Dutch Cutlass

fernando · 1st November 2010, 07:33 PM

Do you know how to use the Search function, Alexander?
You will find several threads like this one:
CLICK HERE

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Jim McDougall · 1st November 2010, 11:14 PM

Hi Alexander,
Thank you for posting your Dutch klewang.
While the search feature here is certainly an option, Im sure you posted the sword to initiate conversation, which is what we do here

As noted helpfully, the term for the sword is a klewang, which was a type of sword used by native inhabitants of Indonesia and Sumatra, I believe.,

The sword itself is a military version of these type swords, however after the order for small companies of military police, these type swords were ordered from Germany initially. They were then termed 'merechausee klewangs' (=military police) and numbers of them were made originally in Solingen.
Later with the advent of WWI, it became impossible for the Dutch to order from Germany, and as I understand, the manufacture was passed to the Dutch arsenal in HEMBRUG in the Netherlands. These swords were involved in various campaigns and conflicts in the Indonesian archipelago and others.

The US Navy adopted the pattern for its own model 1917 cutlass, and I believe these Dutch models were around until about 1940.

Those are just rudimentary details which might help in your research Alexander, and its great having you with us!!!!

All the best,
Jim

BBJW · 14th November 2010, 10:37 PM

Very unusual grip for this model. Also unusual is the finish which is usually a blued blade and black painted/blued guard. I have never seen one with a steel scabbard as opposed to leather. I would guess this one if it came from the factory like this was intended for an officer or perhaps parade use.

bbjw

kronckew · 15th November 2010, 12:05 AM

if you use the forum search on 'hembrug', all is revealed. there is a book which some of us have (i do not, darn it) that covers all the models of dutch klewang, including the originally posted one of this thread, one of which is on the cover... with luck one of the book owners will contribute in this thread....

one of the solingen german ones from my collection:

this has the more expected blued steel and riveted wood grip and leather & brass scabbard.

Atlantia · 15th November 2010, 12:29 AM

Fantastic things.
as a solution to a problem it would be hard to think of a more efficient tool.
Isn't there a video somewhere of a repro Klewang being bent in a vice then tested on half a pig?

Alexander:
Very nice example. Nice find!

Amuk Murugul · 15th November 2010, 01:22 AM

Hullo everybody!

Alexander, I believe what you have there is an M1913 Klewang Marechaussee made by Artillerie Inrichtingen in HEMBRUG.
This one appears to have been inspected by WIERSMA, who was active around WWI.
It's difficult to be sure by the picture, but up to about 1938, they were nickel-plated and after that, chrome plated.
The piece looks all-original, but the only way to be sure is to carefully dismantle it (only if you're confident!), to make sure the numbers on each sub-piece match.
Barring that, you may like to make sure that the same 'crowned Z' stamp also appears on the screw at the top of the pommel, on the right-face of the grip collar and on the back inside of the guard.
Make sure the serial no. on the back inside of the guard matches the one on the scabbard.

BTW ..... kronckew ..... I believe that the scabbard in your picture is that of one made by MILSCO (1946-60).

Best,

kronckew · 15th November 2010, 08:46 AM

it's quite possible that the scabbard is a mis-match, while i am aware that dealer supplied provenances can be suspect, my klewang was supposedly recovered from an altercation between a german s-boot and british mtb in the channel here (the germans lost) with a number of others aboard the captured schnellboot that had been liberated by the germans from the dutch.

it is possible the scabbard was mismatched at the dutch depot, at the kreigsmarine when issued, after capture by the brits, or even added/mixed up by the dealer. the scabbard is brown leather (oiled) with brass chape held on by two brass staples, the re-enforcement at the throat is also brass, painted black and held on by brass rivets (also painted). it is sewn on the spine side of the scabbard.

my ex-father-in-law was a LT. in the royal navy at the time and commanded a mtb, lost a leg in a battle with a german schnellboot they captured, so i have a predilection to believing the story on my klewang

my klewang is marked 'PD LUNESCHLOSS SOLINGEN' on one side, (there is a small proof mark on the other that looks like a crowned letter of some sort), each of the three letter groups on a different line. brown wood grips, two part brass grip rivets, steel guard shell is cut with stepped corners in the european fashion, tho these are not as prominent as some others i've seen.

