The Dutch Maréchaussée Sword a.k.a. the Dutch Klewang

[Ian]

And the replies to Ron's questions by Amuk.

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Hullo Ron,

Quote: Originally Posted by ruiter58 - You have Hembrug klewangs in your collection and you have the year of manufacture. I have 6 Hembrug klewangs and I wondered how to determine their year of manufacture. For instance, I have a Hembrug M1911, marked with an "H" under a crown and has a brass plate on the basket stating P.A.N. 1499. The crown/H indicates inspector J.C.Harnas but I have no idea when this mark was used. I also found that the brass plate indicates it's use on Moerdara after 1931 by the Police forces. Is it possible to find out the year or period of manufacture?

- P.A.N. = West & East- Madoera
1499 = Weapon number
You have to be sure the stamp belongs to the right person. Look closely at the type of crown and the font. There were many inspectors who had the same initial in their surname; there were at least two HARNASes; A.G and J.C.H. Once the right person has been determined, find find out when they were likely to have stamped the item. Any kalewang produced in HEMBRUG is unlikely to have been produced prior to 1912 and even then, only in insignificant ‘test’ numbers, as they didn’t have the capability. Other clues could be other signs/markings on the kalewang or sheath. Remember that 1931 was only when the directive was issued regarding the brass plates. In actual fact, many items prior to this were subsequently marked in compliance.

Quote: Originally Posted by ruiter58 - How do I recognize a Lilley-Ames klewang? Or is the klewang similar to the Vince but without the Vince mark? The one with the bakelite scales I know as the M1940 (based on the "Klewang" book)

- Lilley-Ames: similar to M1911, but no stamp on blade, sharp clip-point, blue blade, bakelite machete-handle ( I’ve haven't seen one with wooden scales), ‘uneven’ shaving/sharpening of cutting-edge. ( Unlikely to have been produced at ACW-Bdg, as they had no such facility other than to assemble/repair. )

Quote: Originally Posted by ruiter58 - In fig 9, the pre-regulation Klewangs, you refer to the top one as Kalewang Djago ( De Haan ) 1875. Where does the "de Haan" come from? "Haan" is the Dutch word for "Rooster" and, according to the book "Klewang", de "Haan(-tjes)" klewang is the oldest type of klewang. Are there any marks on this Klewang?

- If you go to the info again, you will see why items nos.1 & 3 shared the same nickname. These item were purchased privately by soldiers as part of their field equipment ( as, in many cases, issued items were deemed inappropriate/impractical when one’s life depended on it ).

Bottom line is: confidence and faith in one’s ‘best’ guesstimation and be prepared to be wrong.

Best,

[Ian]

Here is another one of mine that I posted in an old thread back in 2005. This one is a M1940 Marechausseesabel, as evidenced by:

• The typical cut out basket hilt with "shoulders"
  
  
• The blued blade with varying thickness of edge grind
• Bakelite grips to the hilt
• Blackened scabbard and brass mounts
• There are no makers' marks or armory marks on any part of the sword

According to Pupye and de Stürler Boekwijt, these swords were manufactured in the Netherlands East Indies when supplies of the M1911 Marechausseesabel were no longer available from The Netherlands. An alternative source is provided by Anuk in his post below—namely, these are unmarked Lilly Ames swords from the U.S.

Whatever may be the precise origin of these swords, the example shown fits all the criteria for a M1940 Marechaussesabel.

Also, shown below that are pictures of three swords from the same earlier thread: the M1940 Marechausseesabel, a rehilted version of an unmarked Marechausseesabel/Dutch klewang that may be Japanese work from WWII, and a dated (1922) Indonesian version of the Marechausseesabel made in Tjikeroeh and sporting a hilt of European design.

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[Ian]

Recently, an interesting version of the marechaussee sabel appeared in an online auction. I started another thread specifically to discuss its unusual features and "royal" provenance. In the interests of compelteness of the archive for marachaussee sabels/Dutch klewangs on this site, I am posting the auction pictures again here; however, they should be viewed in conjunction with the discussion on the other thread.

[Note: In a subsequent post here, A. Maisey has suggested that this sword was assembled and etched in the Surakarta Kraton. In his view this is a genuine Surakarta Kraton sword used for ceremonial purposes.]

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[Ian]

Another one to finish recently online is this M1940 marechaussee sabel. It was described as a M1942 Dutch klewang with the blade made by Lilly Ames. The handle scales are Bakelite and the blade shows a varying edge grind width but is unmarked. According to Puype and de Stürler Boekwijt, the unmarked M1940 versions were made in the NEI and had blackened brass fittings on the scabbard. This scabbard also lacks the two staples to secure the chape and may not be original to the sword. There appears to have been a break in the distal part of the blade that has been repaired.

[Ian]

Typical Bakelite handle, variable edge grind, Dutch scabbard with blackened brass fittings.

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[Dajak]

Hi Ian it is nice you like this stuf I do have an other one that came with the Uniform from the marchausse from Indie, they told me that p.v. was field police but I am not sure....


Dajak

[Ian]

Thanks Dajak. Nice M1911 example. I like that you have the field uniform jacket with all its patches and the owners medal ribbons. The shoulder patch clearly shows Marechaussee.

Perhaps Amuk can translate what PV and the numbers mean on the brass plate.

Ian.