Golok
A single-edged chopping tool of the Malay Archipelago with a convex grind, documented as early as 1518; a symbol of manhood and courage among the Betawi.
Quick Facts
About the weapon
The golok is a chopping tool similar to a machete, found in many forms throughout the Malay Archipelago. It is documented in the Sundanese text Sanghyang Siksa Kandang Karesian from 1518 and in Malay literature, in the Sejarah Melayu (1612) and the Hikayat Hang Tuah (1700). The golok is usually 25 to 50 centimetres long. Its edge has a convex grind that keeps the blade from sticking in fresh wood, and it is forged from springy carbon steel with a softer temper than other large knives. Handles and sheaths are made of water-buffalo horn or wood. Among the Betawi, the golok is a symbol of manhood and courage. They distinguish two kinds: gablongan for domestic and farm work, and golok simpenan for personal defence. The custom of carrying a golok in public ended in the 1970s, when authorities detained those carrying it in public and confiscated their golok to keep order and curb gang fights. The shape of the golok influenced the machetes issued by the British Army since the early 1950s.