Sunda golok variations

[Sajen]

Hello dear members,

I have assembled some Sunda golok in the last few years, in the past they don't have been from great interest for me.
I have to state that this are very well worked blades and I doubt that only one of the shown examples are worked for those who travel.
I will show them piece by piece with a short description.

[Sajen]

The possible oldest example in the collection, I would guess last quarter of the 19th century. Laminated blade, handle horn, carved as stylized makara, pierced through carved, low grade silver or mamas ferrule, scabbard two wooden slabs, two fine wooven rotan bands still present, scabbard mouth horn, foot (possible form from gobang scabbards) is missing.
58,5 cm inside scabbard, 55,8cm without, blade 42,5 cm, 9 mm thick at the base.

[Sajen]

Second example I would place to the first quarter of the 20th century, very well worked example in all parts. Laminated blade razor sharp after I've polished out surface rust, handle horn with bone spacers, very fine and pierced through carved, shows as well a stylized makara, note the lying bird in up!, scabbard wood from two glued parts, scabbard mouth horn.
60,5 cm inside scabbard, 58 cm without, blade 41,5 cm and 7 mm thick at the base.

[Sajen]

An example without scabbard, a piece which has seen extreme use, I would place it also at the first quarter of the 20th century, not sure about the blade but think it's laminated, very nice carved horn handle show makara. Bone inlayed eyes.
49,5 cm, blade 37 cm and 5 mm thick at base.

[Sajen]

An example wich I would place to the second quarter of the 20th century. The surprisingly very well worked blade seems laminated, handle horn, simple carved as parrot head, wooden scabbard halfs hold from horn mouth piece and foot, horn bands around and a belt loop also from horn.
50 cm inside scabbard, 46 cm without, blade 33,5 cm and 8,5 mm thick at base.

[Sajen]

An example either from second or third quarter of the 20th century, well worked but rough finished blade, unsure about the material, marked, note the spanish notch, handle from horn show a makara form, inlaid eyes, wooden scabbard halfs hold from several metal bands and foot, scabbard mouth from horn.
57 cm inside scabbard, 56,5 cm without, blade 42 cm and 6,5 mm thick at the base.

[Sajen]

An example in the style which is most desired, easy to date, it's from 1909, handle and scabbard from wood, handle some form of makara, very well worked blade.
63 cm inside scabbard, 55 cm without, blade 40 cm and 8,5 mm thick at the base.

[Sajen]

Overview!

[Albert]

An example in the style which is most desired, easy to date, it's from 1909, handle and scabbard from wood, handle some form of makara, very well worked blade.
63 cm inside scabbard, 55 cm without, blade 40 cm and 8,5 mm thick at the base.

IMO the handle represents a bird of prey with a crooked beak and stylized feathers on the hilt and the lower end of the scabbard.

[Sajen]

IMO the handle represents a bird of prey with a crooked beak and stylized feathers on the hilt and the lower end of the scabbard.

Thank you for comment Albert! :) Very good possible, at least it look like this. Any further information in this direction?

Regards,
Detlef

[Rick]

The White Bellied Sea Eagle is found in the area these goloks originate from; I agree with Albert that it is a raptor and certainly resembles an eagle's head. One of the animals that they prey upon is the poisonous Sea Snake. There might be some symbolism there to account for the use of the head of these birds as a decoration.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-bellied_sea_eagle

I have a golok like this one we're discussing; the blade is a bit shorter at 13" and Tjikeroeh is spelled out rather than abbreviated; mine has no date.

[Hombre]

Very interesting, Detlef! Thanks for sharing!

/Stefan

[Sajen]

Thank you all!

I've attached by each piece a picture from the scabbard mouth since I think it's typical for Sunda.

Regards,
Detlef

[Royston]

A couple of relatives. I have quite a few of this size and style. These are the only two with eagle hilts. Dark hilt is horn dated 1940, the light is wood 1930.
Regards
Roy

[Sajen]

Hello Roy,

Thank you for posting this two nice examples, a similar one is now on my wish list! ;) :D

When you don't mind feel free to post your other examples as well! :)

Regards,
Detlef

[DhaDha]

In the same family as the third in the original post. But a blade variant. Would we still call this a Sunda Golok? I hadn’t held one before this. And I wasn’t able to put it down when I picked it up. Great craftsmanship overall. Cheers

[Sajen]

In the same family as the third in the original post. But a blade variant. Would we still call this a Sunda Golok? I hadn’t held one before this. And I wasn’t able to put it down when I picked it up. Great craftsmanship overall. Cheers

Yes, a very nice Sunda golok, sadly it's missing the scabbard mouth. But still a very nice piece! ;)

Regards,
Detlef

[Ian]

Hi Detlef:

There is a related family of golok and sword versions that have European style hilts and also bear the name of Tjikeroeh or Cipitang. These appear to have been made for the Dutch Colonial/European markets and have been discussed here (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=20092) previously. Typically, these relatives come in plain black wooden scabbards with brass chape and locket. Some of them have clipped blades resembling the "Dutch klewang" used by colonial troops. Dated examples indicate manufacture at the end of the 19th and early 20th C, up to the 1930s.

