Bakakuk

{{Italics title}} {{Short description|Improvised firearms of the indigenous people in Sabah, Malaysia}} {{Use British English|date=May 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox weapon | name = Bakakuk | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | type = [[Improvised firearm]] home-made [[shotgun]] | origin = [[Sabah]], [[Malaysia]]  | is_ranged = | is_bladed = | is_explosive = | is_artillery = | is_vehicle = | is_missile = | is_UK =  | service = | used_by = Indigenous [[Dusun people|Dusun]], [[Kadazan people|Kadazan]], [[Murut people|Murut]], and [[Rungus people|Rungus]] | wars =  | designer = | design_date = | manufacturer = | developed_from = | developed_into = | unit_cost = [[Malaysian ringgit|RM]]197–RM1,184.85 ([[United States dollar|US$]]50–US$300){{sfn|Nais|1996|p=27}} | production_date = | number = | variants =  | spec_label = | mass = | length = {{convert|45|cm|ft}} to {{convert|65|cm|ft}} | part_length = | width = | height = | diameter = | crew = | passengers =  | cartridge = | cartridge_weight = | calibre = | barrels = | action = | rate = | velocity = | range = | max_range = | feed = | sights =  | breech = | recoil = | carriage = | elevation = | traverse =  | blade_type = | hilt_type = | sheath_type = | head_type = | haft_type =  | filling = | filling_weight = | detonation = | yield =  | armour = | primary_armament = | secondary_armament = | engine = | engine_power = | pw_ratio = | payload_capacity = | drive = | transmission = | suspension = | clearance = | fuel_capacity = | vehicle_range = | speed = | guidance = | steering =  | wingspan = | tailspan = | propellant = | ceiling = | altitude = | boost = | depth = | accuracy = | launch_platform = | transport =  | ref = }}

'''''Bakakuk''''', '''''bakakok''''', or '''''bakakung''''' is a type of indigenous [[improvised firearm]], a homemade [[shotgun]] commonly used by the indigenous people of [[Sabah]] in Malaysian Borneo to hunt [[wildlife|wild animals]] within their ancestral lands and protect their [[farms]].{{sfn|Barlocco|2013|p=84}}<ref name="bakakuk">{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2013/08/04/bakakuk-home-made-gun/|title=Bakakuk: A home-made killer|last=Raj|first=D.|work=The Star|date=4 August 2013|access-date=17 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518170728/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2013/08/04/bakakuk-home-made-gun/|archive-date=18 May 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Background and use == The ''bakakuk'' is a homemade close-range improvised firearm, commonly used by the indigenous in the interior part of Sabah since the period of [[British North Borneo]], mainly for the purposes of protecting indigenous farms and hunting wild animals, such as [[Bornean bearded pig|wild boar]], [[Bornean yellow muntjac|deer]], [[tapir]],{{sfn|Earl of Cranbrook|Piper|2009|pp=491–507}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/99739/mns-tapir-extinct-in-sabah-first/|title=MNS: Tapir extinct in Sabah first|work=Daily Express|date=14 May 2015|access-date=17 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260517032240/https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/99739/mns-tapir-extinct-in-sabah-first/|archive-date=17 May 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> and birds.<ref>{{harv|C.Y. Chen|Teoh|Yap|P.T. Ong|K.C. Chan|Bent|Fong|C.C. Lee|1981|p=93}}</ref>{{sfn|Penerbit UMS|2007|p=108}}{{sfn|Ismail|2019|p=156}} It is considered common and "customary" in rural contexts among the indigenous community and the most easily available within their reach since the homemade guns are made by the villagers themselves at their homes and inexpensive, with costs for the making estimated between [[Malaysian ringgit|RM]]197 and RM1,184.85 ([[United States dollar|US$]]50–US$300).{{sfn|Nais|1996|p=27}} The weapon is used alongside other indigenous traditional hunting equipment of [[blowgun|blowpipes]] and [[spear]].{{sfn|Madisah|1986|p=16}}{{sfn|Pemborong Inovasi|2009|p=31}}{{sfn|Regis|Baptist|2012|p=60}} Some indigenous villagers are experts in making the ''bakakuk'', with some of their homemade manufactured versions being almost as good as factory-manufactured shotguns.<ref name="bakakuk"/>

