Why don't Co Jang have scabbards?

Ian · 6th November 2023, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavin Nugent

... Maurice is very knowledgeable where Dutch colonial colonial sources are concerned and references them as not being worn with a scabbard... he may be able to cite references for you.
https://bataviacollectables.jimdofre...-cojang-rudus/

Just to document Maurice's comment about his "gliwang" (aka klewang, kelewang) which is pertinent to Jeff's question.

Quote:

Gliwang from Aceh, around 1870.

It is remarkable that a gliwang never had been worn with a scabbard.

It was always carried in hand and not in the belt. Sometimes the blade had been covered in palmleaf or goatskin. It was carried by the chiefs staff, and when traveling.

After the pacification of Aceh, it was prohibited to carry these swords, and many gliwang had been transformed to agricultural tools, while others kept in use for butchering sacrificial animals.

This suggests a ceremonial/display role for the co jang. The same use was made of the kampilan among the Moro groups of Mindanao.

Sajen · 7th November 2023, 12:52 AM

The shown example from the Met isn't a Co Jang but a Rudus, the blade form is the same but it was used by the Batak while a Co Jang or Gliwang is a Aceh sword and was the favored weapon by the Aceh war. The scabbard from the Met example is also Batak (Pakpak) work and not Malay, the complete sword seems very ceremonial or status to my eyes while the Co jang was a war sword.
Why the scabbards from the Co Jang have been simple from palm leaves or goat skin I can't answer but may have to do with the fact that it was a pure war sword.

Regards,
Detlef

Sajen · 7th November 2023, 12:58 AM

My Co Jang

thomas hauschild · 7th November 2023, 03:03 PM

My one with scabbard. Is this a cojang or rudus ?

Gustav · 7th November 2023, 04:12 PM

Fantastic ensemble!

Sajen · 7th November 2023, 09:06 PM

Beautiful Thomas!

It's a Co Jang from Aceh. Do you have a translation from the inscription on the scabbard?

thomas hauschild · 8th November 2023, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Beautiful Thomas!

It's a Co Jang from Aceh. Do you have a translation from the inscription on the scabbard?

No I do not have translation

#all: thanks a lot

JeffS · 8th November 2023, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomas hauschild

My one with scabbard. Is this a cojang or rudus ?

Well, there you go. Thank you. Is the scabbard one piece with the open top or two halves? Does the band add a bit of a spring to hold the blade? I've read descriptions of Moro kampilan scabbards that have that feature.

Gavin Nugent · 8th November 2023, 03:27 AM

A stunning status sword Thomas. I love the Peurawot like throat section.

These open sheath types are quite common amongst a variety of knives and swords from the region, I'm sure some simple google image searches will turn up many.

Attached is another sword type from Sumatra, albeit a later sheath, it is of the type found with these weapons, both ceremonial, status and combat.

The knives are not typically open backed, but do carry the elaborate hooked motifs at the throat.

Here are some variants from within the Forum pages.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?p=33079
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...1&postcount=15
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18416

thomas hauschild · 8th November 2023, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffS

Well, there you go. Thank you. Is the scabbard one piece with the open top or two halves? Does the band add a bit of a spring to hold the blade? I've read descriptions of Moro kampilan scabbards that have that feature.

2 halfs of wood without glue. The brass bands hold them together, but not so strong that there will be a springy effect

Ian · 8th November 2023, 09:03 AM

I think Maurice's observation that the gliwang is never worn, but rather carried in the hand, is consistent with the scabbards we see here. Thomas's example with the slit along the top of the scabbard would make it hard to wear on the body, and keep the sword contained, and these can be reasonably long swords as well. The Moro panabas, another heavy battle weapon, tends not to have a sheath too. The blade edge sometimes had a small strip of wood with a groove that was fastened with a strip of cloth to protect the edge, and the entire weapon was usually wrapped in cloth and carried to its place of use. The edge guard and cloth were discarded when battle was engaged.

First time I've seen a slotted scabbard from Aceh. Gavin, can you show us more examples?

7th November 2023, 12:58 AM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,415	My Co Jang Attached Images

7th November 2023, 03:03 PM	#4
thomas hauschild Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Germany Posts: 146	My one with scabbard. Is this a cojang or rudus ? Attached Images

8th November 2023, 03:27 AM	#9
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	A stunning status sword Thomas. I love the Peurawot like throat section. These open sheath types are quite common amongst a variety of knives and swords from the region, I'm sure some simple google image searches will turn up many. Attached is another sword type from Sumatra, albeit a later sheath, it is of the type found with these weapons, both ceremonial, status and combat. The knives are not typically open backed, but do carry the elaborate hooked motifs at the throat. Here are some variants from within the Forum pages. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?p=33079 http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...1&postcount=15 http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18416 Attached Images

7th November 2023, 12:52 AM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,415	The shown example from the Met isn't a Co Jang but a Rudus, the blade form is the same but it was used by the Batak while a Co Jang or Gliwang is a Aceh sword and was the favored weapon by the Aceh war. The scabbard from the Met example is also Batak (Pakpak) work and not Malay, the complete sword seems very ceremonial or status to my eyes while the Co jang was a war sword. Why the scabbards from the Co Jang have been simple from palm leaves or goat skin I can't answer but may have to do with the fact that it was a pure war sword. Regards, Detlef

7th November 2023, 04:12 PM	#5
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,295	Fantastic ensemble!

7th November 2023, 09:06 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,415	Beautiful Thomas! It's a Co Jang from Aceh. Do you have a translation from the inscription on the scabbard?

8th November 2023, 09:03 AM	#11
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,521	I think Maurice's observation that the gliwang is never worn, but rather carried in the hand, is consistent with the scabbards we see here. Thomas's example with the slit along the top of the scabbard would make it hard to wear on the body, and keep the sword contained, and these can be reasonably long swords as well. The Moro panabas, another heavy battle weapon, tends not to have a sheath too. The blade edge sometimes had a small strip of wood with a groove that was fastened with a strip of cloth to protect the edge, and the entire weapon was usually wrapped in cloth and carried to its place of use. The edge guard and cloth were discarded when battle was engaged. First time I've seen a slotted scabbard from Aceh. Gavin, can you show us more examples?