To restore or not to restore? I have been asked in many emails for my thoughts on this matter and my advice on how to proceed, particularly when blade etching is concerned. Rather than repeat myself over and over again I have decided to write this section dealing with my views on the ethics of restoring Moro Swords. However, I cannot conscientiously write a guide on how to restoration since each sword brings with its own unique problems that must be dealt with on an individual basis. What may seem to be one thing may in actuality be another. I cannot give general information since I feel that too little information applied wrongly can do greater damage than good. Also certain skills cannot properly be covered in writing, and should be best learned in person. So it must be noted that this article deals only with the ethics of whether to restore, and is not a guide on how to restore.

Sadly many who have owned Moro Swords in the past have taken varying levels of care of these weapons. In some situations swords have been left neglected in attics for years, in others they have been meticulously cared for, and in the most dreaded situation major alterations have been made. This diversity of care being the case, some Moro Swords are in pretty horrible condition, leaving many who find these neglected treasures asking how can they make their sword "better".

Before a collector should ask how to restore they should ask whether they should restore. I believe that this is a judgement call that must be made on an individual basis for individual reasons. I cannot claim to have any definitive answers to this question, and this article only expresses my personal views on this matter. I will try and pose the question taking in as many viewpoints as possible, but again this is only a general outline and is written through my own bias.

The first question collectors, in my opinion, must ask themselves, when deciding whether or not to restore, is why they collect. When deciding to restore an antique Moro Sword it must be remembered that for many collectors any alterations to a sword will detract from its value in direct ratio to the invasiveness of the alteration. So if you were trying to collect to have a financial investment then it would be best not to do any major alteration such as etching the blade. However, as a collector of swords we cannot leave seriously damaged swords in broken pieces. We collect swords, and not various deteriorating pieces of steel and wood. This is of course a very sensitive situation and highly dependent to the condition of the sword and the type of repairs/restoration that is needed.

I will divide restoration into three different categories:

The first category is essential restoration: this being work that must be done in order to prevent extreme deterioration of a sword. What falls into this category are factors that will cause the rapid deterioration of a sword if left un-checked such as mold on wood and active rust on metal. The primary role of a caretaker of a sword is to prevent its deterioration and maintain its life so that it may be enjoyed for future generations. Not treating active deteriorative agents is tantamount to abuse in my opinion.

The second category is semi-essential, yet delicate repairs/restoration. These are repairs/alterations that while are not essential in preventing the deterioration of the sword are essential in maintaining its semblance as a sword. These are repairs such as re-attaching a hilt that has come off, or repairing a scabbard that is broken. While necessary to maintain the sword's identity as a sword, if care is not taken these repairs may completely destroy its true cultural/historical nature and/or cause further deterioration. In these cases if a repair cannot be made correctly then it would be best not to do anything.

Finally the last category are non-essential superficial alterations. This includes such things as re-etching, polishing fittings, etc. In other words, alterations that are not necessary to maintain the swords existence, or identity as a sword, but are made for superficial appearances. These are the most delicate alterations, as well as the most personal. They are the most personal because they are dependant on what an individual collector feels a sword should be/look like. Should it be a relic of the past with its history being preserved in its signs of age or a living symbol that must stay in a condition which it exists as an entity that must be kept in vibrant health?

There are two primary schools of thought when concerning this question. One is that any non-essential alterations destroy the provenance of a sword, thereby eradicating its place and value in history. This is a very widely held view that devaluates any alteration to the physical signs of age such as removal of patina. This is primarily a Western viewpoint in which swords are viewed as financial investments, and it is important for those who feel they will not own their swords for life and are worried with resale value.

The second is the thought that treats Moro swords like their Malay cousins, as living entities whose spirit and soul must be maintained through constant care and must be kept in their "youthful/ageless" semblance. In other words a sword should be kept in a state in which it is ready for use, and proud in display. It has been asserted by some that a Moro warrior would always keep their weapons in good condition. However the truth to this statement is debatable.

I will state my own opinion. I keep my own swords in as youthful a condition as possible. In doing so I feel that I am keeping the spirit of my swords in good health and contentment. However to do this takes time and patience. I have spent many hours, days and months working on different swords in my collection to not only satisfy the first two categories of restoration, but also to satisfy the third while not detrimentally altering the spirit of my swords. Also one must not be overzealous in their attempts to clean and restore. With certain items one must understand that there are limits in what can be done, if overly cleaned a sword may lose all value or be seriously damaged. Perhaps I am wrong in my assumption that this is the culturally correct thing to do in honoring the spirits of my swords, but this is how I feel on the subject. I also do this with the understanding that these swords shall never leave my possession, and that I am not concerned with their monetary value.

I must repeat, even something as simple sounding as etching is far more complicated than it may initially seem. As I have said before, I have spent much time on different swords in my collection, to ensure that all repairs/restorations that I have made are the best that they can be. This means that any alteration should blend in with the original construction of the sword, and should be made adhering as much as possible to the cultural traditions of these swords. For me something as simple as etching is more than using acids to bring out watering, but a process in which the blade is meticulously polished to ensure even-ness and uniformity of finish then etched, then re-polished to ensure the highest quality of appearance. Scratched finishes, overly etched a.k.a. burnt blades, etc. are all dangers in etching. Not only this but etching will remove patina thereby lowering the worth of certain swords.

When undertaking any repairs/restoration one must identify what is wrong. Often swords that seem to be hopeless can be salvaged through patience and careful maintenance. Invasive repairs most of the time are not needed. Patience is key, and it must be remembered that to do things the correct way may often take much time. Secondly one must demand perfection in their work. Sloppy work that seeks to cut corners at best will accomplish nothing, and at worse cause further damage than good.