Outdoor Equipment - Parang and Golok

Parang
In one of the Discovery Series of - I should not have been alive, specifically that of story missing explorers in Amazon rainforest jungle. The host which is one of ex US army commando has extensively mention the advantage of Parang as survival tool. The parang is the Malay equivalent of the machete. The different of Parang with its well known sibling =machete is its distinct curve and shape. The purpose of the curve is to reduce vibration produce from tranfer of energy from cutting process and to achieve optimun weight. The lenght of parang is between 20-22 inches, more than that it would be called as parang panjang (long parang). Other form of Malay weapon that identical with parang is Golok. The difference of golok and parang can be differentiated through 3 aspects or easier by mentioning the more disticnt aspect of golok

1. Lenght- Golok should not have lenght more than 17 inches, more than that it would be called parang or what my village folk call it as golok panjang (long golok). However, even golok panjang should not longer than 24 inches.
2. Shape - Golok must have uniques shapes of peak on its blade's top before curved to pointing end
3. Use - Because of its length and shape golok normaly use for slaughtering animal or use of less demanding than parang, moreover for golok specifically use for slaughtering animal the blade should always in sharpest condition.

normal machete

parang iban

This is from wikipedia:

Typical vegetation in Malaysia is more woody than in South America and the parang is therefore optimized for a stronger chopping action with a heavier blade and a "sweet spot" further forward of the handle, the blade is also beveled more obtusely to prevent it from binding in the cut. This is the same rationale and (in practical terms) the same design as the Indonesian golok and very similar to the Filipino bolo. A parang blade is usually 30 centimetres (12 in) long and has a mass of no more than 0.75 kilograms (1.7 lb). The curved blade enables maximum effort to be applied when cutting timber, and the blade arrives before the knuckles, so giving them protection. A parang has three different edges, the front is very sharp and used for skinning, the middle is wider and used for chopping, and the back end (near the handle) is very fine and used for carving.

Like the machete, the parang is frequently used in the jungle as well as being a tool for making housing, furniture, and tools. The parang has been noted in John "Lofty" Wiseman's SAS Survival Handbook, a leading survival book.[1] for this use.

In the season 7 episode "D-Girl" of the television series Law & Order, a parang is used as the instrument of murder. Parang are also used as weapons.

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