WWII Japanese “Heiho” captured Dutch East Indies Klewang

WW2 Japanese “Heiho” machete (Converted Dutch 1911M Klewang from when the Japanese invaded the Dutch East Indies)

Originally these were issued to army and police forces in the Netherlands East Indies. Used during the East Indies uprising & before the WW2 Japanese invasion. The Japanese forces appropriated these cutlasses and reworked them for Jungle warfare by cutting down the bowl guard and leaving oval cross guard, removing the clip point and shortening the blade

The pommel has a metal plate which looks like the remains of the original bowl guard. It has original tropical hardwood slab grips secured by large brass rivets and slightly curved steel cross guard. The slightly curved blade with single fuller is stamped above the cross guard with the crown z proof mark for the Dutch armouries.

There is a small split to guard, and the blade shows clear signs of service sharpening. It still retains a good edge and has no pitting or rust, there is a nice overall patina