Dutch klewang vs. US Naval Cutlass?

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by KuKulzA28

Hello. I am a beginner in Ethnographic weaponry, and even more of a novice in European types. It occurred to me that the Dutch klewang used against Aceh and in Indonesia was very similar to the cutlass used by the US Navy, and probably by other Western states. I am wondering - were they basically the same or were there subtle but important differences between the two? Thanks.

Excellent observations Kukulz, and it is fascinating to see the many instances where certain ethnographic weapons have been absorbed into military regulation forms, in this case the U.S. M1917 naval cutlass....another classic example is the kukri's used by the famed Gurkha troops in the British army.