Hembrug Klewang - original or a good fake?

Jim McDougall · 18th June 2009, 06:48 PM

Fakes dont usually carry issuance or arsenal type stamps.

David · 18th June 2009, 07:01 PM

Well the thing looks freakin' new, but the hilt also shows patina and age. Maybe a piece that saw little or no use and/or was extremely well cared for.

Henk · 18th June 2009, 09:32 PM

I would say an original klewang in good condition.

This is a klewang No.1 Police. Identical to the Dutch Army klewang M.1912. The RVW stamp stands for the Dutch name of this police force, the Rijks Veldwacht.

The scabbard of the M.1912 has a terminal button with a number of turns of 0,8 mm thick copper wire around the neck of the button. The number of turns is given as 12 in the original drawings of the scabbardtype.

This scabbard has more turns. Mostly the turns are 9 to 12 turns around the button. Looking at your pictures this amount of windings looks like a repair, but done with the original copper wire.

broadaxe · 20th June 2009, 11:42 PM

I've seen & handled at least one fake US cutlass, made from an "aged" Cold steel replica.
One major difference: the current made saber lacks a distal taper, hence is heavier and ill-balanced, comparing to both originals, US & Dutch.

18th June 2009, 06:48 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Fakes dont usually carry issuance or arsenal type stamps.

18th June 2009, 07:01 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	Well the thing looks freakin' new, but the hilt also shows patina and age. Maybe a piece that saw little or no use and/or was extremely well cared for.

18th June 2009, 09:32 PM	#3
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	I would say an original klewang in good condition. This is a klewang No.1 Police. Identical to the Dutch Army klewang M.1912. The RVW stamp stands for the Dutch name of this police force, the Rijks Veldwacht. The scabbard of the M.1912 has a terminal button with a number of turns of 0,8 mm thick copper wire around the neck of the button. The number of turns is given as 12 in the original drawings of the scabbardtype. This scabbard has more turns. Mostly the turns are 9 to 12 turns around the button. Looking at your pictures this amount of windings looks like a repair, but done with the original copper wire.

20th June 2009, 11:42 PM	#4
broadaxe Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 334	I've seen & handled at least one fake US cutlass, made from an "aged" Cold steel replica. One major difference: the current made saber lacks a distal taper, hence is heavier and ill-balanced, comparing to both originals, US & Dutch.