Anak Buaya: The Malay Katzbalger

The shape of edged weapons may vary from civilization to civilization, depending on their cultural inclinations and needs. However, there is bound to be similarities between civilizations. In the context of weaponry, we would be talking about the martial culture of a particular civilization. Even though the civilizations were halfway across the world from each other and perhaps even hundreds of years apart. This was how it was, and how it always will be.

Weapons were developed for a reason, usually to counter the other guy’s armaments and armour. As such, they are tailored to the requirements and techniques of the user. One such weapon is the katzbalger, a “short” sword that became the signature weapon of the Landsknechts during Renaissance Europe. The Landsknechts were mercenaries and were highly regarded soldiers of their time. This sword had a double-edged, straight blade averaging 24 inches in length. Weighing in at 0.8 to 1.5kg, this weapon had a broad blade optimised for cutting and slashing. It was often used as a secondary weapon, with the primary one being a polearm or even a montante (greatsword).

Armour was still extant during this time even though firearms were becoming more familiar. The katzbalger had to be short enough to be wielded in one hand during close-quarters combat, when the polearm or montante was impractical to use. Since most of the enemy would have been unarmoured, there was no need for a stiff, pointy tip. This sword was designed for cut and slash action, particularly towards unprotected areas of the body. In case of armoured opponents, it would have been logical to cut below their waist.

In the Malay World, there exists a parallel to the katzbalger. It is a short sword known as the “anak buaya” or little crocodile for the yelman or false edge that makes the sword look like a crocodile’s head. This was a relatively recent weapon, the first examples came into existence during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It obviously evolved from its longer-bladed cousin known as the pedang buaya berenang or “swimming crocodile” sword.

This weapon was adapted for close quarters “hit-and-run” attacks against the enemy. Therefore, even though these swords were short and sturdy, they had the cutting and thrusting ability of a full-length sword. What they lacked in reach, they made up in speed and agility. Their blades were 21”-23” in length, and they had knucklebows to protect the hand of the wielder. Because of their size, these weapons can be easily concealed for clandestine missions. Scabbards were usually made using cheap, lightweight wood and seemed disposable. The scabbards were probably disposed of once the weapon was drawn, as there is a saying among the practitioners, “once drawn, they will draw blood.” These “little crocodiles” lived up to their name and fearsome reputation and are continued to be made to this day.

Ergonomics of Malay swords

Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. (ergo-plus.com)

The warrior and their weapons is a complex system of elements that interact with each other. It is often said that the weapon is the extension of the warrior's hand, or a part of their body. This is true not just in the Malay World, but in other civilisations as well.

For a weapon to be truly effective, it needs to be able to carry out the tasks it was designed to do in the most efficient way. A sword should be able to cut, thrust, slice and (in some cases) chop effectively for it to be considered as a good sword. In order for the sword to be able to achieve optimal performance, it needs to be suited to the swordsman. The Malays have a saying, "ukur baju di badan sendiri" or measure your clothes on your own body. While this may have other metaphorical connotations, it is literally true when we talk about weapons measurements.

There are basically two types of Malay swords, based on their typology, weight distribution and practical usage. It is established that Malay swords are of the "selengan" or arm's length category, which means that they have a minimum requirement in blade length. This typically translates to about 3 jengkal jari manis (the span between the thumb and the ring finger) or on average 25-27 inches on a typical Malay man. This measurement does not include the hilt or handle of the sword.

A forward-heavy blade is usually used for ceremonial and execution purposes. Forward-heavy blades were also employed by cavalry (and in the Malay world, this could also mean elephant-mounted troops). These swords lack the agility and speed of blades that were more balanced towards the handle. Nonetheless, they were very much suited for their intended purposes.

Swords that were lighter and balanced closer to the handle were more nimble, and were often used as personal weapons. Single- and two-handed versions of these swords were available to the Malays. The single-handed Malay swords can be found in all  areas of the Malay world, with the two-handed variants more commonly occuring in the central and northern regions of the Tanah Melayu, all the way up into Pattani, Champa and as far north as Hokkaido.

These swords were designed in such a way that they should not hinder the movements of the wielder or cause them discomfort, especially during battle. A typical Malay sword weighs around 1kg (more or less), which is about the same weight as an European saber. Some examples may be lighter, while others may have a significantly heavier blade.

The handle or grip of the sword should fit nicely into the palm of the hand in order for the sword to be held properly. The dimensions of the hilt would often be matched with the measurements of the wielder's hand. Nowadays we often find contemporary examples of Malay swords with oversized grips, which may reflect upon the lack of understanding by newer smiths on the usage of the sword. Up to about 100 years ago, single-handed sword grips were often small and fits snugly into one's palm. This is known as segenggam. It greatly improves the handling and control of the blade, as opposed to swords with oversized grips.

A Malay sword has all sorts of measurements on it that reflect the person of the wielder. It truly represents its master, and is ergonomically fitted to become part of it's master's anatomy. While measurements taken may vary from one smith to another according to their respective philosophies, these measurements made sure that the resulting sword fits the wearer like a glove.