Rencong Rencong is an L shaped weapon used in Aceh, Sumatra. It is in the category of the dagger, which is quite different from a knife or a sword. Before Aceh people used this weapon, they used a weapon called Siwah. Siwah had no handle, meaning it was hard for them to use it during wars, as it would get slippery when blood splattered on the weapon. Because of this big drawback, Sultan Alaiddin Riayat Syah Al-Kahher, the ruler of that time, told his people to modify the design of the weapon Siwah. To cover its disadvantages, people added an A-shaped handle to the weapon, and this newly designed weapon was called Rendong. Rencong was used against the Dutch colonizers, especially during the Aceh war, which happened between 1873 and 1914. Aceh’s use of a heritage weapon strengthened the spirit of Aceh soldiers. It also had a philosophical value in the religion of Islam.
Rencong is divided into 4 parts, which are bar (eye), punting Rencong, Ulee Rencong (handle), and Sarong Rencong (sheath). Recong’s forn blade is slightly curved with a pointed tip section. Its front side is sharp, but the backside covers only about three-quarters of the knife and it is closed with bud. On the front side, a bean-flower shape is carved, and this is called Bengkuang Rencong.
Keris One of the most famous and widely used weapons in Indonesia is the Keris. The Keris was first used in Central Java by Javanese people. This weapon is the most famous ethnic weapon among them, and at that time, without this weapon, a man was not considered a real man. The Keris is highly valued, because it is believed that it has supernatural powers, meaning it can prevent many problems including fire, death, or agricultural failure. The Keris was a weapon, but it was also considered a holy object bringing fortune. This weapon was usually inherited from forefathers and worn in daily life for self-protection. It was even worn on special events such as weddings.
The word Keris came from the Malay language, meaning to stab or pierce. The Keris originated in the Malay Archipelago, and started to be used in the 7th century. The Keris was first inspired by daggers of the Dong-Son of Vietnam in 300 B.C.
The Keris is a stabbing weapon and is divided in to two parts: The blade and the scabbard. It has a curved pistol-grip hilt. During battle, one person can carry 3 keris: from his father-in-law, his own, and his family heirloom.