PawnShop Keris… looking for information

[A. G. Maisey]

Dirty old mendak respond well to a couple of hours in a white vinegar soak, brush well under running water, dry.

[David]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Dirty old mendak respond well to a couple of hours in a white vinegar soak, brush well under running water, dry.

True, though it does look a bit out of kilter and missing some babbles. It could still be cleaned up for an acceptable look though.

[A. G. Maisey]

That beadwork can drop off even on new mendak, its not a big deal, & this mendak has a bit of age & appears to be complete & overall OK. I'd stick with this one --- if it did not come apart when it is taken off the keris.

The out of kilter "thing is usually due in poor mating of the mendak with the bottom of the handle, if the handle has a recess intended to accept the mendak, that recess might need to be made a whisker wider, if it is a flat bottom it might need to be levelled, sometimes the problem can be with the tang, use alloy jaw liners, put the tang into a vice, very gently bend the tang to the appropriate angle --- if it is a cold day warm the tang.

A mendak should always be test mated to the hilt before mounting to the tang.

[Montino Bourbon]

thank you so much for this information. As I said before, this forum is invaluable.