Old Dutch "Hembrug" Klewang

[Dajak]

Originally Posted by Bill Marsh

The seller, Arjan, says, "The Klewang was designed for use in the tropical colonies. In the first wars with the natives many soldiers were suprised by the fierce Aceh warriors in close combat. "

"Sometimes the distance between the fighting parties was so close that it needed a better weapon than the usual sabre. The answer was the klewang."

"One hand on the carabine (carbine) and in the other the klewang was the common postion to resist the native warrior attacks." This succeeded where the rifle and the bayonet were less successful.

"This klewang is one of them and is in a very good state. The scabbard is of nice polished dark brown leather. The blade is stamped "Hembrug". Hembrug Klewangs are quite rare because they are the first made examples."

This piece is also of interest to me as it was made for the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger; KNIL). Formed by royal decree March 1830. This was the army of the Netherlands in its former colony of the Netherlands East Indies (also known as the Dutch East Indies, and later known as Indonesia).

KNIL was involved in many campaigns against indigenous groups in the Netherlands East Indies including the Padri War (1821-1845), the Java War (1825-1830), crushing the Puputan (the final resistance of Bali inhabitants to colonial rule), and the prolonged Aceh War (1873-1901).

In 1898 first militairy weapon came in use as marchausse sabel not before


Ben

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by Dajak

In 1898 first militairy weapon came in use as marchausse sabel not before


Ben

Hi Ben,

I believe you mean the Marechaussee Sabel? I would like to know more. Are there any online sources?

The information I quoted on the KNIL comes from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KNIL

"As such, KNIL was involved in many campaigns against indigenous groups in the Netherlands East Indies including the Padri War (1821-1845), the Java War (1825-1830), crushing the Puputan (the final resistance of Bali inhabitants to colonial rule) of 1849, and the prolonged Aceh War (1873-1904)."

And

http://www.awm.gov.au/alliesinadvers...anese/army.asp

But there may be more pertinent information on the Marechaussee Sabel, if you would be so kind as to supply?

[kronckew]

the dutch royal guard's variation, the Koninklijke Marechaussee

has a different grip and scabbard.


Koninklijke Marechaussee sabel

(from this linky)

there are two of these variants up on ebay at the moment.

[Dajak]

Originally Posted by kronckew

the dutch royal guard's variation, the Koninklijke Marechaussee

has a different grip and scabbard.


Koninklijke Marechaussee sabel

(from this linky)

there are two of these variants up on ebay at the moment.

This version is earlyer and was to long to fight in the jungle it is and used more at an Gala

later they wanna have the leather sheet better in the jungle can be read at the second link

Ben

Ben

[spiral]

mmmmm they our nice Ive had a couple that were shortened & reground by the Japanese in ww2 for machete use & prison guard use.

The Best machete ever by quality probably!

Never had the full length one.

These were as Dajak says Definatly first issued in 1898 according to Netherlands Army Museum curater in Delft who wrote the book about the 140 variations they have in thier collection.

This website does English....

museum linky...

Spiral

[Dajak]

Here on this picture can be seen that the first division Marchausse Used Atjeh weapons like rentjong

[Dajak]

Some more pics

[Dajak]

Originally Posted by Bill Marsh

Hi Ben,

I believe you mean the Marechaussee Sabel? I would like to know more. Are there any online sources?

The information I quoted on the KNIL comes from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KNIL

"As such, KNIL was involved in many campaigns against indigenous groups in the Netherlands East Indies including the Padri War (1821-1845), the Java War (1825-1830), crushing the Puputan (the final resistance of Bali inhabitants to colonial rule) of 1849, and the prolonged Aceh War (1873-1904)."

And

http://www.awm.gov.au/alliesinadvers...anese/army.asp

But there may be more pertinent information on the Marechaussee Sabel, if you would be so kind as to supply?

Hi Bill it is in Dutch
The klewang is the indonesian term off this marchaussee sabel later they called this klewang
Marchausse sabel is the offical dutch term

In 1898 it was first in use with the KNIL not before

Ben


the last link says of yours The Klewang is a type of cutlass which originally derived from the weapons traditionally carried by Indonesian natives, and was later adopted by soldiers of the Dutch East India Company (the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie or VOC). By the 1930s, it was carried as a sidearm by native police in the NEI. Some were used in combat against the Japanese, but they were more commonly employed as machetes against jungle foliage. The Klewang remained on issue to Dutch forces after the war, and was used during actions against Indonesian rebels as late as 1947–48.
RELAWM24941

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by Dajak

Hi Bill it is in Dutch
The klewang is the indonesian term off this marchaussee sabel later they called this klewang
Marchausse sabel is the offical dutch term

In 1898 it was first in use with the KNIL not before

Ben

Thank you Ben, I have translation utiilities that can render Dutch into English. I am not trying to be difficult, just to broaden my horizons. Link?

[Dajak]

http://collectie.legermuseum.nl/site...%20klewang.pdf


this link says that knil people did take indonesian klewangs



this one that they take the model you have

http://www.collectie.legermuseum.nl/...usseesabel.pdf


Hope you like it Bill let me now if you like to see more

Ben

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by Dajak

http://collectie.legermuseum.nl/site...%20klewang.pdf


this link says that knil people did take indonesian klewangs



this one that they take the model you have

http://www.collectie.legermuseum.nl/...usseesabel.pdf


Hope you like it Bill let me now if you like to see more

Ben

Thank you Ben, this is very helpful!

[asomotif]

Ps. recently saw a nice indonesian made example on ebay that was marked "HUMBREG" omn the blade