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Japanese WW2 short sword?

foodie97

By foodie97
in Military Swords of Japan

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foodie97 Newbie

foodie97

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I need help in identifying this short sword my greatgrandfather found somewhere around in South East Asia in the WW2 era. My greatgrandfather said it was Japanese as he took it frrom a Japanese officer or soldier when the Japanese surrendered. Please, I need as much info as I can get and if it is rare.

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george trotter Grand Master

george trotter

Posted
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I have seen two swords that are this type (or very close). One is a US issue sidearm of around 1900 and the other is a sidearm/hanger used by the Dutch in Indonesia up to WWII...the Dutch and US swords may have had a complete "D" type handguard...a long time since I saw one.

Regards,

George.

Lindus Mentor

Lindus

Posted
Posted

Agree but always worth posting, I remember Ron Gregory had a sword, saya covered in sea shells,the Tsuka was a Shin gunto but the blade a Dha. Story, A USAF officer took from a dead Japanese :? Mind you Ron also had a minature Gunto that purported to be that of a Japanese Pilots,short because of the cockpit confines.........that another story 8)

 

Roy

foodie97 Newbie

foodie97

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What I can tell is that it is not a modern replica or reproduction as my greatgrandfather found it during the WW2 era and it was also used as the were nicks on the blade.There was also some markings at the sheath and sword but I forgot what it was.I will update more when my grandfather comes back from Indonesia and he will pass down the sword to me.If anybody know this sword or seen something like this please tell me. Thanks.

Grey Doffin Grand Master

Grey Doffin

Posted
Posted

Hi (name please),

Ask your public library to get you a copy of A Glossary of the Construction Decoration and use of Arms and Armor by Stone. Good chance you'll find this illustrated some place in the book.

Grey

george trotter Grand Master

george trotter

Posted
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Hi again,

As I said above, this looks like a Dutch army hanger. Used in Indonesia during the late 19th cent up to 1945. They are also found longer in the blade than this one, but they vary considerably. This looks like the "cutlass hand guard" has been cut away (but may be original). Check the web under Dutch/Netherlands East Indies sword...or under "Klewang" (their common name). The US also had a similar hanger .

 

regards,

george.

sudden Rookie

sudden

Posted
Posted

its a dutch klewang rebuild by the Japanese

my Englisch is not so good so i copy some text from the internet

 

This 'sword' of yours is a modified Milsco Klewang/Cutlass. A little history lesson:

 

These Milsco Klewangs where produced bij the Milwaukee Saddlery Company, Wisconsin USA for the Dutch colonial army in the early 1940's. Based on the orginal Dutch Design.

 

The klewang was designed to give the Dutch soldier a good weapon against the edged weapons used by the resistant in the Dutch colonies.

 

After the Dutch got overrun by the German army in may 1940, the exisiting order placed at the in the Netherlands located Hembrug factory could not be delivered. So the Dutch Colonial army had to find an alternative, wich they found in the USA.

 

Unfortunately the war also reached the Dutch Indies about a year later, at that time only a small amount of Milsco produced "Klewangs" where issued to the troops.

 

A small part of the remaining stock was issued (not officialy) to the US Navy. After the war the Dutch War Departmant bought the remaining stock and issued them to his colonial troops and navy. The klewang was used in Dutch service till 1949.

 

After the Japanese victory the re-issued the captured klewangs to their own troops after some modifications. This so called "Heiho" klewangs had their handguard and blade altered. Exactly as your piece.

 

Jan.k

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