Nice budiak! I was told that the twistcore ones can go as far back as 18th century, probably even earlier. First time for me to encounter a hole in the tang- although this may have been used for added integrity insurance (like how sword tangs are "pinned" I guess) since I've seen budiaks still attached to their shafts have elaborate rattan and hemp wraps on the tang area; later ones even had wire wraps.
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