Text on rencong

Freddy · 3rd July 2006, 05:57 PM

I found this rencong this weekend. I don't think it's very old, but I found an arabic (?) text on the blade. Could anyone translate ?

This rencong has a copper (?) blade. The handle and sheath are made from horn. My guess is that it's a tourist piece. Anyone has another suggestion ?

Battara · 4th July 2006, 01:08 AM

I don't know about tourist piece. Certainly it is recent. The blade looks like steel or white metal in most of the pictures, but brass in the closeup.

The inscription I think is a bismallah (name of God) or at least a petition to God, the first word (going right to left) is "Allah".

Pangeran Datu · 4th July 2006, 01:22 AM

Hi,
I believe it to be a 'tourist' piece. Brass and horn pieces proliferated South-east Asia post late-sixties. The materials are easier to come by, cheaper and easier to work with,...i.e. more cost effective, more tourist dollars in much shorter time. Sometimes, two would be mounted on a board/shield. Similarly with kerises, kujangs etc.

Regards.

Alam Shah · 4th July 2006, 03:41 AM

The Quranic text is "Bismilahir rahmanir Rahiim", which means,
In the name of Allah , the Beneficent , the Merciful.

It looks touristy piece to me.

What do you think of these?

http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php

http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php

TVV · 6th July 2006, 03:51 AM

While the topic is arabic text on touristy rencongs, I also have one I recently acquired. The same inscription has been inlyaed with brass on both sides of the blade. There is also some decorative inlay that looks light it went quite wrong. On the other hand the pommel cap is ivory, although the scabbard mouth is bone. Therefore I am guessing that while even if the rencong is not intended for tourists, it is of recent manufacture. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. I appologize in advance if the inscription is turned upside down.
Thanks,
Teodor

Alam Shah · 6th July 2006, 05:34 AM

TVV,
The Arabic text on your rencong, looks like "Allahu Akbar" literally translated, "Allah is Great".

Pardon me, but I think the rencong blade is of low-quality manufacture and a tourist piece.

Here's another rencong blade for comparison:
http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php

Freddy · 6th July 2006, 10:08 AM

Thanks for the translation, Alam Shah.

I'm quite aware that I have a tourist rencong. Nevertheless, the blad has a nice finish to it. And yes...it's a brass blade.

Beautiful pieces you have. Very nice.

A question : Do only tourist pieces have arabic texts on the blade or was this done with genuine pieces also ?

Alam Shah · 6th July 2006, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

A question : Do only tourist pieces have arabic texts on the blade or was this done with genuine pieces also ?

Hmmm...good question. The number of rencongs I've seen are limited but
I've yet to see one genuine piece with some arabic text.

Freddy, your rencong although a tourist piece, it's still neatly executed... Alam Shah

TVV · 6th July 2006, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alam Shah

TVV,
The Arabic text on your rencong, looks like "Allahu Akbar" literally translated, "Allah is Great".

Pardon me, but I think the rencong blade is of low-quality manufacture and a tourist piece.

Here's another rencong blade for comparison:
http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php

Alam Shah, thank you for the translation and comments. No need to apologize, as you are stating something which is obvious.
I would love to see pictures on KampungNet, but they take forever to load.

Regards,

Teodor

Battara · 7th July 2006, 05:28 PM

Actually your blade looks like steel with brass inlay inscription.

One question I have is were these blades etched or left alone?

BluErf · 8th July 2006, 03:04 AM

The blade looks brass to me. I wonder if it was made from a mould derived from a good old example?

TVV · 8th July 2006, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Actually your blade looks like steel with brass inlay inscription.

One question I have is were these blades etched or left alone?

You are right - as I wrote in my first post the blade is low quality steel, of triangular section, with brass inlay made in grooves. I know there are grooves because on the other side of the blade where some of the inlay is missing you can clearly see them. There are file marks all over the blade, and whoever did the inlay did a very poor job - in areas it has spilled out of the grooves in smudges.

3rd July 2006, 05:57 PM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Text on rencong I found this rencong this weekend. I don't think it's very old, but I found an arabic (?) text on the blade. Could anyone translate ? This rencong has a copper (?) blade. The handle and sheath are made from horn. My guess is that it's a tourist piece. Anyone has another suggestion ?

4th July 2006, 03:41 AM	#4
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	The Quranic text is "Bismilahir rahmanir Rahiim", which means, In the name of Allah , the Beneficent , the Merciful. It looks touristy piece to me. What do you think of these? http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php Last edited by Alam Shah; 4th July 2006 at 03:46 AM. Reason: added links...

6th July 2006, 05:34 AM	#6
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	TVV, The Arabic text on your rencong, looks like "Allahu Akbar" literally translated, "Allah is Great". Pardon me, but I think the rencong blade is of low-quality manufacture and a tourist piece. Here's another rencong blade for comparison: http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php Last edited by Alam Shah; 6th July 2006 at 05:36 AM. Reason: add link...

4th July 2006, 01:08 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	I don't know about tourist piece. Certainly it is recent. The blade looks like steel or white metal in most of the pictures, but brass in the closeup. The inscription I think is a bismallah (name of God) or at least a petition to God, the first word (going right to left) is "Allah".

4th July 2006, 01:22 AM	#3
Pangeran Datu Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 79	Hi, I believe it to be a 'tourist' piece. Brass and horn pieces proliferated South-east Asia post late-sixties. The materials are easier to come by, cheaper and easier to work with,...i.e. more cost effective, more tourist dollars in much shorter time. Sometimes, two would be mounted on a board/shield. Similarly with kerises, kujangs etc. Regards.

6th July 2006, 03:51 AM	#5
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,620	While the topic is arabic text on touristy rencongs, I also have one I recently acquired. The same inscription has been inlyaed with brass on both sides of the blade. There is also some decorative inlay that looks light it went quite wrong. On the other hand the pommel cap is ivory, although the scabbard mouth is bone. Therefore I am guessing that while even if the rencong is not intended for tourists, it is of recent manufacture. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. I appologize in advance if the inscription is turned upside down. Thanks, Teodor

6th July 2006, 10:08 AM	#7
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Thanks for the translation, Alam Shah. I'm quite aware that I have a tourist rencong. Nevertheless, the blad has a nice finish to it. And yes...it's a brass blade. Beautiful pieces you have. Very nice. A question : Do only tourist pieces have arabic texts on the blade or was this done with genuine pieces also ?

7th July 2006, 05:28 PM	#10
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Actually your blade looks like steel with brass inlay inscription. One question I have is were these blades etched or left alone?

8th July 2006, 03:04 AM	#11
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	The blade looks brass to me. I wonder if it was made from a mould derived from a good old example?