Rencong

[Pendita65]

Bought this Rencong lately with a saruek ulat in a package deal from a friend who is an antique dealer.
The sheath is missing its curved top piece that could have been from ivory or horn.
I first thought it was a crowned Rencong but Kai told me it is a saruek ulat.

Would love to learn more about it.

[Sajen]

Hi Martin,

You will know already more about your nice rencong as others can add!
Has Kai told you something about the origin? I guess that it is a Gayo rencong, sadly the mouth piece is missing which would be able to pinpoint the origin a little bit better. It's a rare rencong, congrats. What is the handle material? When it is ivory it could be dugong ivory. I personally would polish up the metal parts of the handle.
Attached a pic of some rencong from my collection.

Regards,
Detlef

[Pendita65]

Hi Detlef,

thank you for your reply, and you have a nice selection of Rencong as well, I did not get much more info on the Rencong of mine. I know now Rencong Gayo area with saruek ulat. I had from Erik a collector from the Netherlands that he once had a klewang type weapon from Gayo that had similar decoration. On the internet is not much to find either about this type most links come out by Vikingsword. So we will see if i can find more info on it.

[Sajen]

Here a relevant picture from Volz.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Pendita65

thank you for your reply, and you have a nice selection of Rencong as well, ...

The one left in up has a handle from akar bahar! Thank you Martin!

Regards,
Detlef

[Pendita65]

Thank you Detlef,

Interesting these images, do you have the the books by Volz? I like all the variations in weapons shown by you.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Pendita65

Interesting these images, do you have the the books by Volz? I like all the variations in weapons shown by you.

Sadly not!

[kai]

Hello Martin,

I know now Rencong Gayo area with saruek ulat. I had from Erik a collector from the Netherlands that he once had a klewang type weapon from Gayo that had similar decoration.

Yeah, Erik's Luju Alang is a neat piece that went to Bronbeek.

BTW, the saruek ulat is not limited to Gayo origins. It is also commonly found with Luju/Sikin Lapan Sagi which is from Aceh proper, too.

Regards,
Kai

[Pendita65]

Hi Kai,

thank your for the extra info, i will have a look for these places, I just ordered the 1912 edition from: Volz, Wilhelm: Nord-Sumatra. Band II: Die Gajoländer. And it is on it's way from Berlin. Will take some pictures later today when i am home. The Rencong fits like a hand in a glove and it is the scabard that belongs to it. When my aquintance is back from Indonesia, i will ask him where he got the Rencong from so maybe i find out more.

Regards,

Martin

[Pendita65]

Hi Kai,

i also found a Luju Alang on pinterest no description further or where the picture came from but it has a sleeve with similarities with the rencong.