14th November 2010, 10:37 PM	#3
BBJW Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Idaho, USA Posts: 228	1917 Cutlass Very unusual grip for this model. Also unusual is the finish which is usually a blued blade and black painted/blued guard. I have never seen one with a steel scabbard as opposed to leather. I would guess this one if it came from the factory like this was intended for an officer or perhaps parade use. bbjw

15th November 2010, 12:05 AM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	if you use the forum search on 'hembrug', all is revealed. there is a book which some of us have (i do not, darn it) that covers all the models of dutch klewang, including the originally posted one of this thread, one of which is on the cover... with luck one of the book owners will contribute in this thread.... one of the solingen german ones from my collection: this has the more expected blued steel and riveted wood grip and leather & brass scabbard. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 15th November 2010 at 12:18 AM.

15th November 2010, 01:22 AM	#6
Amuk Murugul Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kaboejoetan Galoenggoeng Mélben Posts: 472	Hullo everybody! Alexander, I believe what you have there is an M1913 Klewang Marechaussee made by Artillerie Inrichtingen in HEMBRUG. This one appears to have been inspected by WIERSMA, who was active around WWI. It's difficult to be sure by the picture, but up to about 1938, they were nickel-plated and after that, chrome plated. The piece looks all-original, but the only way to be sure is to carefully dismantle it (only if you're confident!), to make sure the numbers on each sub-piece match. Barring that, you may like to make sure that the same 'crowned Z' stamp also appears on the screw at the top of the pommel, on the right-face of the grip collar and on the back inside of the guard. Make sure the serial no. on the back inside of the guard matches the one on the scabbard. BTW ..... kronckew ..... I believe that the scabbard in your picture is that of one made by MILSCO (1946-60). Best, Last edited by Amuk Murugul; 15th November 2010 at 03:44 AM. Reason: spelling correction

1st November 2010, 07:33 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Do you know how to use the Search function, Alexander? You will find several threads like this one: CLICK HERE .

1st November 2010, 11:14 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Hi Alexander, Thank you for posting your Dutch klewang. While the search feature here is certainly an option, Im sure you posted the sword to initiate conversation, which is what we do here As noted helpfully, the term for the sword is a klewang, which was a type of sword used by native inhabitants of Indonesia and Sumatra, I believe., The sword itself is a military version of these type swords, however after the order for small companies of military police, these type swords were ordered from Germany initially. They were then termed 'merechausee klewangs' (=military police) and numbers of them were made originally in Solingen. Later with the advent of WWI, it became impossible for the Dutch to order from Germany, and as I understand, the manufacture was passed to the Dutch arsenal in HEMBRUG in the Netherlands. These swords were involved in various campaigns and conflicts in the Indonesian archipelago and others. The US Navy adopted the pattern for its own model 1917 cutlass, and I believe these Dutch models were around until about 1940. Those are just rudimentary details which might help in your research Alexander, and its great having you with us!!!! All the best, Jim

15th November 2010, 12:29 AM	#5
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Fantastic things. as a solution to a problem it would be hard to think of a more efficient tool. Isn't there a video somewhere of a repro Klewang being bent in a vice then tested on half a pig? Alexander: Very nice example. Nice find!

15th November 2010, 08:46 AM	#7
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	it's quite possible that the scabbard is a mis-match, while i am aware that dealer supplied provenances can be suspect, my klewang was supposedly recovered from an altercation between a german s-boot and british mtb in the channel here (the germans lost) with a number of others aboard the captured schnellboot that had been liberated by the germans from the dutch. it is possible the scabbard was mismatched at the dutch depot, at the kreigsmarine when issued, after capture by the brits, or even added/mixed up by the dealer. the scabbard is brown leather (oiled) with brass chape held on by two brass staples, the re-enforcement at the throat is also brass, painted black and held on by brass rivets (also painted). it is sewn on the spine side of the scabbard. my ex-father-in-law was a LT. in the royal navy at the time and commanded a mtb, lost a leg in a battle with a german schnellboot they captured, so i have a predilection to believing the story on my klewang my klewang is marked 'PD LUNESCHLOSS SOLINGEN' on one side, (there is a small proof mark on the other that looks like a crowned letter of some sort), each of the three letter groups on a different line. brown wood grips, two part brass grip rivets, steel guard shell is cut with stepped corners in the european fashion, tho these are not as prominent as some others i've seen.