BADIK

The Badik is a traditional dagger which originates from the Bugis and the Makassar communities in Southern Sulawesi. Because of their trade relationship with other tribes, it has reached the coasts of Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula and to some extent Borneo, Java, Bali and West Nusa Tenggara. 

The blade can be in iron, steel or pamor. It is also believed the Badik has mysterious power such as for the Keris. It is given by the father of the owner, as a symbol of adulthood.

The Bugis Badik has a 90° pistol grip with round edges, whereas the Makasarese badik has a 45° conic pistol grip. The Sumatra and Peninsula Badik is very similar to the Bugis.

The Badik is also part of the traditional clothing and is wear by the bride for the wedding ceremony in Sulawesi or Sumatra. It is worn in front of the stomach into the pleats of the sarong.

One of the traditional way of fighting with the Badik is to have the two opponents enclosed in sarong with a Badik in a hand while the other hand holds the sarong with no possibility to escape. The Badik is held like a pistol, with the four fingers on the front of the hilt and the thumb on the back touching the index and middle finger.

A badik is composed of the Pangulu (hilt), Bessi (blade), Sarong (sheath).

Types of Badik according to the blade:

Various shapes of Badik hilts and sheats based on their area of origin: