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Originally Posted by Amuk Murugul
Hullo again Gene, 
I can't be 100% sure without actually handling the item, but yours looks like a Golok Soenda ( NOT Djawa) Pandjang Sintoeng Soelangkar Perah Pingping Hajam; or simply, Golok Pandjang Soelangkar.
Originally such items were part of the prescribed implements of the Prboe (warrior) class (N.B. warrior CLASS, as opposed to WARRIOR). It formed half of a pair , the other half being a sword/sabre (not necessarily of the same length) similar to the first picture in Arjan's post.
These people were usually mounted, hence the length, which would have been of very limited use on foot.
The Golok was used for 'hacking/ chopping' (e.g through jungle growth) while the sabre was for the cut/thrust, hence it would have been much lighter.
Goloks/swords among the Soenda would normally not exceed 75-80cm in length, for ease and utility (as the Dutch found out when they were developing the 'Kalewang'). A more 'comfortable' length would be 40-60cm
BTW ..... Banten, Bandoeng, West Java, etc are all part of traditional Tatar Soenda.
Best, |
Hi Amuk,
Thank you for your help.
I dare not try a translation of "Pandjang Sintoeng Soelangkar Perah Pingping Hajam", but is it correct that "Golok Pandjang Soelangkar" translates as 'long golok with lines in the steel'?
Also, you say that it is from Soenda?
What is your understanding of 'Golok'? In the UK the term is associated with machete's, which would fit with what you were saying about cutting the jungle back from horseback.
Do you think that this is just a machete and not a weapon? It would be very cumbersome to use as a machete as it's so long and heavy.
Thanks again
Gene