[CharlesS]

There are a variety of Indonesian shortswords/machetes known as 'goloks', but this one really surprised me. Most examples have a heavy, thick, pamor steel blade, with later ones having homogenous steel blades.
This example, from West Java, is the first I have seen with a twistcore blade. The blade is exceptionally thick, heavy, and robust. The twistcore pattern is quite broad and well-defined, with the blade's edge showing laminations and tempering.
At first glance, it would appear that the forging is rather sloppily done with several forging flaws, but I wonder if it isn't also worth remembering that in this region of blade making metal inserts into the blade were often talismanic, so I can't help but wonder if the openings are not somewhat intentional. In the rest of the blade it appears the forger was quite competent, so it's likely he could have done better if he desired.
Dimensions: 22.25in./56.5cm. overall, with the blade length being 15in./38cm. and the blade width is 1.75in./4.5cm. at its widest point.