Golok Tasikmalaya Enters the Export Market

Tasikmalaya, Kompas - Craftsmen at the craft center for sharp weapons, such as machetes, samurai and cleavers, from Manonjaya District, Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java, are able to penetrate the international market. These metal crafts have been exported to various countries, such as Australia, Canada and Japan. Sharp weapon products are popular with the international community because they are made by hand and are of high quality. Even though they have penetrated the export market, craftsmen have not been able to reap big profits. The majority of orders still go through collectors. As a result, the profits achieved by craftsmen are not optimal. There are no less than 650 weapons craftsmen spread across two villages in Manonjaya District, namely Pasir Panjang and Cilangkap Villages. These craftsmen have developed various sharp weapon products from generation to generation. Craftsmen in Galonggong Hamlet, Ako, said their average turnover was IDR 20 million per month. He only makes sharp weapons to order. The majority of customers are from Australia. “Craftsmen have to be creative in opening up opportunities because government support is still very lacking.

The government, continued Ako, tends to let craftsmen struggle without assistance. The majority of small craftsmen market their sharp weapons crafts on the roadside. Craftsmen who have penetrated the export market choose to sell via the internet or collaborate with collectors in Bandung.

According to Ako, craftsmen are still dependent on collectors because they are constrained by capital. Collectors usually only send orders for sharp weapons abroad after meeting the 1.5 quintal quota. The prices of these various sharp weapons vary, from IDR 12,500 for a kitchen knife to IDR 3 million for a hunting knife. Traditional weapons, such as cleavers, are sold for IDR 250,000-IDR 900,000. The price could increase up to 10 times in the hands of consumers. Not only relying on strength and sharpness, the price of this craft product also depends on the artistic quality and beauty of the product. The iron master, Engkus, added that making export quality sharp weapons is not easy. He had to unite and forge 30 layers of steel and iron for one sharp weapon, such as a hunting knife. A good quality sharp weapon takes two days to make. 40 quality sharp weapons are usually produced per day. Craftsmen admit that they have no difficulty getting raw materials in the form of saw blades for Rp. 5,000-Rp. 7,000 per kilogram. To make a large cleaver you only need two kilograms of iron blades. Weapon handles are made from various materials, such as buffalo horn, which costs IDR 73,000 per kilogram, deer antler, or wood.