Rencong Sizes?

erikscollectables · 30th December 2008, 10:29 AM

I just read the following here on the forum that was made by Utami:

Rencong is usually ordered by its blade length. Different from Indonesia’s standard measurement, i.e. metric measurement, in ordering rencong, you need to use international measurement. So instead of using “cm”, you need to use “inch”. The length of rencong blade is usually 3 – 10 inchies. The length of blade tells the value and the status of the owner. The longer the blade, the more valuable and can only be possessed by high rank people. For example, a 10-inch blade can only be ordered and possessed by noble or highly respected people.

Is this a confirmed statement?

My rencong with golden crowns is just over 10 inches and I have another big regular rencong that is exactly 10 inches.

Any bigger rencong around?
I think I have seen one that is bigger in a collection (Gayo region) but I am not sure as I did not measure but I am sure it was pretty big...

asomotif · 30th December 2008, 01:51 PM

Hello Erik,

I have an old rencong with a blade that must be upto 15 inches.
No gold / no crown / hilt from dark buffalohorn with a floral ornament on top.

I will make some pictures when I have time.

Best regards,
Willem

asomotif · 30th December 2008, 09:11 PM

Here are the pictures with ruler in cms. / 1 inch = 2,54 cms / 1 cm =0,3937 inch

Battara · 31st December 2008, 02:36 AM

Erik, my hesitation to this information above is that there are smaller blades on gold hilted rencong with crowns that are for status and rank. This does not fit this hypothesis.

Asomotif - that is one long rencong blade!

VVV · 31st December 2008, 09:03 AM

Based on the large amount of rencong with long blades, and several high class ones with shorter blades, I also doubt this information regarding antique rencong.
But I suspect that Utami describes the rencong tradition of present time in Aceh as they are still being made?

Michael

erikscollectables · 31st December 2008, 09:44 AM

Asomotif that is one heck of a Rencong.
Wonder how practical it still would be in "practical" use it seems a bit out of proportion to handle well.

VVV you have some of the greatest rencongs I have seen outside (and maybe also including) a museum.

Is the one on the left a Gayo piece? Could you show some more pictures of that?

Regards, Erik

30th December 2008, 10:29 AM	#1
erikscollectables Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 318	Rencong Sizes? I just read the following here on the forum that was made by Utami: Rencong is usually ordered by its blade length. Different from Indonesia’s standard measurement, i.e. metric measurement, in ordering rencong, you need to use international measurement. So instead of using “cm”, you need to use “inch”. The length of rencong blade is usually 3 – 10 inchies. The length of blade tells the value and the status of the owner. The longer the blade, the more valuable and can only be possessed by high rank people. For example, a 10-inch blade can only be ordered and possessed by noble or highly respected people. Is this a confirmed statement? My rencong with golden crowns is just over 10 inches and I have another big regular rencong that is exactly 10 inches. Any bigger rencong around? I think I have seen one that is bigger in a collection (Gayo region) but I am not sure as I did not measure but I am sure it was pretty big... Attached Images

30th December 2008, 09:11 PM	#3
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Here are the pictures with ruler in cms. / 1 inch = 2,54 cms / 1 cm =0,3937 inch Attached Images Last edited by asomotif; 30th December 2008 at 09:47 PM.

31st December 2008, 09:03 AM	#5
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Based on the large amount of rencong with long blades, and several high class ones with shorter blades, I also doubt this information regarding antique rencong. But I suspect that Utami describes the rencong tradition of present time in Aceh as they are still being made? Michael Attached Images

31st December 2008, 09:44 AM	#6
erikscollectables Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 318	WOW! Asomotif that is one heck of a Rencong. Wonder how practical it still would be in "practical" use it seems a bit out of proportion to handle well. VVV you have some of the greatest rencongs I have seen outside (and maybe also including) a museum. Is the one on the left a Gayo piece? Could you show some more pictures of that? Regards, Erik

30th December 2008, 01:51 PM	#2
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Hello Erik, I have an old rencong with a blade that must be upto 15 inches. No gold / no crown / hilt from dark buffalohorn with a floral ornament on top. I will make some pictures when I have time. Best regards, Willem

31st December 2008, 02:36 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	Erik, my hesitation to this information above is that there are smaller blades on gold hilted rencong with crowns that are for status and rank. This does not fit this hypothesis. Asomotif - that is one long rencong blade!