== Design == It is constructed from iron pipes,{{sfn|Regis|Baptist|2012|p=60}} with nails, wooden pieces, bits of string, and tap heads.<ref name="bakakuk"/> With length measured from {{convert|45|cm|ft}} to {{convert|65|cm|ft}}, [[saw]] are traditionally used to made the main parts. The bullets can be either from shotgun [[shot (pellet)|pellet]] ([[shotgun cartridge|12 bore bullet]]),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.utusanborneo.com.my/2019/07/06/pemilikan-bakakuk-bukan-budaya-orang-sabah|title=Pemilikan bakakuk bukan budaya orang Sabah|trans-title=Owning a bakakuk is not a Sabahan culture|lang=ms|work=Utusan Borneo|date=6 July 2019|access-date=17 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260517023522/https://www.utusanborneo.com.my/2019/07/06/pemilikan-bakakuk-bukan-budaya-orang-sabah|archive-date=17 May 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> [[marble gun|marble]], or small iron ball.<ref name="bakakuk law">{{cite web|url=https://www.boom-malaysia.com/undang-undang-bakakuk/|title=Undang-undang Bakakuk: Hukuman untuk Pemilik Senjata Buatan Sendiri|trans-title=Bakakuk Law: Punishment for Owners of Homemade Weapons|lang=ms|work=Boom Malaysia|date=9 December 2025|access-date=17 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260517023026/https://www.boom-malaysia.com/undang-undang-bakakuk/|archive-date=17 May 2026|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Regulations == Since it is not legally registered, the ''bakakuk'' is considered an illegal firearm if unregistered or owned without a licence; local authorities often seize the weapon during enforcement operations.<ref name="bakakuk"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/01/448652/sabah-police-takes-aggressive-approach-eliminate-possession-bakakuk|title=Sabah police takes aggressive approach to eliminate possession of 'bakakuk'|last=Ladjana|first=Junaidi|work=New Straits Times|date=9 January 2019|access-date=17 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260517015653/https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/01/448652/sabah-police-takes-aggressive-approach-eliminate-possession-bakakuk|archive-date=17 May 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> There have been various incidents regarding its usage,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/utusan-borneo-sabah/20171122/282179356386690|title=Pulis minamagakom papatayad, panagih dadah id 'Ops Tapis'|trans-title=Police describe arrests of drug addicts in 'Ops Tapis'|lang=dtp|work=Utusan Borneo|via=PressReader|date=22 November 2017|access-date=17 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260517015100/https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/utusan-borneo-sabah/20171122/282179356386690|archive-date=17 May 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> including by [[poaching|poachers]],<ref name="bakakuk"/> and the weapons are strictly regulated for indigenous farmers as well as plantation owners' usage for crop protection and [[vermin]] control [[overview of gun laws by nation|under the firearm laws]] of Malaysia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.moha.gov.my/utama/images/Bahagian%20Keselamatan%20dan%20Ketenteraman%20Awam/AKTA/SENJATA/ARMS%20ACT%201960.pdf|title=LAWS OF MALAYSIA [Act 206] ARMS ACT 1960|work=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (Malaysia)]]|year=1960|access-date=17 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260517020847/https://www.moha.gov.my/utama/images/Bahagian%20Keselamatan%20dan%20Ketenteraman%20Awam/AKTA/SENJATA/ARMS%20ACT%201960.pdf|archive-date=17 May 2026|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icj.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Malaysia-Firearms-Increased-Penalties-Act-1971-eng.pdf|title=LAWS OF MALAYSIA [Act 37] FIREARMS (INCREASED PENALTIES) ACT 1971|work=[[International Commission of Jurists]]|year=1971|access-date=17 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209174427/https://www.icj.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Malaysia-Firearms-Increased-Penalties-Act-1971-eng.pdf|archive-date=9 February 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> Offences related to the abuse of ''bakakuk'' are usually punishable with the [[Arms Act 1960]] and Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971.{{sfn|Mallal|2002|pp=330–331}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2017/10/294846/bakakuk-seizures-increase-four-fold-sabah-police|title=Bakakuk seizures increase four fold: Sabah police|last=Zulkepli|first=Mohd Ruzaini|work=New Straits Times|date=25 October 2017|access-date=17 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260517020042/https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2017/10/294846/bakakuk-seizures-increase-four-fold-sabah-police|archive-date=17 May 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015 alone, around 200 homemade ''bakakuk'' were confiscated by authorities during a statewide operation.<ref name="bakakuk law"/>

== References == {{reflist|30em}}

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[[Category:Culture of Sabah]] [[Category:Hunting equipment]] [[Category:Indigenous weapons of Borneo]] [[Category:Shotguns]] [[Category:Weapons of Malaysia]]