Dutch M1911 Klewang / Marechauseesabel by Hembrug, Unit Marked
Curved, single-fullered blade with clipped point, steel hilt with pierced openings to form side bars as well as a sword knot slit, wood slab grips secured with three brass rivets, exposed tang. Leather scabbard with large brass chape piece, riveted brass band at the throat and leather frog strap. Blade 24 1/8 inches in length, the klewang 29 inches overall.
The ricasso of the blade is stamped on one side with the maker’s mark ‘Hembrug’. Based in Zaandam, Holland, this manufacturer held the original Dutch contract for mass production of this pattern. It is stamped on the other side with a crown inspection mark.
The inside of the hilt is set with a square brass plate bearing a stamped unit mark ‘1-Inf. XI 141’. The scabbard is stamped with ‘CW N’ and ‘3 39’. The wood grips are stamped on one side with ‘3 / 4’.
These swords were issued to Dutch colonial police and security forces, termed Marechausee, in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). These units were founded in 1890 and deployed in a counter-insurgency role in the Acinese Wars that had been dragging on since 1873. The Acinese guerillas were expert jungle fighters and ambushers, and it was found that European sabers were too cumbersome for close quarters, unsuitable for cutting vegetation (requiring a second blade to be carried) and hard for locally-recruited auxiliaries to wield. The native Acinese 'klewang' blade was much more suitable, and was unofficially adopted very quickly by the troops.
Early designs for Marechausee klewangs used a European-style hilt with a local blade, or a European sword ground into a more suitable shape – these ideas were used to produce the first standardised klewang in 1898 on the principle of a light, short sword good for both combat and as a tool. This is the M1911, which was the first version to be produced in Europe rather than in the East Indies, and the first to contain all original parts, rather than using repurposed cavalry sword hilts, which were heavier and had a relatively thin tang.
Many klewangs were captured during WW2 by the Japanese during their occupation of the East Indies and converted into ‘Heiho’ blades – the blade was shortened and the guard almost completely removed to produce a machete-like tool for use in the jungle. This example survives in its original form as used by the Dutch.
The blade shows signs of use. It retains its original blueing only in places, mainly at the ricasso, on the spine and in the fullers. The edge is sharp with visible sharpening marks along its whole length. There are numerous small nicks to the edge in the upper section of the blade and the tip has chipped (<2mm). Some spotted patination and spots of cleaned light pitting to the blade. The hilt retains its dark finish. The wood grips have only a couple of tiny dents. The scabbard is in very good condition, with all stitching intact and the leather strong – these did not always fare well in the humid climate they were used in. Its brass fittings have an even patina – the small piece at the throat had some verdigris on one side, now cleaned.
