Golok



The golok is a type of machete or broadsword originating in Southeast Asia. The word golok (sometimes misspelled as "gollock") is of Indonesian origin but is also used in Malaysia and is known as gulok in the Philippines. In Malaysia it is usually sometime interchangeable with the longer parang.

The Golok style is noted for being the pattern for British Army-issue machetes used since the early 1950s.

Sizes and weights vary, as does blade shape. Golok tend to be heavier and shorter than machetes, often being used for bush and branch cutting. Having either a primary grind or an edgewise taper, the golok is less likely to jam in green wood than the flat-sided machete.

Golok are traditionally made with a springy carbon steel blade of a softer temper than that of other large knives. This makes them easier to dress and sharpen in the field, although it also requires more frequent attention. Although many manufacturers produce factory-made golok, there is still an important handmade production in Indonesia.

In History
Golok is mentioned in Sejarah Melayu (1612), which list different made of golok, ie just golok, golok Sunda, and golok Jawa.