Ian

[Royston]

Hi Detlef,
Here are some of them all of similar size. I am not certain that they are all from Sunda, but they are similar.

[Sajen]

There is a related family of golok and sword versions that have European style hilts and also bear the name of Tjikeroeh or Cipitang. These appear to have been made for the Dutch Colonial/European markets and have been discussed here (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=20092) previously. Typically, these relatives come in plain black wooden scabbards with brass chape and locket. Some of them have clipped blades resembling the "Dutch klewang" used by colonial troops. Dated examples indicate manufacture at the end of the 19th and early 20th C, up to the 1930s.

Hi Ian,

Yes, I know them, thank you for connect the two threads! :)

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Hi Detlef,
Here are some of them all of similar size. I am not certain that they are all from Sunda, but they are similar.

Thank you Roy! :)

I think that not all are of Sunda manufacture, the down one at the second picture for example, I personally can't place it exactly.

On the third and fourth picture I also doubt that these examples of Sunda origin, one has an handle I've seen by rawits. The other one maybe Banjarmasin origin?

The one on the right at the fifth picture I guess is of Malay origin.

The one on the last picture look a little bit Visayan!? :shrug:

But a big bulk is indeed from Sunda IMVHO.


Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

This two examples will enter the collection soon!

[CharlesS]

Some really impressive pieces! I bet you are having trouble finding space for so many blades...like me! ;)

[kai]

Hello Detlef & Charles!

Some really impressive pieces!
Yeah, some good and varied examples - will comment later.

Close-ups of the inscription on the last one would be good!


I bet you are having trouble finding space for so many blades...like me! ;)
No worries, I'm here to help both of you! Just give me a heads-up... ;) :D

Regards,
Kai

[Sajen]

Some really impressive pieces! I bet you are having trouble finding space for so many blades...like me! ;)

Thank you Charles! :) And yes, indeed, space is running out! ;)

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Yeah, some good and varied examples - will comment later.

Close-ups of the inscription on the last one would be good!

Hello Kai,

Thank you as well.

Have attached a picture from the auction house, will post a better one when I have the piece in my hands!



No worries, I'm here to help both of you! Just give me a heads-up... ;) :D

Very kind! :D But I am surprised that you still have space! :eek:

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Another one will enter the collection. Note the different handle style.

[Sajen]

This two examples will enter the collection soon!

Sadly they don't will enter my collection! :( The auction house stated that a bidder in room bid the same amount I gave online. :rolleyes:

[Sajen]

Another one will enter the collection. Note the different handle style.

But I get this one, a nice example which seems to have seen a lot of action, see the pictures where you can see the edge.
Unusual is the handle which show indeed Makara instead of the usual seen bird of prey.
It's 66,5 cm long inside scabbard, 59,5 cm without, blade is approx. 44 cm and 9 mm thick behind the handle. A very well worked blade!

[Sajen]

A few more pictures.

[Ian]

Very nice Detlef. Typical Tjikeroeh style decoration on the blade (interesting to see the name further down on the blade when it's usually on the ricasso--perhaps an earlier style?). I like the short back edge on this one. Very good example all round.


Ian.

[Sajen]

Very nice Detlef. Typical Tjikeroeh style decoration on the blade (interesting to see the name further down on the blade when it's usually on the ricasso--perhaps an earlier style?). I like the short back edge on this one. Very good example all round.

Thank you Ian! :) The decoration on the blade wasn't visible on the auction pictures. And yes, I also never have seen before the Tjikeroeh writing at this place.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

A rather new addition to the collection, nicely carved horn handle, black wooden scabbard, with horn mouth and foot, horn bands, belt loop missing, roughly forged blade. Rather short with 52,5 cm inside scabbard, 46,8 cm without, blade 34,5 cm and 6 mm thick behind the handle. Mid. 20th century?

[kai]

Congrats, Detlef, another very good addition!


Mid. 20th century?
Nah, 19th century for sure. Looks like the blade got badly grinded by someone not qualified to use any power tools (belt sander?).

Regards,
Kai

[Sajen]

Nah, 19th century for sure. Looks like the blade got badly grinded by someone not qualified to use any power tools (belt sander?).

Hello Kai,
Thank you for comment! :)
The black spots lying deeper as the polished surface and shows the bare metal, there are also scratches but I think they are from the original processing. There have been surface rust which I have removed. So I think that it is from the WWII area, maybe a little bit more early.

Regards,
Detlef

[David R]

Nice to see all these. Funny how I missed this thread til today!

[JeffS]

Some more for our records...