Winter Project

Spunjer · 26th October 2009, 12:49 AM

now on the sword:
this is indeed one of the most beautiful kris i've ever handled.
whoever was the original owner must've been a very influential person!
every part of it was lavished to the hilt! to start of with the
handle. early on, i noticed swaasa on the pommel. notice how the beak
on the kakatua was accentuated with swaasa, and so were the
rectangular portion on each side and a strip running from the beak to
the tail.

i can see excellent okir bands on the handle, and after cleaning it
up, her true beauty popped out. not only was it meticulously put
together it also appeared that it has swaasa on it, alternated with
silver filigreed band, creating a beautiful contrast:

here's the view of the full handle. i don't think there was a band between the last ring and the pommel, but if there was, it disappeared a while back since the exposed wood looks like it has some age on it:

Spunjer · 26th October 2009, 12:51 AM

the blade was the worst part, especially around gangya area, as it was
caked with rust. one of my biggest concern was around the greneng. i
was worried that since it's one of the thinnest part, the rust
would've ate through it, but luckily it didn't. although it was
pitted, it was intact. as one can see, it's a simple design, common
for her age.

as far as the katik, it was heavily corroded. luckily it wasn't deep
enough to ruin anything, except for the obvious pits (the reddish tint is a reflection of my shirt):

there was really no sense in smoothing the pitted area, since i would
have to use some serious power tool to smoothen the area, so i just
left it as it is:

notice the inlays. most of the stars were intact. what was missing
were most of the two linear inlays that originally run along the
length of the blade, ending on the naga's head. fortunately, six of
the star inlays remained by the tip accentuating it.

Spunjer · 26th October 2009, 12:54 AM

overall, it wasn't as bad as i originally thought. main thing is i got
it somewhat close to what it was during her glory day! here she is
with her "younger" contemporaries

Spunjer · 26th October 2009, 01:02 AM

full views

close up of the blades:
top kris
22" length
1 3/8" wide

middle kris:
19" length
5/8" width

bottom kris:
20 1/2" length
1 1/4" width

]

and here she is. i hope that you all enjoyed it!
comments/critique are welcome

Sajen · 26th October 2009, 01:37 AM

Very nice and a good job! I agree with you by the blade, I think there is not more possible, polish out the pitting isn't possible witout ruin the blade. But I personally would do more by the sheat, real patina you can't destroy by cleaning the wood with steel-wool, this is my experience by sheats from indonesian keris and I also would fill out the missing wood at the crosspiece.
But again, a very niece outcome and a beautiful kris.

sajen

kino · 26th October 2009, 01:43 AM

Excellent work brah!
I think you made a good stopping point at leaving the pitted area as it is, not smoothing it out. It would've made it a lot thinner and possibly ruining it.
Congrats.

Rick · 26th October 2009, 01:45 AM

Freakin' gorgeous !
You did just enough, perfect !

migueldiaz · 26th October 2009, 03:27 AM

can't believe my eyes ... nice job

David · 26th October 2009, 04:55 AM

Beautiful work Ron and a nice old kris. I would think that it did indeed once have one more band of some sort between the hilt and the pommel and if you did anything else you might consider replacing that for continuity's sake. I'd bet that Jose could fashion something appropriate for you there.

I would also consider maybe some silver headed nails to fill those hole around the base of the pommel.

26th October 2009, 01:37 AM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,417	Very nice and a good job! I agree with you by the blade, I think there is not more possible, polish out the pitting isn't possible witout ruin the blade. But I personally would do more by the sheat, real patina you can't destroy by cleaning the wood with steel-wool, this is my experience by sheats from indonesian keris and I also would fill out the missing wood at the crosspiece. But again, a very niece outcome and a beautiful kris. sajen Last edited by Sajen; 26th October 2009 at 01:55 AM.

26th October 2009, 12:49 AM	#1
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	now on the sword: this is indeed one of the most beautiful kris i've ever handled. whoever was the original owner must've been a very influential person! every part of it was lavished to the hilt! to start of with the handle. early on, i noticed swaasa on the pommel. notice how the beak on the kakatua was accentuated with swaasa, and so were the rectangular portion on each side and a strip running from the beak to the tail. i can see excellent okir bands on the handle, and after cleaning it up, her true beauty popped out. not only was it meticulously put together it also appeared that it has swaasa on it, alternated with silver filigreed band, creating a beautiful contrast: here's the view of the full handle. i don't think there was a band between the last ring and the pommel, but if there was, it disappeared a while back since the exposed wood looks like it has some age on it:

26th October 2009, 12:51 AM	#2
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	the blade was the worst part, especially around gangya area, as it was caked with rust. one of my biggest concern was around the greneng. i was worried that since it's one of the thinnest part, the rust would've ate through it, but luckily it didn't. although it was pitted, it was intact. as one can see, it's a simple design, common for her age. as far as the katik, it was heavily corroded. luckily it wasn't deep enough to ruin anything, except for the obvious pits (the reddish tint is a reflection of my shirt): there was really no sense in smoothing the pitted area, since i would have to use some serious power tool to smoothen the area, so i just left it as it is: notice the inlays. most of the stars were intact. what was missing were most of the two linear inlays that originally run along the length of the blade, ending on the naga's head. fortunately, six of the star inlays remained by the tip accentuating it.

26th October 2009, 12:54 AM	#3
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	overall, it wasn't as bad as i originally thought. main thing is i got it somewhat close to what it was during her glory day! here she is with her "younger" contemporaries

26th October 2009, 01:02 AM	#4
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	full views close up of the blades: top kris 22" length 1 3/8" wide middle kris: 19" length 5/8" width bottom kris: 20 1/2" length 1 1/4" width ] and here she is. i hope that you all enjoyed it! comments/critique are welcome

26th October 2009, 01:43 AM	#6
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,020	Excellent work brah! I think you made a good stopping point at leaving the pitted area as it is, not smoothing it out. It would've made it a lot thinner and possibly ruining it. Congrats.

26th October 2009, 01:45 AM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	Freakin' gorgeous ! You did just enough, perfect !

26th October 2009, 03:27 AM	#8
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	can't believe my eyes ... nice job

26th October 2009, 04:55 AM	#9
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,250	Beautiful work Ron and a nice old kris. I would think that it did indeed once have one more band of some sort between the hilt and the pommel and if you did anything else you might consider replacing that for continuity's sake. I'd bet that Jose could fashion something appropriate for you there. I would also consider maybe some silver headed nails to fill those hole around the base of the pommel.