The Golok Perak is another traditional Malaysian design that has withstood centuries. Perak is one of the States in Malaysia and it is beleived this design originated from that state. This blade shape is also known as Golok Daun Buluh ( bamboo leaf golok ) as the shape of the Golok is heavily influenced by the bamboo leaf. Have a look below and note the similarities.
bamboo leaf
The Golok Perak is a common type of Golok and you can find different weights and lengths. Some are made into small knives for kitchen use , some slightly bigger ones for cleaning game and the biggest are for jungle use. It was a common sight to see a golok or pisau daun buluh in the kitchen before the introduction of stainless steel knives.
One example of a small golok daun buluh is in this article and this written some time ago
This Golok Perak which we make is a heavier version, suitable for chopping wood and bamboo. It has a nice weight to it and cuts through hard wood effortlessly. It has a sleek and simple design that we just love.
Specifications for the MY Parang – Golok Perak 12″ are as follows:
Blade length : 30 cm / 12 in
Handle length: 17 cm / 6.7 in
Overall length: 47 cm / 18.7 in
Widest blade: 4.5 cm / 1.75 in
Weight ( blade and handle ) : 410 grams / 14.5 oz
Sheath length: 34.5 cm / 13.5 in
Width: 33.5 cm / 13.5 in
Weight: 160 grams / 5.6 oz
Gross weight : 570 grams / 20.1 oz
Release for sale in Malaysia on the 17th October 2019 . It might take a few months to reach international dealers. Click here to see where they are sold
Here are two golok Perak purchased from the Perak riverbank . I really like the clean and simple look of the Goloks. As you can see, the shape is pretty distinct, where the belly is not so pronounced as compared to a Golok made in say, Kelantan. The two Golok Perak above have never been used , as they are pretty light and more suitable for brush cleaning and light chopping. When I venture out in the jungle, I normally carry some heavier ones for chopping. The bigger one you see above is about 11 inches long ( the blade only ) while the smaller one below it is about 8 inches. Both are made of recycled leaf spring steel, or also known as 5160 steel. I am not completely sure, but the heat treat may have been done in oil. I do notice that parangs which have been quenched in oil will be much darker in colour and have an oily surface. This is based on my own observations only and should not be taken as a guide.
Here they are , sheathed in . The sheath is a 2-piece sheath and made of a very light wood. If I am not mistaken, the sheaths are made of Kapok wood. The sheath design is simple and does not have any rattan weave like those from East Malaysia or Borneo. As you can see , in the bottom sheath, it is slightly more difficult to draw this particular golok as there is a part of the sheath which protrudes up it’s a small overlook which can be easily corrected. The handles also are very simple in design but have a very very comfortable feel to it . Below is a picture of me holding the Golok Perak in my hand. The handle is made of a denser type of wood, but I am not sure of which type.
All about Malaysian Parangs, Goloks and Duku Chandongs
