CoJang and rudus(?)
 

I was wondering about the distinction between the rudus and cojang.

I've had the less fancy of the two swords below for a while. I assume that that one is a cojang. 77 cm overall with a 62.5 cm blade, 4.8cm max width, 9mm thick at the hilt, 499 grams. On a side note: Apparently this one was used in a theater production (together with a very banged up sikin panjang)! It's a very light blade. No decorations. Faint signs of laminations but it's hard to tell.

The bigger, heftier, fancier one with the nice laminated blade is one I just picked up from a local auction house. Early birthday present from me to me. :D 82 cm overall, 62 cm blade, 5.7cm max width, 11mm thick at the hilt, 649 grams. As you can tell from the measurements the blade is actually a little shorter but quite a bit wider and thicker. Much more substantial hilt with decorations and a reinforcing ferrule. Clear laminations and decorations on the spine and "greneng" before the cutting portion of the blade.

Is this new one a rudus? I've been a little unclear on what exactly distinguishes the two visually if not the stalk at the end of the grip and maybe the cant of that grip.


Since this one has so many names, I'll add the search terms: Rudus, CoJang, Cot Jang, Gliwang, Tjot Jang, Klewang Cok Jang, Klewang Tjok Jang, Klewang Tjok Jang, Tjo Jang, Tjok Ilang, Tjok Jang, Tioq Jang, Tjot Jang, Aceh, Atjeh, Malay, Sumatra

Related threads I could find:

translation please Cojang/Rudus Atjeh
COJANG / RUDUS FROM ATJEH / LAMINATED BLADE
Rudus / Cojang
Indonesian pedang for identification
Achenese 'Roedoïh' & 'Tjot Jang' / silver & suasa
Why don't Co Jang have scabbards?

Wikipedia cojang
Wikipedia rudus

More pictures.

Hi Werecow,

When I see it correctly, both of your examples are rudus.

Here a co jang I sold some time back and as comparison my rudus (sec. pic.).
It's the blade which makes the difference.

Regards,
Detlef

Ah, thanks Detlef. Interesting! If that is the difference then virtually all rudus I've seen are misclassified as cojang.

Congrats with your find!
A very old rudoïh, with attractive laminated blade, and (sometimes present) typical engraving on the back.
The brass piece at the hilt is rather rare, and not often found....

Thanks Maurice! Yes, I've seen the brass on only a few examples so far. It ads a nice touch and unlike with all of my other blades from the area it seems to have kept the horn from cracking (at least where I can see - although the brass itself seems to have cracks on both sides). :)

Also, I just came across your explanation of the blade shape differences in this post. That clears it up even more.

Are the grips on these sword types interchangeable or are they also diagnostic?

Interestingly, in spite of the weight and mass distribution differences the POB for both swords is virtually identical at ~15cm from the bottom of the grip.