Two Dutch Hembrugs

[Amuk Murugul]

Originally Posted by Henk

I'm afraid this is not a popular myth.

It is as Trenchwarfare and asomotif said. These dutch klewangs were reshaped by the japanese during WWII into a heiho klewang.

Hullo Henk,

Sorry, but I must disagree. While the Japanese may have been responsible for the term Heiho Klewang, this modification was only a continuation of past practice. Such modifications were made as far afield as Montenegro (where it was cut and shaped like a short yataghan) and South Africa (where it was made easier to cut through the bush).
Anyway, to each his own.

Best,

[kronckew]

y'all are probably all correct, local mods and japanese mods are more likely than local mods or japanese mods. would be interesting to see a few together, i only have the a full - sized unmodified klewang (at the moment ).

[Amuk Murugul]

Originally Posted by kronckew

y'all are probably all correct, local mods and japanese mods are more likely than local mods or japanese mods. would be interesting to see a few together, i only have the a full - sized unmodified klewang (at the moment ).

Hullo Kronckew,

Here's a start. The top blade is a cut Hembrug 'heiho', while the bottom one is a South African, 1901 German-made Hakmes. Sorry for the poor quality. Note:- handles are different; also on the South African one, the guard is longer, the fuller shorter.


Best,

[trenchwarfare]

Originally Posted by Amuk Murugul

Hullo Henk,

Sorry, but I must disagree. While the Japanese may have been responsible for the term Heiho Klewang, this modification was only a continuation of past practice. Such modifications were made as far afield as Montenegro (where it was cut and shaped like a short yataghan) and South Africa (where it was made easier to cut through the bush).
Anyway, to each his own.

Best,

You say that the Japanese continued the practice. This doesn't mean that the Japanese didn't initiate a similar practice under there occupation. It's like saying that the French were the first to sporterize military firearms. Even Native Americans of the Historic era searched earlier prehistoric sites for projectile points, and reworked them into their own designs. It's human nature to take another's tool, weapons, or equipment, and modify them to your own needs and tastes. You contardict yourself. To each his own I guess.

[asomotif]

Hello Amuk,

Do you have any pictures of indonesian recruits fighting for the dutch that are wearing a shortened Klewang ?
I can understand your theory about these native soldiers shortening the klewang because they were not comfortable in using it.

But if I compare a dutch klewang to an acehnese Sikin or Ladieng, I am not sure if the story about size really makes a point.

Also I wonder if the dutch army would have allowed cutting down the klewang.
These weapons where property of the army and not personal weapons.

Ps. why is the 'hakmes' you show us south african ?
Looks to me like the dutch Marechausee sabel which was the inspiration for the dutch Klewang.

Best regards,
Willem