A must read provided by Brian, B.I., "Malaysian Weapons in Arabic Literature" by S.Q.Fatima. It goes into the history of trade and swords in Southeast Asia from the bronze age to pre Islamic Arabia era and on until Christian contact. Ironically, the author's opinion mentions the Keris Suluk of Sulu as the blade closest in form to early bas-reliefs found in Java. Also mentions "main silat and bersilat" in relation to swordplay.
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