Rencong Aceh's most frightening weapon

Traditional weapons rencong In addition to functioning as a weapon, for the native Acehnese, rencong is also regarded as a symbol of identity. The courage, resilience, and dignity of the Acehnese community is manifested in the form and design of this dagger's weapon. Given in its history, rencong known to be used since the time of the Sultanate of Aceh, precisely in the reign of Sultan Ali Mughaya Shah. In those days, Rencong always tucked in the waist of the First Sultan, the Ulee Balang (nobility), and the community as a means to maintain self-salvation. Especially for rencong belongs to Sultan Ali Mughaya Syah until now we can still meet at the Museum of Aceh as one of the collections and displays. Rencong has a handle and serangka (sarong) made of gold or ivory. While rencong commonly used by the general public is usually made of wood or buffalo horn. Based on its form, rencong as a traditional Aceh weapon can be found in 4 types, namely rencong meucugek, rencong meupucok, rencong pudoi, and rencong meukuree. Rencong meupucok is rencong with a small handle at the bottom and enlarges onto it. The upper rencong handle is usually dotted with gold carvings and the edges are decorated with elephant or horn tusks. Rencong meucugek is rencong with a curved handle (almost elbow) toward the eye rencong. This type of rencong has such a form to facilitate the hand of the holder in using it when performing self-defense. Rencong meukuree is rencong equipped with carvings in the eyes. Carvings can be flower, centipede, leaf, snake, or various other flora and fauna. Rencong pudoi is a regular rencong whose handles are not equipped with variations. This type of rencong is widely used as an instrument of resistance of the people of Aceh while fighting against the Dutch colonization.