Massive possible Sumatran Klewang? Info needed!

[Mytribalworld]

Hi,

here some examples of our national museums.

The size of the first one ( Tropenmuseum ) is sadly not mentioned

the descriptions give the places "Banten" and "West Java."

I'm curious about the balance of such a long thing, how does that feel?

the other one is 74 cm.

Arjan

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by mandaukudi

Hi,

here some examples of our national museums.

The size of the first one ( Tropenmuseum ) is sadly not mentioned

the descriptions give the places "Banten" and "West Java."

I'm curious about the balance of such a long thing, how does that feel?

the other one is 74 cm.

Arjan

Hello Arjan,

Thank you for coming in on this discussion.
Here is a picture of my sword balanced on a small plastic pot. Also are two other swords for scale, an 'average' sized Shamshir, and a large Tulwar.
The Golok weighs approximately 1260g, and is 102cm overall length.
It feels both heavy and front-heavy.
It could be swung one handed, but feels like it would suit large sweeping arcs or from horseback.

Do you know anything about this size of sword? Who and how it was used?

Have you come across any of this size 'in person' before?

Regards
Gene

[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,

[Atlantia]

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

[Amuk Murugul]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

..... is it correct that "Golok Pandjang Soelangkar" translates as 'long golok with lines in the steel'?
Also, you say that it is from Soenda? .....

Generally speaking, yes.
Your style of golok is often referred to as 'Soemedangan'. (The picture above, showing the weaponry of Wiranatakoesoemah reminds one that Bandoeng used to be part of Soemedang)

Originally Posted by Atlantia

..... What is your understanding of 'Golok'? .....

At least up until the early 16thC it was an implement of the warrior class. Farmer-class implements which were similar were referred to as: Bedog. (The difference was mainly in quality and fittings). Since then, this demarcation has gradually become blurred. Today, the two words have become interchangeable.
This is mainly due to the rise and fall in the fortunes of people and places since then (leading to the erosion of tradition and blurring of history).
On a more general note, the golok is often confused with sword.
One must remember that no real universal standard for weapons existed. Each weapon was basically customised to the individual. Thus what constituted a golok or a sword was quite subjective, the main difference being the primary function (viz. one may be required to do battle with a sword for hours, on foot and/or mounted).

Originally Posted by Atlantia

..... Do you think that this is just a machete and not a weapon? .....

The Soenda are traditionally a very utilitarian people. They try to maximise the utility of anything.
So, of course the golok was not just a machete, even though that may have been its primary function.

Originally Posted by Atlantia

..... (while I think about how to do the ferrule) .....

If the throat is brass, then the ferrule should also be of brass, capping the bottom of the handle up to the ridge and allowing a hole for the tang.

Originally Posted by Atlantia

..... a high contrast dark etch? .....

Traditionally, the Soenda do not do this; the Djawa do. Normal blade-cleaning sufficed.
However, on the occasions that the Soenda did 'etch' a blade, it was done to to clean it and apply poison.
(An implement with such a use was often referred to as 'Salam Noenggal'/Single Greeting/Greets Once. One only has to be 'nicked' by it to 'kiss Mother Earth: Goodbye'.)

Best,

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Amuk Murugul

Traditionally, the Soenda do not do this; the Djawa do. Normal blade-cleaning sufficed.
However, on the occasions that the Soenda did 'etch' a blade, it was done to to clean it and apply poison.
(An implement with such a use was often referred to as 'Salam Noenggal'/Single Greeting/Greets Once. One only has to be 'nicked' by it to 'kiss Mother Earth: Goodbye'.

Best,

Hello Amuk,

thank you very much for this information. What is with Kudis like in your avatar? They also not etched?

Regards,

Detlef

[Amuk Murugul]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Amuk,

thank you very much for this information. What is with Kudis like in your avatar? They also not etched?

Regards,

Detlef

Hullo Detlef,

Typically, the Koedjang in my avatar has a damascene pattern. It is a pattern which is produced as a side-effect of the process and not a 'designer'. I do not etch the end product.(BTW ..... Damascene patterns were another feature common to blades of the warrior and religious classes but uncommon in famers' blades. Pattern reflected the quality of the blade and being a by-product of the process were limited in variety.)
Tschuss,

[Titus Pullo]

They very pretty! I like the straight ones the best. I think they work better at what they are design to do.

[tom hyle]

note resemblance to sikkin