Salam and greetings folks!
Today I'd like to talk about the three main characteristics of bladed Malay weapons in the setangan and selengan categories. Generally, Malay blades have three distinct profiles, which reflect greatly on their application. The three general profiles are:
1. Wide base, tapering towards the tip
2. Parallel lines
3. Slender base, widening towards the tip
Each of these profiles have a different advantage in the usage of the blades. Blades with wide bases tend to be more balanced towards the hilt and have a light and agile tip. The venerable keris falls into this category. The keris is a deadly cut-and-thrust weapon in the hands of an expert. Every part of the keris is a weapon, from the tip, the edges, the aring and akut, and even the hilt. As such, it is imperative that the keris be very agile and quick in order for it to be an effective close to medium range weapon.
The second category includes the pedang or sword. Most Malay pedang have a parallel-sided blade, which means the blade has the same (or slightly bigger) width at the base and the tip. The blade of a sword would tend to look similar in width from the base to the tip, regardless of the blade being straight or curved, single or double-edged. Some swords have rounded or angular tips, while others have pointed ends, depending on their purpose. The keris sundang also actually falls into this category, if we discount the triangular base of the blade. Blades of this shape have varying points of balance depending on its intended use. Generally, infantry swords tend to be lighter towards the tip. Cavalry and anti-cavalry weapons tend to be heavier towards the end of the blade. But as a general rule, Malay swords are more predominantly cut-centric weapons, even though they have the ability to thrust. Shorter blades such as the golok also have parallel-sided blades, but their shorter blades means that they are deployed in a different manner compared to swords.
The third category includes a major group of Malay edged weapons, the parang. Contrary to previous western descriptions of Malay blades, weapons that flare towards the tip are not swords, regardless of their length. The parang is an exclusively chopping weapon. It is very effective against hard targets and affords a heavy blow to its target. Some parangs have a curved edge, which allows for a draw cut to be made effortlessly. Others, like the Kelantanese kelewang, have a pointed tip that can be used to stab the opponent. Some versions of the parang lading can be used with a reverse grip, making it a slashing weapon. Parang tend to be tip-heavy, and is a favourite go-to weapon due to it being readily available to most people. And unlike the previous two categories of weapons, most parang are agricultural tools that can be used as weapons when necessary.
What I have described above is a general classification of Malay blades. Some blades may not fall into these categories. The pedang buaya berenang or anak buaya, for example, is a sword with a blade that widens towards the tip, then terminates in a point. It does not have a parallel-sided blade. Smaller blades like the kerambit, badik, rencong, wali and tumbuk lada are not included in the classification because most of the time, the size and shape of the blade does not effect the control of the weapon.
Well, that's all for now. This is the Way.
