A Scarce WW2 Japanese Jungle Sword Cutlass, ‘Heiho’ Made From a Captured Dutch Cutlass After The Japanese Invasion By The Imperial Japanese Army in 1941. Re-Captured By The US GI's

In superb condition overall for age with stunningly well patinated original leather scabbard with its rare original belt mount frog

Under German occupation itself, the Netherlands had little ability to defend its colonies in the pacific against the Japanese army, and less than three months after the first attacks on Kalimantan the Japanese navy and army overran Dutch and allied forces, ending 300 years of Dutch colonial presence in Indonesia. A lot of their weaponry was captured, and some were converted for use by the Imperial Japanese Army.

This Dutch cutlass, or klewang, was one such weapon. These Japanese adapted weapons have very distinctive features and can easily be identified by such as the original fitted cutlass bowl hilt being removed {just as this example} and the swords were then re-issued to the imperial Japanese forces for use in the Jungles of Burma etc.

It is a Dutch Naval 1911 model “Klewang” cutlass, made by Hemburg, which was cut down by the Japanese during WW2 to use as a machete and jungle sword. These swords were often issued to IJA forces to hunt down any remaining Dutch forces, and the Japanese Imperial occupying forces found them to be a most useful jungle cutlass. The overall condition is excellent, and the cutlass comes with the the original dutch leather scabbard and frog with belt loop and has metal re-enforcing strip to the top. Three rivet wooden grip and steel crossguard

When the US re-captured the Japanese occupied islands they took these re-captured 'Heiho' and re-issued them {for the second time in their service use} to their GI's and Marines. They are very scarcely seen rare items these days and highly sought after.

See photos in the gallery of GI's using and carrying their re-captured 'Heiho' cutlasses.

There is a near identical example to be seen in the British Royal Maritime Collection.

Every item is accompanied with our unique, Certificate of Authenticity. Of course any certificate of authenticity, given by even the best specialist dealers, in any field, all around the world, is simply a piece of paper,…however, ours is backed up with the fact we are the largest dealers of our kind in the world, with over 100 years and four generation’s of professional trading experience behind us

Code: 25588