fanatic, you can get a reasonable stain job straight out of the pineapple juice without using arsenic. I suspect that what might happen is that the residual arsenic is activated by the juice. Just remember to brush daily with a soft toothbrush under running water.

27th August 2010, 03:02 AM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Would you try to degrease it before a pineapple juice soak, Alan ? Or no ?

27th August 2010, 03:28 AM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Definitely yes, Rick. This is a standard part of the process. I usually do it in the kitchen sink with warm water, dishwash liquid and soft toothbrush, then I rinse off and dry thoroughly before putting into the juice.

27th August 2010, 03:32 AM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	No solvents ? I have a Sumatran/Bugis blade that I cannot get free of oil; no matter what I do to it, including acetone . I have used everything ; and still it smells of scented oil !! If it still smells of oil; then it is not degreased; no ? Sorry to digress ......