"Archaic" Twisted Core on eBay

ThePepperSkull · 14th November 2013, 02:06 AM

Wow. I thought interest in Moro pieces have waned in the past year but it looks like I'm wrong. Or maybe because it's harder and harder to track down a twistcore. The older pieces will always be in demand regardless of overall trends, I think. Like the OP said, Twistcore + Ivory pommel = very desirable, even moreso when taken into consideration the age.

Also, considering the age I believe it to be in relatively good condition. Not great, mind you but good enough to easily restore without being too invasive (i.e. a replacement crest at the back of the pommel, maybe a sheath, or even nice enough to leave it as-is). Collecting quality pieces has changed in the past couple of years in terms of moro blades, and compared to other twistcores that have sold in recent months (including one I remember seeing that was mostly eaten by rust and another with the tip completely shorn off) this one is actually not that bad. Not as good as acquisitions, say, in 2011 but pickings are slimmer and slimmer as popularity and knowledge about these rise.

If it's true about the pub wall theory, it's a shame about the hole but interesting that this was done nonetheless. Especially for such a great piece. If not, the mystery continues.

EDIT: Are there more examples of ethnographic arms with a confirmed "pub drill hole" that we can compare with?

DaveS · 14th November 2013, 02:36 AM

I just have a passion for twist-cores that borders on the uncontrolable.
Even with the chipped pommel and the hole in the blade i think the price
was reasonable. In my area of the country (Calif) there has been more
interest in Moro pieces than i can remember in the last couple of years.
When i look at some of the prices being asked for shamshirs and
tulwars, especially wootz pieces, i think Moro swords of all kinds are a
real bargain..........Dave

DaveS · 14th November 2013, 02:54 AM

As Pepper-skull just mentioned, part of the problem is that twist-cores
are just getting really hard to find. They are just not like the average Moro
swords that we as collectors see all the time. For me, the holy grail would
be to find a twist-core barong. I have seen twist-core camps and twist-
core panabas, i even managed to get a twist-core bolo several years
back. Maybe some day i'll get lucky and end up with a t-c barong that
i will find in some out of the way antique store for fifty dollars. Yaaa right!!!
Dave.

mross · 14th November 2013, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveS

I just have a passion for twist-cores that borders on the uncontrolable.
Even with the chipped pommel and the hole in the blade i think the price
was reasonable. In my area of the country (Calif) there has been more
interest in Moro pieces than i can remember in the last couple of years.
When i look at some of the prices being asked for shamshirs and
tulwars, especially wootz pieces, i think Moro swords of all kinds are a
real bargain..........Dave

Dave, I think you and I suffer from the same affliction; it also seems we are on the same page. Scary.

DaveS · 14th November 2013, 09:07 PM

MROSS- Yes it could be considered a terrible affliction. Especially as far as
a persons wallet is concerned. I guess as far as you and i are concerned,
we just might be lucky that twist-cores rarely show up on ebay anymore
or anywhere else for that matter.........Dave

spiral · 14th November 2013, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePepperSkull

EDIT: Are there more examples of ethnographic arms with a confirmed "pub drill hole" that we can compare with?

They were not all drilled at a central pub supplies warehouse, they were done by individuals at each of the many thousands of pubs, so comparing with just one probably doesn't take us very far forward. Different nails,different drills, different workmen, different placement. etc

That said, I assume they would normally be drilled with a twist bit. Generally in a less tempered area, would make sense.

spiral

A. G. Maisey · 14th November 2013, 08:24 AM

To the best of my knowledge this keris form is associated with North Borneo/Brunei.

The state execution keris of Brunei was made in Brunei in 1842 and is of this form.

I have seen keris of this form and in worse condition than this, but without a hole in the blade go for much, much higher prices than this.

In Queensland, Australia some years ago a regulation was in force that resulted in many keris being secured in their scabbards by a hole being drilled through scabbard and blade and a nut and bolt being inserted in the hole.

14th November 2013, 02:06 AM	#1
ThePepperSkull Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 338	Wow. I thought interest in Moro pieces have waned in the past year but it looks like I'm wrong. Or maybe because it's harder and harder to track down a twistcore. The older pieces will always be in demand regardless of overall trends, I think. Like the OP said, Twistcore + Ivory pommel = very desirable, even moreso when taken into consideration the age. Also, considering the age I believe it to be in relatively good condition. Not great, mind you but good enough to easily restore without being too invasive (i.e. a replacement crest at the back of the pommel, maybe a sheath, or even nice enough to leave it as-is). Collecting quality pieces has changed in the past couple of years in terms of moro blades, and compared to other twistcores that have sold in recent months (including one I remember seeing that was mostly eaten by rust and another with the tip completely shorn off) this one is actually not that bad. Not as good as acquisitions, say, in 2011 but pickings are slimmer and slimmer as popularity and knowledge about these rise. If it's true about the pub wall theory, it's a shame about the hole but interesting that this was done nonetheless. Especially for such a great piece. If not, the mystery continues. EDIT: Are there more examples of ethnographic arms with a confirmed "pub drill hole" that we can compare with? Last edited by ThePepperSkull; 14th November 2013 at 02:22 AM.

14th November 2013, 02:36 AM	#2
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	It was me. I just have a passion for twist-cores that borders on the uncontrolable. Even with the chipped pommel and the hole in the blade i think the price was reasonable. In my area of the country (Calif) there has been more interest in Moro pieces than i can remember in the last couple of years. When i look at some of the prices being asked for shamshirs and tulwars, especially wootz pieces, i think Moro swords of all kinds are a real bargain..........Dave

14th November 2013, 02:54 AM	#3
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	twist-cores As Pepper-skull just mentioned, part of the problem is that twist-cores are just getting really hard to find. They are just not like the average Moro swords that we as collectors see all the time. For me, the holy grail would be to find a twist-core barong. I have seen twist-core camps and twist- core panabas, i even managed to get a twist-core bolo several years back. Maybe some day i'll get lucky and end up with a t-c barong that i will find in some out of the way antique store for fifty dollars. Yaaa right!!! Dave.

14th November 2013, 09:07 PM	#5
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	MROSS- Yes it could be considered a terrible affliction. Especially as far as a persons wallet is concerned. I guess as far as you and i are concerned, we just might be lucky that twist-cores rarely show up on ebay anymore or anywhere else for that matter.........Dave

14th November 2013, 08:24 AM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,736	To the best of my knowledge this keris form is associated with North Borneo/Brunei. The state execution keris of Brunei was made in Brunei in 1842 and is of this form. I have seen keris of this form and in worse condition than this, but without a hole in the blade go for much, much higher prices than this. In Queensland, Australia some years ago a regulation was in force that resulted in many keris being secured in their scabbards by a hole being drilled through scabbard and blade and a nut and bolt being inserted in the hole.