Golok
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| Golok | |
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A traditional Indonesian golok.
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| Type | Machete |
| Place of origin | Indonesian archipelago, Malay archipelago |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Pribumi |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 25-40cm |
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| Blade type | Single edge, convex grind |
| Hilt type | Water buffalo horn, wood |
| Scabbard/sheath | Water buffalo horn, wood |
A golok is a cutting tool, similar to a machete, that comes in many variations and is found throughout the Malay archipelago.[1] It is used as an agricultural tool as well as a weapon. The word golok (sometimes misspelled in English as "gollock") is of Indonesian origin[2] but is also used in Malaysia and is known as gulok in the Philippines. In Malaysia the term is usually interchangeable with the longer and broader parang.[3] In the Sundanese region of West Java it is known as bedog.
Description
Sizes and weights vary, as does blade shape. Golok tend to be heavier and shorter than parang or common machetes, often being used for bush and branch cutting.[1] Most traditional golok use a convex edge or an edgewise taper, where the blade is less likely to get stuck in green wood than flat edged machetes.
Golok are traditionally made with a springy carbon steel blade of a softer temper than that of other large knives. This makes them easier to dress and sharpen in the field, although it also requires more frequent attention. Although many manufacturers produce factory-made golok, there are still handmade productions that are widely and actively made in Indonesia, such as in Cibatu village, Sukabumi Regency, West Java.[2]
History
In Indonesia, the golok is often associated with the Betawi and neighboring Sundanese people. The Betawi recognize two types of golok; gablongan or bendo is the domestic tool used in the kitchen or field for agricultural purposes, and the golok simpenan or sorenam that is used for self-protection and traditionally always carried by Betawi men. The golok is a symbol of masculinity and bravery in Betawi culture. A jawara (local strongman or village champion) will always have a golok hung or tied around the waist at the hips. This custom however has ceased to exist since the 1970s when authorities would apprehend those that carry the golok publicly and have it confiscated it in order to uphold security, law and order, and to reduce gang fighting.[2]
Sundanese, Javanese[4][5] and Malay golok have also been recorded. The use of golok in Malay was recorded as early as the Hikayat Hang Tuah[6] (text dated 1700)[7] and Sejarah Melayu (1612),[8]
Modern application
The golok style is noted for being the pattern for British Army-issue machetes used since the early 1950s.[9]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Golok Jawa.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Hikayat Hang Tuah - malay concordance project
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Golok. |
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Indonesian traditional weapons, armors, and premodern gunpowder-based weapons
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