Me and a buddy were discussing this recently.
I have been thinking... Harimau Silat styles rarely exhibit longer blades... the longest usually a short golok - otherwise it's extremely close range fighting, without or without knives. I have heard of blades from Palembang, Bengkulu, and the lowlands, Batak blades, and Acehnese swords... but never Minang. The only blades I have heard of as being Minang are their styles of keris, siraui, sewar, tumbuk lada, etc. All short range fighting knifes / daggers.
Of course "traditional" warfare involved spears and matchlocks too...
Were there swords/pedang that can be specifically attributed to the Minang?
Or were they very general golok-like designs?
Or imported designs from West Java, or the Acehnese?
I thought that, a culture with such a notorious fighting prowess would have it's distinct weaponry too...
Anyone can help a curious forum-mate out?
