Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

David · 19th June 2015, 04:53 AM

I believe the idea of the keris panjang being an executioner's keris is a bit of a myth or at least an exaggeration. The panjang, as i understand it, is a status piece, to be held by those of rank and authority. Therefore it may have been the choice of keris for execution simply because it was held by those with authority to execute. I don't think it was a style of keris that was created specifically for capital punishment. I doubt that most panjang were ever intended to be used in that manner, only that they could be because they were held by someone who might have the power to actually do it.

19th June 2015, 04:53 AM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,026	I believe the idea of the keris panjang being an executioner's keris is a bit of a myth or at least an exaggeration. The panjang, as i understand it, is a status piece, to be held by those of rank and authority. Therefore it may have been the choice of keris for execution simply because it was held by those with authority to execute. I don't think it was a style of keris that was created specifically for capital punishment. I doubt that most panjang were ever intended to be used in that manner, only that they could be because they were held by someone who might have the power to actually do it.