Topographic pattern on kris

[JeffS]

Apologies for the bad photos. I am about to clean this up but am curious about the slightly raised patterning on this kris. I'm tempted to polish but wanted to see if others have experienced this with Moro kris. Hope the pictures demonstrate what I am describing. The raised material is enough to feel with fingernail but not enough to "catch" it.

[Ian]

Hi Jeff.

A 20th C Mindanao kris that seems to have been over-etched. I had a barung that was treated similarly. I think it may now belong to a fellow forumite.

The extent of over-etching starts at the tip of the "arrowhead" of the blade and extends down the blade. There is nothing above that line to suggest any etchant was used.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

I had a barung that was treated similarly. I think it may now belong to a fellow forumite.

Hi Ian,

Do you mean the barung you sold me via ebay 15-20 years back?

Regards,
Detlef

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Ian,

Do you mean the barung you sold me via ebay 15-20 years back?

Regards,
Detlef

Yes, Detlef, that's the one--right before I came down with an illness that kept me off these pages for several years. I've never seen another barung treated in that manner.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

Yes, Detlef, that's the one--right before I came down with an illness that kept me off these pages for several years. I've never seen another barung treated in that manner.

Long ago but I still have it and was able to add a scabbard to it, it was my first barung. Will post pictures tomorrow for comparison.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Here you go! Like said before, I was able to give the blade a fitting scabbard.
The blade is different from the kris blade in question, but over-etched for sure but I am sure that it would be possible to make the blade very nice again, you just need to polish the blade.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by JeffS

Apologies for the bad photos. I am about to clean this up but am curious about the slightly raised patterning on this kris. I'm tempted to polish but wanted to see if others have experienced this with Moro kris. Hope the pictures demonstrate what I am describing. The raised material is enough to feel with fingernail but not enough to "catch" it.

Hi Jeff,

I guess that Ian means me, I bought a similar over etched barung from him via ebay years ago. I've thought about to repolish the blade but I have enough other projects which seems more important to my eyes!
Your kris blade looks very interesting in this state, I would let it in this state.

Regards,
Detlef