Why don't Co Jang have scabbards?

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Gavin Nugent

... Maurice is very knowledgeable where Dutch colonial colonial sources are concerned and references them as not being worn with a scabbard... he may be able to cite references for you.
https://bataviacollectables.jimdofre...-cojang-rudus/

Just to document Maurice's comment about his "gliwang" (aka klewang, kelewang) which is pertinent to Jeff's question.

Gliwang from Aceh, around 1870.

It is remarkable that a gliwang never had been worn with a scabbard.

It was always carried in hand and not in the belt. Sometimes the blade had been covered in palmleaf or goatskin. It was carried by the chiefs staff, and when traveling.

After the pacification of Aceh, it was prohibited to carry these swords, and many gliwang had been transformed to agricultural tools, while others kept in use for butchering sacrificial animals.

This suggests a ceremonial/display role for the co jang. The same use was made of the kampilan among the Moro groups of Mindanao.