Just to put in a further "two-bob's", one must remember that the kudi is a traditional implement of the WHOLE of Java and Madura, while the Kujang is a traditional implement of West Java only. Because of the similarity in shape, it is not surprising that in West Java, the difference between the two implements is somewhat esoteric.
I have just looked at an old and small photo of part of the Sumedang collection. It shows blades of similar shapes but with many variations, attached to ceremonial lances.
Digressing to tangs; as far as I know, there are four types of pesi/tang for kerises:
- round
- round at the ganja end and becoming square at the hilt end
- round at the ganja end and becoming flat with a hole at the hilt end (lika a needle)
- twisted, like a corkscrew
From what I know of the manufacturing process, it would not make much difference whether one makes the tang round or rectangular, but then, neither am I an Empu nor a metallurgist.
I apologise if I have made things more convoluted.
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