Golok Knife

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Nov 1, 2004
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A while ago, Brigade Quartermasters had a Martindale Golok knife for about $20. It has since been removed from their website, although the sheath is still there. Does anybody have any experience with these knives? How does it compare to, say, a $20 Ontario machete? And who sells them? I liked what I saw when I first looked at them, but I can't find any sources.
 
From my experience, Goloks are thicker bladed than a machete. Somebody may throw up that link to the martindale #2. Valiant makes a goodun too.
 
I believe they had the British army issue golok which is a pretty good design. If you can thin down the edge it makes a great cutter.
 
From what I've been able to find out, the SAS golock is ~11" blade (I have one), and the Martindale #2 is more like 13". They are thicker than a machete. I put a convex edge on mine with a bench type belt sander. Search this forum for "sas golok" and some photos will pop up too.

I had even called Quartermaster to see if they had any left in stock in the store and they are all gone. By all means they are worth $20. Search on Martindale #2 for a thread that lists a vendor in the NE US that handles that model. They are a good general purpose cutter/chopper/splitter.

I have a green Ericksson mora on order that I'm going to mount on the golok sheath with paracord. I think it will make a dynamite WSK pair. If there is room, I'll add a little OD green compass or ammo pouch for some PSK basics. Photos to come :)
 
The No. 2 Golok I had was well made, especially considering the price, but beyond that I just didn’t like it…I thought it was too short and heavy for most machete work and it was only a average chopper and would often give a lot of feedback through the handles when chopping.


I would go with the Ontario machete instead.





- Frank
 
I got one of those back aways and never really got into it, the handle was kinda rough.
I have it in a box around here somewhere.
I'll have to get it out someday and give it a fair chance.
 
Right now the Martindale golok is my survival knife in my BOB. I have done extensive cutting from bamboo to saplings and find it very proficient. I can't imagine what wilderness survival situation it could not handle.

I like it better than a regular machete because of the thickness of the blade, which gives it more bite into branches of 4-5 inches in diameter. Also for shaving off the wet outside part of a log to get to dry wood, I feel more comfortable batoning the golok rather than a thinner machete.

The Martindale golok also has an interesting type choil which allows you to choke up on the blade which allows you to use it for smaller type survival chores e.g. food prep and skinning.

Chris
 
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