Dutch klewang vs. US Naval Cutlass?

kronckew · 18th June 2009, 08:32 PM

another solingen no. 1.

other side has a small (proofing?) crowned R mark figure. mine was supposedly captured from a german schnellboot (e-boat)

in the channel during ww2, and was apparently confiscated from a dutch supply by the deutsche kriegsmarine. the scabbard may not be the original type shown in the earlier post, possibly they got a bit mixed and matched in the armoury. i had a relative by marriage who was a royal navy officer and captained a british mtb boat at the time, so this one has some personal meaning. he lost a leg in combat with a schnellboot. the e-boat capt, apparently lost an arm, and after the war they managed to meet each other over a few beers and discussed the battle where they injured each other & parted friends...

see also the concurrent forum post here. i've also posted pics of the cold steel copy of the 'USN 1917 cutlass' which was the milsco one. i've seen an online copy of the original plans for the klewang somewhere, and milsco copied it almost exactly. i think a search here on 'klewang' may bring it up. there is also a rather nice book in dutch and/or english on the whole subject of the dutch klewang.

we have discussed these ones in great depth earlier. the history is fascinating and worldwide. the same model was apparently used by the dutch, germans, japanese and americans at approx. the same time. (the japanese shortened a bunch of captured ones, butchered the shell guard & issued them as an nco's sidearm.)

18th June 2009, 08:32 PM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	another solingen no. 1. other side has a small (proofing?) crowned R mark figure. mine was supposedly captured from a german schnellboot (e-boat) in the channel during ww2, and was apparently confiscated from a dutch supply by the deutsche kriegsmarine. the scabbard may not be the original type shown in the earlier post, possibly they got a bit mixed and matched in the armoury. i had a relative by marriage who was a royal navy officer and captained a british mtb boat at the time, so this one has some personal meaning. he lost a leg in combat with a schnellboot. the e-boat capt, apparently lost an arm, and after the war they managed to meet each other over a few beers and discussed the battle where they injured each other & parted friends... see also the concurrent forum post here. i've also posted pics of the cold steel copy of the 'USN 1917 cutlass' which was the milsco one. i've seen an online copy of the original plans for the klewang somewhere, and milsco copied it almost exactly. i think a search here on 'klewang' may bring it up. there is also a rather nice book in dutch and/or english on the whole subject of the dutch klewang. we have discussed these ones in great depth earlier. the history is fascinating and worldwide. the same model was apparently used by the dutch, germans, japanese and americans at approx. the same time. (the japanese shortened a bunch of captured ones, butchered the shell guard & issued them as an nco's sidearm.) Last edited by kronckew; 18th June 2009 at 09:07 PM.