Unknown sabre

[kronckew]

The dutch Hembrug klewang has been discussed in great depth here earlier, "Search" is your friend. It is a short sabre or cutlass designed for jungle warfare in Indonesia. US Marines also used them for jungle warfare in the pacific.

I see very little resemblance to the Hembrug, Solingen, or Milsco versions made to the same exact blueprints and used by The USA, Germans, and the Japanese in WW2. The point style is very klewangy in general, much like other non-dutch klewangs. Dutch swords seem to like clipped points. the Hembrug cutlass and it's descendants has a broad central fuller and a sharp false edge on the clipped area. Is the OP's false edge sharpened? If you call them klewang variants, we need to call 'Bowie' knives Klewangs as well. I've always considered my dutchy a long bowie.

[Klop]

It is true that this locking mechanism can be found on japanese WW2 gunto, but it is not uniquely or originally japanese. A quick search on naval dagger pictures shows that for example ze german kriegsmarine 1921 dagger had the exact same mechanism. Good ideas get copied, not surprising it also appears on an indonesian sword

kind regards,
Eric

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Klop

It is true that this locking mechanism can be found on japanese WW2 gunto, but it is not uniquely or originally japanese. A quick search on naval dagger pictures shows that for example ze german kriegsmarine 1921 dagger had the exact same mechanism. Good ideas get copied, not surprising it also appears on an indonesian sword

kind regards,
Eric

Eric you are right plus Germans and Japanese were good friends during WWII...
The problem is locking mechanism, plus the habaki plus the seppa.
Das ist sehr much.

[cel7]

Thank you all for your excellent ideas and comments.

Could it be just a sabre that was commissioned for someone, or is does the construction and execution make you think of larger numbers?

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Klop

It is true that this locking mechanism can be found on japanese WW2 gunto, but it is not uniquely or originally japanese. A quick search on naval dagger pictures shows that for example ze german kriegsmarine 1921 dagger had the exact same mechanism. Good ideas get copied, not surprising it also appears on an indonesian sword

kind regards,
Eric

The UK used a similar locking button on Prison guard hanger swords to help prevent it being snatched in passing by prisoners. the std. late 19c midshipman's dirk also had a locking device, tho not a button one.