rencong hilt question

kai · 7th August 2007, 01:44 PM

Hello Maurice,

I believe your blade is pretty recent; I'm not sure it was produced on Sumatra either.

I haven't seen any antique northern Sumatran blade with fossil elephant molar fittings - I'd guess those folks were just too much concerned about durability and other practical issues...

Regards,
Kai

asomotif · 7th August 2007, 04:05 PM

Small addition.

KNIL soldiers where also using the rencong as an additional weapon.
So the rencongs that were taken from the locals were distributed amongst the KNIL soldiers as a personal close combat weapon.

I once had a rencong where the L shaped hilt was simply sawn of and the scabbard was marked with a 'V' not something a Acehnese warrior would do.

Battara · 8th August 2007, 06:56 PM

Thank you all...

Another question then, what about pamor blades on these - older or not make a difference?

kai · 8th August 2007, 08:50 PM

Hello Jose,

Quote:

Another question then, what about pamor blades on these - older or not make a difference?

I don't think there are any hard rules: blades with contrasting pamor and blades with subtle laminations from forging seem to have coexisted without any strong correlations with estimated age or status: e.g. there are some antique, gold fitted rencong with "plain" blades...

Regards,
Kai

Dajak · 9th August 2007, 04:03 AM

The pamor blade s that are not polished are mosty new ones .

Ben

Battara · 9th August 2007, 10:08 PM

W W!
I did not know these things - thank you all very much.

kai · 9th August 2007, 10:47 PM

Quote:

The pamor blade s that are not polished are mosty new ones .

Hello Ben,

I assume you mean blades strongly etched and stained with warangan? Also the pamor looks off in those modern repros...

Even worse are those heavily etched blades with raised writing (protected by wax) on them! Often their blade shape is also not traditional.

Regards,
Kai

Battara · 10th August 2007, 07:51 PM

Yes, I consider those with the wax resist and writing modern if not made for the market.

7th August 2007, 01:44 PM	#1
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Maurice, I believe your blade is pretty recent; I'm not sure it was produced on Sumatra either. I haven't seen any antique northern Sumatran blade with fossil elephant molar fittings - I'd guess those folks were just too much concerned about durability and other practical issues... Regards, Kai

7th August 2007, 04:05 PM	#2
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,235	Small addition. KNIL soldiers where also using the rencong as an additional weapon. So the rencongs that were taken from the locals were distributed amongst the KNIL soldiers as a personal close combat weapon. I once had a rencong where the L shaped hilt was simply sawn of and the scabbard was marked with a 'V' not something a Acehnese warrior would do.

8th August 2007, 06:56 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,286	Thank you all... Another question then, what about pamor blades on these - older or not make a difference?

9th August 2007, 04:03 AM	#5
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	The pamor blade s that are not polished are mosty new ones . Ben

9th August 2007, 10:08 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,286	W W! I did not know these things - thank you all very much.

10th August 2007, 07:51 PM	#8
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,286	Yes, I consider those with the wax resist and writing modern if not made for the market.