Hi Rick, Bang Rahman,
It would be great if I can get more info on the banning of various sidearms throughout the archipelago, the dates and the motives as well.
I've read somewhere that after the Indian mutiny, the East India Company offloaded a lot of swords in the Southeast Asian markets, which perhaps accounts for the origins of the piso podang? Maybe it was in Gardner's book.
Bang Rahman, while you're patiently untangling the ancient language of Sejarah Melayu, do look out for references on Keris Tempa Melaka ( I think the blade is three palms long, in Malay tiga jengkal/tiga hasta).
If the blade is broad enough, then this keris could have functioned like a short sword I suppose, like a Roman gladius.
There's some other references to weapons throughout, including a slave murdering a prince of the ruling house by stabbing him through the house's floor (probably during the unfortunate reign of Sultan Mahmud, I have to check). Do tell me if you unearth anything, as I'll be checking through mine.
Are you using the Shellabear version, the Samad version or the more recent hardcover edited by Prof Muhammad Haji Salleh. I believe there are some minor variations between them as they are from different handwritten originals.