Rencong Sizes?

[erikscollectables]

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]

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]

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

[Battara]

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]

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]

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

[asomotif]

Hello Erik,

Yes, this size rencong is not practical in use. Too long too heavy, difficult to handle and difficult to move and direct towards an opponent.

But it is the longest I have ever seen and fun to have in the collection.

as for Michaels rencong.

Could you show some more pictures of that

How is the base of the blade constructed ?
Most of the times these 'models' have brass at the base of the blade.
This one too ?

Best regards,
Willem

[erikscollectables]

Yes it is a really nice piece to have indeed!

Originally Posted by asomotif

Hello Erik,

Yes, this size rencong is not practical in use. Too long too heavy, difficult to handle and difficult to move and direct towards an opponent.

But it is the longest I have ever seen and fun to have in the collection.

as for Michaels rencong.

How is the base of the blade constructed ?
Most of the times these 'models' have brass at the base of the blade.
This one too ?

Best regards,
Willem

Would guess it would be suassa and not brass on this quality of rencong.

Regards, Erik

[asomotif]

Most of the times these 'models' have brass at the base of the blade.

Would guess it would be suassa and not brass on this quality of rencong

The few examples I have seen in private and museum collections had brass on the base of the blade.
One had suasa. but I can not recall where I saw that one.

[VVV]

Originally Posted by erikscollectables

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

Regards, Erik

Erik,
I don't really know how to separate Gayo from Aceh rencong.
Good you brought it up so I will have a look in the books when I am back home again.
Here are some close ups of the left one which is the largest I have seen IRL so far.
Unfortunately I don't remember the dimensions.

Michael

[VVV]

I checked my references and the left one is indeed Gayo (but no longer mine...).

Michael