Japanese Dutch Conversion Heiho Klewang machete

Heard about these about a year ago while in pandemic shutdown. Originally Dutch navy cutlasses, when Japan took over the Dutch territories, they captured quite a few of these and converted them to machetes. Issued to Indonesian volunteer troops that fought under Japanese officers, they were also popular when in turn captured by US troops. First one I ever spotted on eBay but I wasn't really looking hard either.

Don't have it yet but from photos appears to be one of the nicer examples. Has brass unit markings on both the hand guard and the scabbard. This is a Dutch made Hembrug. The US also made a lot of these cutlasses that were converted, these have black plastic handles and are otherwise unmarked.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../l5xvgCB-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../EMf2LB1-1.jpg

Yes, a converted cutlass. Nice catch, I'd have taken it too. Apparently there was a bayonet as well. Like this...

Arrived today. Not sure where to classify it in my collection. With the Dutch stuff or the Japanese stuff. Leaning towards Japanese I guess because these were issued by the Japanese to Indonesian natives that fought in the Japanese army under Japanese officers.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../2gNCvxn-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../FS8SwYl-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../xHy87ac-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../sY1Rk2b-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../eFun5zP-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../V26Rt2u-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../c3OAWRQ-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../7l1y4Gw-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../5EeEXhu-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../CEJ3DJN-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../4tIOlRr-1.jpg

Nice piece...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Nice piece...

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Make that two up votes.
Something to add to my want list.

I think I got very lucky with this. For once in my life I decided I wasn't going to lose an eBay bid on something I really wanted. I still managed to get it for about $125 less than one in worse condition sold for not long ago.

This one is the nicest I've seen; has the least amount of damage I've seen and is the only one that has the frog to go with it. I don't regret my decision to go for it but the wife thinks I got it for a lot less than I did and I'm OK with that.

If you're really interested, one of the US made ones with the bakelite handles is here: US Model 1941 Naval Cutlass | eBay

Too much money...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Too much money...

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One sold in Australia for over $800 US dollars. That one was rusted. They called it age patina I think. I thought that price was ridiculous.

Nice piece Aragorn. You did well!