Hello,

I am thinking of buying a Dutch Klewang or Klewang Marechausse, 1912, Milsco.
It is similar to the 1917 American cutlass.
I would like to know how the sword handles. If it feels heavy or balanced, is it a good cutter, is it well built,...
Are there any reasons I should or shouldn't buy it?
I saw that other forumites have had one but sold it, what were the reasons?
I am going to use it for testcutting.
I could buy an original cheaper then the Cold Steel replica, I also heard the CS one was poorly balanced, because it didn't have the distal taper the original has.

thanks for your replies,

Jeroen Averhals

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photo of the word

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technical drawing of the sword

I'm jealous... I have been looking for a deal like that for a while!! I have never really handled one but it my understanding that they are usually very well built and sturdy. Of course it condition of the piece does take into account, but the one in the picture you have seems to be in great condition. Good luck!

Hi Jeroen,

I'm a big fan of the klewang. It may not be the most refined sword ever, but it's a very reliable and versatile weapon. And one of the last infantry swords in combat use by a western army.

Since you posted the technical drawing, I assume that you already have the book "Klewang" by J.P. Puype? If not: GET IT! :D Seriously, it's a really useful book to learn more about klewangs in general, and also about the klewang that you might eventually buy.

The klewang has been produced by quite a large number of manufacturers, but the following three are the most common:

Hembrug
- Made in the Netherlands
- Most of them have been used
- Light and well balanced
- Expensive, especially ones in good condition
- Scabbards you'll find on the market are often not original to the blades, and might fit poorly
- Examples in good condition with matching scabbard are really hard to find and are very expensive

Milsco
- Made in the USA (during WW2)
- A lot have been sold directly to the collector's market and were never issued, so they are usually in better condition than the Hembrug's
- A bit heavier and slightly less pleasant to handle than a Hembrug, but still a nice weapon
- Less valuable to collectors, and therefore less expensive on the market than a Hembrug

Cold Steel
- Modern made in India
- Well built, but a bit on the heavy side
- "Replica" is not completely historically correct, especially regarding weight, balance and the shape of the basket
- Scabbard is really well made too
- Inexpensive
- The only one you can damage in heavy test cutting and not feel guilty about

What I did myself is buy a Hembrug for dry-handling / collecting and a Cold Steel for "use". A Milsco does not really appeal to me, because it's still a unreplacable historical item, yet not as well handling as a Hembrug. On the other hand, if you want to get only one, perhaps a Milsco is not a bad solution. Alternatively, you could also get a Hembrug in bad condition.

Nevertheless, these swords won't depreciate if you maintain them well, so you might as well buy that Milsco and see how you like it. :D

Hi guys,

since Jeroen asked me to give some details on my Hembrug utlas, here they are: since a few years I liked the desgin very much, and was a while ago lucky to obtain an Hembrug original in a perfect, almost mint condition (although without a scabbard).

The design is very cool - as long as you go for the more heftier and simpler weapons, like I do. I wouldn´t call it leight or very well balanced, with 770g and the PoB some 15cm from the guard, it´s a bit tip heavy - but it´s a cutlas and, as such, rather desgined for cleaving than for any style of fencing. Though I have tried it only without a partner, even for sabre/ backsword drills, it is not the ideal weapon, but again, I don´t believe it was desgined for it.

What I like about it, is its simplicity: the guard is made from sheet metal, the grip is fastened with simple ritevs to the tang, the blade is blackened. Have a look for yourselves :-)

I´d say: Jeroen, get one :-) As far as I can estimate, pieces like mine in quality would cost something about 200 €, with a scabbard a little more. Pristine ones are really far more expensive.

Cheers,
Tomasz

PS:: Jeroen, do you have the technical drawing in a bigger resolution? I´d be interested.

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HI Paul,

no, the edge is not sharp. I thought about sharpening it, but decided to leave it as it is - one shouldn´t meddle with antiques, when they are in a good hape :-)

The fencing manual sound interesting, does it treat the Klewang cutlass in particular or sabres in general? I imagine it being equivalent to European/ American fencing books from the 2nd half of the 19th cent, showing sabre/ broadsword/ singlestick. I also wizld have suspected some Malayan influences, since the word klewand itself discribes an originally Malayan sword (afaik).

You´re rght, the Klewang is not that bad to handle, maybe I exagerrated. But compared with sabres from the same time (or a little earlier in order to have real fighting weapons, not only "dress swords"), it feels on the heavier side - but is light compared to the Blücher or Rumfort sabre. With the 780g, it is not heavy by itself.

Thanks for the book title, I´ll see if I can get ot somewhere (and yes, I speak and understand German, and even some Dutch - growning up ca. 20 km from the Dutsch border you üpick something up:-) ).

Cheers,
Tomasz

Hello,

thanks for all your comments.

I found a Hemburg with scabbard that was almost 100 euros more expensive then the Milsco.
But the Milsco is in a very good condition with a very nice scabbard. Probably like Paul said, because they were sold directly to the collectors market and have not been issued.

I just ordered the Milsco, I hope it will arrive soon. I'll post some pictures.

I found the technical drawing here :
http://www.dutchfleet.net/download/file.php?i...;mode=view

thanks for your replies,

Jeroen Averhals

Thanks myArmoury...

Some more money spent... :(




... and another great toy bought. Inspired by this thread I just acquired a Milsco Klewang. It's great; I'm loving it! Can't wait for the next testcutting opportunity! Chopping the box it was sent in to pieces was good fun already! :D


Jeroen; how are you doing with yours?

Hello,

I'm very glad I bought it.

I received it well packed. I worried about the scabbard, the leather is old and I was expecting to rub the leather several times with leather wax. When I unpacked (I had lots of trouble cutting the duct tape, opening the box because of my nerves) the leather felt perfect. It was oiled and without a single crack. The brass/copper of the scabbard was a little greenish.
The wood of the handle seemed used, what I like a lot, for the rest the sword is completely new. No scratch or mark on the blade. The blueing perfect, some tiny rust spots that came of with a bit of oil and a rag.
It feels different then my other one handed swords (blunt Pavel Moc, Albion Kingmaker and Pavel Marek blunt Baskethilt), what is normal because the Klewang doesn't have a pommel or other counterweight that is heavy enough. I guess, if the knuckleguard/basket had been thicker and heavier then the bent metal plate it is now, it would have made a huge difference in balance.
It has the factory edge on it, which did well against cardboard and pumpkins. Cutting through water filled milk cartons and plastic bottles didn't work. It could use some additional sharpening.

I paid 175 eur for a perfectly new sword with a leather scabbard with brass/copper fittings, I think I made a bargain, I'm very pleased with it.

Nice! I got this one:

http://www.marktplaats.nl/index.php?url=http:...ilsco.html

for 100 euros.

No scabbard unfortunately, but I wanted a sword I could use for testcutting etc without worrying too much about ruining something expensive; this is cheaper than the Cold Steel repro!!!

I cut up the box it came in; no problem. I hope to do some more serious cutting with it next weekend!

I just found the Cold Steel model of this sword at "The Blade Shop." for 149.00 and shipping is free on orders over 125. Has anyone dealt with this vendor? This seems too good to be true. I have been looking to buy this model either authentic or reproduction for a long time now.


http://www.thebladeshop.com/Cold_Steel_1917_C...p/88cs.htm



If anyone has any information involving this vendor please pm me or post here. Thank you.

Hy Guys...

I have a sword Dutch’s Klewang - marked MILSCO, and I plan to sell

i'm from Indonesia. thxs

cp : +6285655722287

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