Small golok for ID

[JeffS]

I haven't seen anything quite like this one. Nice green horn. The bolster looks northern Sumatra to me. Perhaps ceremonial with the stylized hilt and
the inlaid symbols but it is sharp (including tip) and has seen use so, if ceremonial, it involved cutting stuff. OAL 14" blade 8.25"

[Sajen]

Hello Jeff,

Most interesting "golok"! Like you I never have seen something similar.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by JeffS

The bolster looks northern Sumatra to me.

Hi Jeff,

I looked at the pictures again and I agree with you, the bolster looks North Sumatra, is it made from brass? It looks like this in your pics.
The scabbard moth looks similar to some sikin panjang scabbard mouths. And could the blade be a recycled sikin panjang tip?

Regards,
Detlef

[JeffS]

I don't think it had a previous life as a sikin panjang. The blade thickness is too thin and the steel doesn't have the nice watered pattern I've seen in sikin panjang and other Aceh blades, in short it is too primitive compared to examples I've seen - more utility knife in fancy dress than repurposed weapon. The bolster appears to be brass or bronze, lighter weight and smaller than typical panjang and rentcong crowns. Good call on the the downturned "wings" extension on the scabbard mouth reflecting Aceh weapons, though this example is not nearly as asymmetrical as those. Northern Sumatra or Aceh seem the best contenders so far...

[Ian]

Originally Posted by JeffS

I don't think it had a previous life as a sikin panjang. The blade thickness is too thin and the steel doesn't have the nice watered pattern I've seen in sikin panjang and other Aceh blades, in short it is too primitive compared to examples I've seen - more utility knife in fancy dress than repurposed weapon...

I agree with what you say Jeff. It looks like a scaled down sikin panjang blade, to be used as a utility knife. Also agree that Aceh seems the likely origin. Perhaps we could call it a pisau aceh.