Dutch Cutlass

[Alexander]

Dear colleagues. I want to learn more detailed information on the Dutch sword.
1. It concerns what armies?
2. What year model?
3. About what year it was issued?
Yours faithfully, Alexander.

[Norman McCormick]

Hi Alexander,
Try the the search function for Klewang, you should get a lot of info on this sword.
Regards,
Norman.

[fernando]

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

.

[Jim McDougall]

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]

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]

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.