Sword

Sikin Panjang

Note: The following text is taken from a 19th-century collection catalog and, in its language and perspective, partially reflects colonial thought patterns. We present the text in its original version to make the collection's history transparent and promote a critical examination of the colonial legacy. Certain terms and formulations may be perceived as problematic today. A 2009 research project concluded that most descriptions are factually correct and still usable; only a few details were found to be inaccurate or incorrect. The results of this project were published in the following collection catalog: https://khm-wmw-tm-library.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1457155265

"119. Sword - "Rudus"
A second, less commonly used type of single-edged weapon. Its blade shape differs from that of the kalewang. It is equally wide at the top and bottom, like a knife, thus the balance point is not so far forward, it lies about in the middle of the blade. This type is mostly kept in a wooden sheath and is not carried free in the hand as is the kalewang, but stowed in the belt. The blade of this weapon is of good damascened steel, the sheath of wood with decorative arabesque carvings. The hilt is of buffalo horn and also bent away from the cutting edge of the blade; at its end it is bifurcated, with two points which flange out to points."