Just Acquired 2 Kris' & 2 Kalinga axes - Seeking help...

laEspadaAncha · 18th February 2010, 10:16 PM

Hi Battara, and thank you for the information... I hope you will stick around for a few while I upload the close-up photos of the ganja (sp?) of both kris' shortly.

First, I have included a couple photos of the knife I am unable to identify. There are English / Latin alphabet characters on the obverse, in two lines - while I cannot make out the top line, the bottom line simply reads, "IS." The blade measures 10 1/4 inches in length, and is 2 1/4 inches wide at the hilt. The spine measures 5/16 of an inch at the hilt and evenly tapers to the tip. (Overcleaned) Brass ferule with seven facets, and a large horn grip. Steel (or iron?) pommel cap is also seven-sided; tang button is integral to the pommel cap and is also faceted with seven sides. The tang is peened over the button. Measures slightly under 17 inches overall.

I'm about to upload the close-up photos of the kris'... One thing I have noticed in taking these most recent photos is how ridiculously overcleaned the furniture is - presumably by the previous owner, as his daughter hadn't bothered to remove the superficial surface rust that had begun to accumulate on most of them...

Next post forthcoming!

laEspadaAncha · 18th February 2010, 10:29 PM

Okay - here are some close-up photos of the ganjas of each kris. The first picture shows the ferule and grip of the first kris. You can see in this photo where the surface patina had been removed from the metal. Due to the verde patina, I presume the top-most ring is copper.

I am looking forward to hearing if these photos further validate the previous attribution and age estimation.

In previewing my post before submitting it, I noticed Bill's input, and thank you for the same... I, too, had the distinct impression they had been overcleaned, though I believe said cleaning was performed b the late Col., not his daughter (for reasons mentioned above). In treating for the light surface rust present when I picked them up, I used the good 'ol standard of 3-in-1 and #0000, with just enough work to remove any active rust.

So which one would you guys keep, and why?

I'll next post a few pictures of one of the axes...

Thanks again,

Chris

laEspadaAncha · 18th February 2010, 10:46 PM

Lastly, here a couple photos of one of the Kalinga axes. The axe head measures 15 7/16 inches in length; the spike measure about 4 1/2 inches. As mentioned, the thickness varies from a little more than 5 mm to +/- 3 mm. The axe, including the shaft, measure about 21 inches in height. The daughter thought the shafts might be made of monkey pod. The metallic inserts are a mix of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

If I have enough light, I might try to take a photo of the other pieces I acquired.

Thanks again to the three of you - Vandoo, Bill, and Battara - for your input and information.

18th February 2010, 10:16 PM	#1
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Hi Battara, and thank you for the information... I hope you will stick around for a few while I upload the close-up photos of the ganja (sp?) of both kris' shortly. First, I have included a couple photos of the knife I am unable to identify. There are English / Latin alphabet characters on the obverse, in two lines - while I cannot make out the top line, the bottom line simply reads, "IS." The blade measures 10 1/4 inches in length, and is 2 1/4 inches wide at the hilt. The spine measures 5/16 of an inch at the hilt and evenly tapers to the tip. (Overcleaned) Brass ferule with seven facets, and a large horn grip. Steel (or iron?) pommel cap is also seven-sided; tang button is integral to the pommel cap and is also faceted with seven sides. The tang is peened over the button. Measures slightly under 17 inches overall. I'm about to upload the close-up photos of the kris'... One thing I have noticed in taking these most recent photos is how ridiculously overcleaned the furniture is - presumably by the previous owner, as his daughter hadn't bothered to remove the superficial surface rust that had begun to accumulate on most of them... Next post forthcoming!

18th February 2010, 10:29 PM	#2
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Okay - here are some close-up photos of the ganjas of each kris. The first picture shows the ferule and grip of the first kris. You can see in this photo where the surface patina had been removed from the metal. Due to the verde patina, I presume the top-most ring is copper. I am looking forward to hearing if these photos further validate the previous attribution and age estimation. In previewing my post before submitting it, I noticed Bill's input, and thank you for the same... I, too, had the distinct impression they had been overcleaned, though I believe said cleaning was performed b the late Col., not his daughter (for reasons mentioned above). In treating for the light surface rust present when I picked them up, I used the good 'ol standard of 3-in-1 and #0000, with just enough work to remove any active rust. So which one would you guys keep, and why? I'll next post a few pictures of one of the axes... Thanks again, Chris

18th February 2010, 10:46 PM	#3
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Lastly, here a couple photos of one of the Kalinga axes. The axe head measures 15 7/16 inches in length; the spike measure about 4 1/2 inches. As mentioned, the thickness varies from a little more than 5 mm to +/- 3 mm. The axe, including the shaft, measure about 21 inches in height. The daughter thought the shafts might be made of monkey pod. The metallic inserts are a mix of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. If I have enough light, I might try to take a photo of the other pieces I acquired. Thanks again to the three of you - Vandoo, Bill, and Battara - for your input and information.