Golok or pedang to identify?

[thomas hauschild]

Hi Guys

Got this piece for some minor handful of Euros. From my opinion a 21 st century piece. 52 cm long . The blade has a hard edge and a soft back ( tested slightly with a file. A quick etching shows no visible structure in the blade. The grooves seems to be made with a chisel. Handle seems to be buffalo-horn. I think it is a tourist piece, but the edge is hard so maybe it is a newer using "tool". I do not realy understand the mark on one side. These are western letters SLMT or SGMT . I tried to etch the letters with brass antique..and it does not became black. I can not believe that this is gold, but maybe somebody here knows the maker or the production origin. Have found nothing on google.

Thanks for your comments
Thomas

[Sajen]

Hello Thomas,

can you explain me why you think that this is an 21th century piece?? It's a golok from Sunda (West Java) and a very nice complete piece. A little bit search here by the keyword "golok" will help you to find similar examples. Have seen this piece and bid byself on this "Singapore sword"! The inlays will be indeed from brass, maybe a short version of the city from where it coming. No gold!

Regards,
Detlef

[A. G. Maisey]

Yep.

SLMT = Selamat (?)

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

SLMT = Selamat (?)

Possible! Forget to mention, this golok will be from the first half of the 20th century IMHO.

[kai]

Hello Thomas,

This is a genuine Sunda sword (western Java); the fullers seem to have been made with modern tools. Early, "modern" pieces from imported European steel are known from the late 19th century - 21st century seems too young for the workmanship of this piece; thus, 20th century seems a good guess to me.

Is the metal scabbard cover real silver?

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

As usual, Detlef and Alan beat me to it...

Selamat is an interesting thought!

[thomas hauschild]

Thanks a lot. The piece looks to me more new than 20 th century and after etching it was a modern steel and the carving of grip does not looks like "used" so my thought was to have a nearly new piece. Okay I very surprised. Better this way to be surprised than the other way ;-)

I do not know know if the cover will be real silver. Its very shiny, maybe nickelplated.

Thanks for your help. Great forum.

Best Thomas

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kai

Is the metal scabbard cover real silver?

Hello Kai,

I would be more as surprised when it will be silver, all I have handled in this style until now has had covers from mamas.

Regards,
Detlef

[kai]

Hello Detlef,

I would be more as surprised when it will be silver, all I have handled in this style until now has had covers from mamas.

I agree that the odds are slim, especially considering the discoloration at the hanger block.

If the metal appears to be malleable, it may be worth to have it tested though...

Regards,
Kai