Very Nice Sundanese Golok

Athanase · 18th November 2023, 06:18 PM

Hello,

Here is a very unusual golok that I recently acquired.
I broke the bank but I fell in love with its strangeness because I like non-academic objects.
Some may have seen it on sale or on Facebook.
Has anyone seen similar examples?

Unfortunately there is no sheath.

David · 18th November 2023, 06:59 PM

That's a beauty! I don't have one that looks like this, but i do have a rather large and heavy old Balinese blade that was identified as a golok that was supposed to be used by temple priests for preparation of ceremonial offerings. Again, it is a completely different style from yours, but perhaps they are both meant for the same type of culture usage.
The blade is 11.75 inches long, 3.25 inches wide and weighs in at a whopping 2 lbs.

kai · 18th November 2023, 10:39 PM

Very nice kitchen knife, Séverin!

Jesting aside: Neat Sunda piece - congrats! Typical high-end workmanship on the hilt and a very fine blade!

Could you add dimensions including blade thickness, please?

Here is another extravagant Sunda blade that I got from Hans' collection:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12544
Not similar enough to be of much help though.

Regards,
Kai

kai · 18th November 2023, 10:50 PM

Hello David,

Quote:

Again, it is a completely different style from yours, but perhaps they are both meant for the same type of culture usage.

Your blade looks vintage and has a very different profile. Also, these are very different cultures.

I'd guess that Séverin's blade exhibits a nice balance. Its main function might well be ceremonial. To me it seems like quite a stretch though to argue for the same type of usage based on these unrelated and very different examples, I'm afraid.

Regards,
Kai

Sajen · 19th November 2023, 06:43 PM

Hello Séverin,

Beautiful 19th century example, congrats!

Lately a 19th century example was sold here in Germany, sadly I wasn't able to acquire it but here are some pics from the seller. Handle was loose and the scabbard mouth piece was missing.

Regards,
Detlef

David · 19th November 2023, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Hello David,

Your blade looks vintage and has a very different profile. Also, these are very different cultures.

I'd guess that Séverin's blade exhibits a nice balance. Its main function might well be ceremonial. To me it seems like quite a stretch though to argue for the same type of usage based on these unrelated and very different examples, I'm afraid.

Regards,
Kai

Well, if ceremonial, what purpose do you suppose Athanase golok may have been applied to? When i suggested they may have been applied to a similar purpose i meant that both may have been used to prepare ceremonial offerings. That's a specific as i went, not that they were used for that exact same purpose. And i wasn't "arguing" anything. I clearly wrote that "perhaps" they were both meant for preparing ritual offerings. Are you looking for argument here?

David · 19th November 2023, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Your blade looks vintage and has a very different profile.

BTW, i can assure you that while the dress is indeed vintage (perhaps 25-30 years), the blade is definitely antique.

GIO · 20th November 2023, 02:02 PM

[QUOTE=

Here is another extravagant Sunda blade that I got from Hans' collection:
[url]http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12544[/url]
Not similar enough to be of much help though.

The blades are completely different, but I see many similarities in the dress patterns.

David · 20th November 2023, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Séverin,

Beautiful 19th century example, congrats!

Lately a 19th century example was sold here in Germany, sadly I wasn't able to acquire it but here are some pics from the seller. Handle was loose and the scabbard mouth piece was missing.

Regards,
Detlef

Beautiful sword Detlef. Would this be considered a golok though?

Sajen · 20th November 2023, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Beautiful sword Detlef. Would this be considered a golok though?

Hello David,

Yes, a Sundanese golok. The mouthpiece from the scabbard is missing. Someone wanted it more than I did!

Regards,
Detlef

Athanase · 20th November 2023, 10:25 PM

Hello,
Thank you all very much for your comments and for the examples of sheaths that could match the missing one.

Gavin Nugent · 21st November 2023, 03:36 AM

Late to the party!
An absolute stunner! Every facet is gorgeous!
Congratulations on targeting a unique piece of history.
Much simpler carving below.

18th November 2023, 06:18 PM	#1
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	Very Nice Sundanese Golok Hello, Here is a very unusual golok that I recently acquired. I broke the bank but I fell in love with its strangeness because I like non-academic objects. Some may have seen it on sale or on Facebook. Has anyone seen similar examples? Unfortunately there is no sheath. Attached Images

18th November 2023, 06:59 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,113	That's a beauty! I don't have one that looks like this, but i do have a rather large and heavy old Balinese blade that was identified as a golok that was supposed to be used by temple priests for preparation of ceremonial offerings. Again, it is a completely different style from yours, but perhaps they are both meant for the same type of culture usage. The blade is 11.75 inches long, 3.25 inches wide and weighs in at a whopping 2 lbs. Attached Images

19th November 2023, 06:43 PM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,761	Hello Séverin, Beautiful 19th century example, congrats! Lately a 19th century example was sold here in Germany, sadly I wasn't able to acquire it but here are some pics from the seller. Handle was loose and the scabbard mouth piece was missing. Regards, Detlef Attached Images

21st November 2023, 03:36 AM	#12
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Late to the party! An absolute stunner! Every facet is gorgeous! Congratulations on targeting a unique piece of history. Much simpler carving below. Attached Images

18th November 2023, 10:39 PM	#3
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Very nice kitchen knife, Séverin! Jesting aside: Neat Sunda piece - congrats! Typical high-end workmanship on the hilt and a very fine blade! Could you add dimensions including blade thickness, please? Here is another extravagant Sunda blade that I got from Hans' collection: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12544 Not similar enough to be of much help though. Regards, Kai

20th November 2023, 02:02 PM	#8
GIO Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 313	[QUOTE= Here is another extravagant Sunda blade that I got from Hans' collection: [url]http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12544[/url] Not similar enough to be of much help though. The blades are completely different, but I see many similarities in the dress patterns.

20th November 2023, 10:25 PM	#11
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	Hello, Thank you all very much for your comments and for the examples of sheaths that could match the missing one.