ANTIQUE DUTCH HEMBRUG “KLEWANG” M 1898 CUTLASS
GUARANTEED
DUTCH HEMBRUG KLEWANG NAVAL CUTLASS M 1898
In the advanced form with the Klewang basket, it was first used
in 1898 by the Royal Dutch Army in the fight against rebel guerrilla units in the Province of Aceh (Atjeh) in Sumatra,
Indonesia, in the latter part of the Aceh War of 1873-1904. It gained a reputation that wherever there
was a violent dispute, the weapon was treated with the utmost respect.
It became a standard in other parts of the Dutch Empire and in the Netherlands it was even used by the Dutch police and naval forces. Therefore, the Klewang also known as Marechaussesäbel. Some
were used in combat against the Japanese in WW II. The Klewang remained
on issue to Dutch forces after the War, and was used again during actions against Indonesian rebels as late as 1947–48
What is mostly unknown is that the Klewang also became the basis for the U.S. Naval Cutlass
Model 1917. Nearly 50,000 examples of the Klewang were made in the U.S. It was still in service at the beginning
of WW II, and in the arms lockers of U.S. warships. In contrast to the Dutch model, the basket on the American variant
was fully enclosed. The weapon was used by the U.S. Navy officially until 1949 when it was removed from service.
|
|
|
|
The Source for the Finest Nautical Antiques, Affordable Marine Art, Vintage Dive Helmets, New Sextants, Antique Sextants, and beautifully executed Antique & Vintage Boat, Ship and Aircraft Models.
