Rencong

The rencong (Acehnese: reuncong, Dutch spelling: rentjong, British spelling: renchong) is a type of knife originating in Aceh, Indonesia. Originally a fighting weapon, it is most often seen today in the martial art of silat and worn during traditional ceremonies.

Rencong
Rencong with wooden scabbard and metal decorated handle, pre-1945.
Type	Dagger
Place of origin	Indonesia (Aceh)
Service history
Used by	Acehnese
Specifications
Length	10-50cm

Blade type	Single edge, slight concave grind
Hilt type	Water buffalo horn, bahar (Euplexaura sp) roots
Scabbard/sheath	Water buffalo horn, wood

Description

The rencong is slightly L-shaped and has a sharp blade with a slightly convex back.[1] The blade can vary in length from 10 to 50 cm. The blade can be straight or cranked like a kris. It is held in a scabbard of wood, ivory, horn, or sometimes even silver or gold. The rencong is worn on one's belt around the waist.

The design of a rencong depends largely on the social status of its owner. The most common type is made of brass or silver steel with a sheath of wood or buffalo horn. The rencong used by royalty is more ornate and less functional. Royal rencong have sheathes of ivory and blade made from gold, engraved with Quranic verses.

Technique

Rencong technique is dependent on the weapon's size. Smaller lengths are favoured because they are more easily concealed. The rencong is worn on the left side and drawn with the left foot forward. A quick step forward with the right foot adds momentum to the thrust. It is then whipped to the right with a snap of the hand, bringing the palm upwards while the elbow is close to the body. The thrusting arm is almost fully extended and the palm is turned downward just before piercing the target. While the thrust is the primary method of attack, circular and elliptical slashing techniques exist as well. The main targets are the throat, kidneys, groin, and abdomen.

Culture

Aceh folklore ascribes mystical attributes and supernatural powers to the rencong. The form of the weapon is said to represent the Basmala. The rencong is today worn as part of traditional attire on ceremonial occasions.[2] Aceh is also known as the "Land of the Rencong" (Tanah Rencong).

References

Albert G Van Zonneveld (2002). Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago. Koninklyk Instituut Voor Taal Land. ISBN 90-5450-004-2.
"Rencong, Aceh Traditional Weapon". goaceh.com. Retrieved March 14, 2014.

External links

Keris Indonesia: 'The Rencong Dagger'

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rencong.

Indonesian traditional weapons, armors, and premodern gunpowder-based weapons

Traditional weapon

Swords (Pedang) & cutlasses (Klewang)	Alamang Amanremu Balato Gari Keris bahari Langgai Tinggang Luwuk Mandau Niabor Pandat Parang Nabur Piso Halasan Rudus Sikin Panyang Sundang Surik
Daggers (Belati) & knives (Pisau)	Badik Kris Kujang Palitai Peurawot Pisau raut Pisuwe Rencong Sewar Si Euli
Choppers (Parang) & machetes (Golok)	Blakas Golok Rembau Jimpul Kabeala Kudi Parang Chandong Parang Latok Wedung
Impact weapons	Cabang Gada Indan
Pole or spear weapons	Arbir Bambu runcing Trisula
Flexible weapons	Cambuk
Miscellaneous weapons	Celurit Kerambit Salukat Sumpit Tolor

Gunpowder weapon

Firearm	Bedil Bedil tombak Istinggar Java arquebus Pemuras Terakul
Cannon	Cetbang Ekor lotong Lantaka Lela Miniature meriam kecil
By name	Anak Makassar Bujang Timpang Berang Ki Amuk Si Jagur

Armor and outfit

Shield	Baluse Kanta Klebit Bok Kurabit Peurise Awe Peurise Teumaga Salawaku
Body armor	Baju Empurau Baju Lamina Baju Rantai Baru Lema'a Baru Öröba
Helmet	Katapu Paseki Takula tofao

Knives and daggers
List of daggers List of blade materials
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Other knives	Aircrew Survival Egress Knife Athame Balisong/Butterfly Ballistic Ballpoint pen knife Bayonet Boline Bolo Boot knife Bowie Cane knife Ceramic knife Clip point Combat knife Commander Corvo CQC-6 Deba bōchō Diving knife Drop point Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife Gerber Mark II Ginsu Golok Gravity knife Guna Hacking knife Higonokami Hunting knife Jacob's ladder Karambit Kard Kīla Kirpan Kitchen knife Kukri Laguiole knife Machete Mandau Marking knife Misericorde Mora knife Multi-tool Navaja Neck knife Nontron knife Opinel knife Palette knife Pantographic knife Parang Penknife Penny knife Pirah Pocketknife Putty knife Puukko Rampuri Resolza Sabatier Sami knife SARK Scalpel Seax Sgian dubh Sharpfinger Shiv Sliding knife Smatchet SOG Knife Straight razor Strider SMF Survival knife Swiss Army knife Switchblade Taping knife Throwing knife Trench knife Tumi Ulu Utility knife Warrior knife X-Acto Yatagan
Daggers	Anelace Applegate–Fairbairn fighting knife Arkansas toothpick BC-41 Bagh nakh Balarao Baselard Bichuwa Bollock dagger Cinquedea Dirk Ear dagger Emeici Facón French Nail Gunong Hunting dagger Janbiya Jile Kabutowari Kaiken Kalis Katar Khanjali Khanjar Kris Kunai Mark I trench knife Parrying dagger Poignard Push dagger Rondel dagger Seme Shobo Sica Stiletto Marine Raider V-42 Tantō Yarará Parachute Knife Yoroi-dōshi
Manufacturers	Aitor Knife Company Al Mar Knives American Tomahawk Company Aritsugu Benchmade Böker Buck Knives Camillus Cutlery Company Cattaraugus Cutlery Company Chris Reeve Knives CHROMA Cnife Clauss Cutlery Company Cold Steel Columbia River Knife & Tool Cuisinart Cutco Dalian Hanwei Metal Dexter-Russell DOVO Solingen Due Ancore Ek Commando Knife Co. EKA Emerson Knives F. Dick Fällkniven FAMAE Fiskars Gerber Legendary Blades Füritechnics Glock Ges.m.b.H. Imperial Schrade Ka-Bar Kershaw Knives KitchenAid Korin Japanese Trading Company Kyocera Leatherman Mad Dog Knives Marble Arms Medford Knife and Tool Microtech Knives Morseth Muela Murphy Knives Olfa Ontario Knife Company Opinel Randall Made Knives Rösle Sabatier Shun Cutlery Slice, Inc. SOG Specialty Knives Spyderco STI Knives Strider Knives Thiers Issard TOPS Knives Tramontina Victorinox W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. Carl Walther GmbH Wenger Western Knife Company Wilkinson Sword Wüsthof Yoshida Metal Industry Global Zero Tolerance Knives Zwilling J. A. Henckels
Knifemakers	Rex Applegate James Black Blackie Collins John Nelson Cooper Ernest Emerson Jerry Fisk Bill Harsey Jr. Phill Hartsfield Gil Hibben Jimmy Lile Bob Loveless William F. Moran Ken Onion Ralph Osterhout Bo Randall Chris Reeve A. G. Russell Jody Samson William Scagel Mike Snody Robert Terzuola Michael Walker Buster Warenski Daniel Winkler
Associations	American Bladesmith Society Cutlery and Allied Trades Research Association Knifemakers' Guild
Book:Knives and daggers Category:Knives / Daggers

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