HEMBRUG KLEWANG for comment.

[klewang]

Hello David,

Your klewang has been made in the Hembrug factory in Zaandam,Holland.
This one was issued for the Dutch colonial troops in the Dutch East-Indies.
Most likeley the brass stamp says 6-Inf.II and not af (the ink may have been disappeared over the years). If so, this would mean that your klewang was used by the 6th company of the II Infantry Batallion. The number 45 has nothing to do with the year of manufacturing, it's a weaponnumber.

The scabbard is not the original one that was made for it (not uncommon, since leather does not lasts long in the tropics) and was locally made in Bandoeng, Jawa.

CW stands for Centrale Werkplaats, something like ''Central Workingplace''
N stands for Nieuw Model, New Model
10 and 40 stands for the date of manufacturing, October 1940.

These types of klewangs (yours is the m1911) were made from 1911 till 1940.

Hope this helps,

regards Chris

[katana]

Hi Chris,
great information , thank you very much. Extremely happy with this being colonial . Now to research the 6th company of the II Infantry Batallion ....yes, you are correct, using a magnifying glass the 'a' does look more like an 'n'

Best Regards
David

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo David,

Slight correction: 'N' merely stands for 'nieuw'/new i.e.the date following refers to when the scabbard was made.
'CW' stands for (Artillerie) Constructie Winkel or (Artillery) Construction Shop /Factory. The stamp was originally 'ACW'. The 'W' is also often referred to as 'Werkplaats'/Workplace.
There was a 'Centrale Werktplaats' in Bandoeng, constructed in 1947, but it didn't last long.


Java battle-order prior to surrender on 11/03/1942:

Commander on Java was Lieutenant-General Hein Ter Poorten with headquarters in Bandoeng.

Battalion II was part of the 2nd KNIL Infantry Division under the command of Major-General Pierre A. Cox.

Hope it helps.

Best,

[katana]

Thank you Amuk

What I thought was a late issue WW2 sword....has become a weapon with an interesting history

Kind Regards David

[asomotif]

Interesting.
So this klewang may have a story to tell.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Java_(1942)

Where did you get it David ?

[katana]

Originally Posted by asomotif

Interesting.
So this klewang may have a story to tell.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Java_(1942)

Where did you get it David ?

Hi Willem
I bought this privately.....it was cluttering up a garage The seller believed it was WW2 ... ie 45 being the year ....I knew Hembrug had ceased production before 1945, so assumed a re-hilt and took a chance. I can see these would have been quite effective in jungle environments and was surprised at the sharpness (I've a cut finger to prove it) after being untouched for so long.

Kind Regards David

[katana]

Just received a reply from the seller. Bought by him in the '90's in a junk shop. Later he saw a very similar sword in a Militaria museum which was stated as being used to cut lead to strenghen the sword arm ......has anyone heard of this....

Best
David