Two small Coteng - keris selit or are they older?

VVV · 9th July 2011, 03:13 AM

In this thread DA Henkel wrote about another small keris:

"Kelantan or Terengganu dating to around 1920 - 1940... In these days smallish keris for "formal" attire were popular and even today in Kota Bahru they call them keris selit because the fit just nicely into the waist of your sarong."

Here is first a small silver coteng I found that is so much smaller than my two earlier coteng and the two coteng I have seen at the late Karsten Sejr Jensen's house. It's about 2/3 in size (30 cm/11 3/4") compared to my other silver coteng (42 cm/16 5/8").

And then a few weeks later I bought this small wooden coteng from Artzi that is just as small (29 cm/11 1/2").

What do you think, are they older versions or are they keris selit according to the quote above?

Michael

BluErf · 10th July 2011, 03:43 AM

I've seen small coteng kerises around, but I'm not so sure they can be classified as 'older' because of size. "Keris selit" as a term may not be applicable North of Kelantan/Terengganu, as it seems to have a Kelantanese/Terengganu origin.

Cotengs are inherently quite slim and petite, even in their full sizes, compared to the larger kerises that can be found down South. There may not be a very strong reason to downsize them further for a 'keris selit' effect.

VVV · 10th July 2011, 10:13 AM

Thanks Kai Wee!

I didn't know how local the keris selit-phenomena was as it was new to me before DA Henkel wrote about it.
Where there any other kind of blades than the flamboyant Parang Patani that were common to carry among Malays in South Thailand 100+ years ago?
Any longer straight swords?
I have a problem to understand the reasons for carrying so small kerises other than as a traditional part of your dress or for a metaphysical reason.

Michael

David · 10th July 2011, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

I have a problem to understand the reasons for carrying so small kerises other than as a traditional part of your dress or for a metaphysical reason.

Would these reasons not be sufficient?

VVV · 10th July 2011, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Would these reasons not be sufficient?

Yes, you (we

) are of course correct in that.
But sometimes people want a back up weapon, not to "disturb" the invisible forces unnecessarily.
Maybe I am to much self-defense/weapon oriented about this?

Michael

BluErf · 11th July 2011, 03:27 PM

I think in the later part of the keris evolution, it is not so much a weapon as a part of the dress code.

I don't recall seeing many long swords in Kelantan, but that does not mean there isn't any. Maybe I'm just not meeting the people who collects them, but the most common bladed types I've see are keris, badik, golok, kapak (axe), parang and klewang (both curved types). Don't recall many long swords.

9th July 2011, 03:13 AM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Two small Coteng - keris selit or are they older? In this thread DA Henkel wrote about another small keris: "Kelantan or Terengganu dating to around 1920 - 1940... In these days smallish keris for "formal" attire were popular and even today in Kota Bahru they call them keris selit because the fit just nicely into the waist of your sarong." Here is first a small silver coteng I found that is so much smaller than my two earlier coteng and the two coteng I have seen at the late Karsten Sejr Jensen's house. It's about 2/3 in size (30 cm/11 3/4") compared to my other silver coteng (42 cm/16 5/8"). And then a few weeks later I bought this small wooden coteng from Artzi that is just as small (29 cm/11 1/2"). What do you think, are they older versions or are they keris selit according to the quote above? Michael Attached Images

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10th July 2011, 03:43 AM	#2
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	I've seen small coteng kerises around, but I'm not so sure they can be classified as 'older' because of size. "Keris selit" as a term may not be applicable North of Kelantan/Terengganu, as it seems to have a Kelantanese/Terengganu origin. Cotengs are inherently quite slim and petite, even in their full sizes, compared to the larger kerises that can be found down South. There may not be a very strong reason to downsize them further for a 'keris selit' effect.

10th July 2011, 10:13 AM	#3
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks Kai Wee! I didn't know how local the keris selit-phenomena was as it was new to me before DA Henkel wrote about it. Where there any other kind of blades than the flamboyant Parang Patani that were common to carry among Malays in South Thailand 100+ years ago? Any longer straight swords? I have a problem to understand the reasons for carrying so small kerises other than as a traditional part of your dress or for a metaphysical reason. Michael

11th July 2011, 03:27 PM	#6
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	I think in the later part of the keris evolution, it is not so much a weapon as a part of the dress code. I don't recall seeing many long swords in Kelantan, but that does not mean there isn't any. Maybe I'm just not meeting the people who collects them, but the most common bladed types I've see are keris, badik, golok, kapak (axe), parang and klewang (both curved types). Don't recall many long swords.