Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 8th July 2008, 09:47 AM   #1
Henk
Member
 
Henk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 1,209
Default

I think your golok isn't a golok.

Hard to tell what it is. The hulu or grip is a replacement and not original to the blade.
I have a feeling the piece is Sumatran. Could be a pedang, a short sword or a badek. That's my first and careful guess.
Certainly not tourist work. It is a well made blade. It might even be a pamor blade.
Henk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 9th July 2008, 08:00 AM   #2
VVV
Member
 
VVV's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,637
Default

On the golok I agree with Henk that the handle probably is a replacement (based on its fit to the blade).
This makara variation is usually found on golok from West Java and sometimes also swords that has been collected around Palembang, Sumatra (which is nearby and where other kinds of W Java blades also has been found).
What's unusual is that your handle is made from wood and not horn as usual.
The scabbard is probably white brass.
And the metal of the blade I couldn't figure out when I inspected it at the same auction house as you got it from.

Michael
VVV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10th July 2008, 07:19 PM   #3
kisak
Member
 
kisak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Stockholm
Posts: 182
Post

Looks like there might be good reason to get to work cleaning up the blade of the small one then. I also cleaned up the Bhutanese sword a bit and did a trial etch with vinegar on part of it, both to see what might be there, and to see what the vinegar might do to it. Looks like three separate regions in the end, became a bit more subtle in the photographs though. In the more heavily-etched parts (to the left), it begins with one region by the edge going from pale yellow, via reddish hues, to purple almost reddish one towards the edge, then a blueish band, and finally a more yellow part until the spine, covering almost half the width of the blade (edge is upwards in the photos). All in all it looks almost heat blued, and while hat helps make it visible in the pics, I guess I'll be aiming for something a bit less colourful in the end (just a lighter etching, or should I go look for some iron chloride?) The spine section also shows a multitude of fine lines or "cracks" in the lengthwise direction of the blade, making me think of folded steel.
Attached Images
  

Last edited by kisak; 10th July 2008 at 07:33 PM.
kisak is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:32 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.