World War 2 M1941Ductch Klewang U.S. Navy Milsco Cutlass

This Dutch Klewang cutlass was manufactured in the U.S. by the Milwaukee Saddlery company beginning in the 1940’s. It was designed after the European-manufactured M1898/M1911. The M1898/M1901 were produced in Solingen, Germany and Hembrug, Netherlands. The M1940 was entirely U.S. made and had an unmarked blade. In the early 1940’s Milsco and another U.S. company, Vince, began producing only the blades. They were to serve as replacement blades for the M1898/M1901 and were assembled with grips, hilts and guards primarily in the Dutch East Indies. After being overrun by the Germans in 1941 the Netherlands could no longer fulfill its contract to Milsco. Subsequently the U.S. Navy purchased the excess inventory of cutlasses, selling them after the war as Navy surplus.

Over the years the different models of Klewang cutlasses have seen little variation. They all have pierced hilt cup and a clipped tip. The European models featured wooden grips while the U.S. manufactured Klewangs used a black bakelite grip. This M1941 features smooth cut outs with rounded edges in the cup hilt, as opposed to the small square notches typically found in other models and has wooden grips. The overall length of the cutlass is 2’5″ with a blade length of 2′ with Milsco stamped on the ricasso. The leather sheath is in good condition with a brass drag and has the hanger still intact.

$495