Dutch "Klewang" Naval Cutlass, circa WW1

This cutlass is virtually identical in all respects to the regulation US Model 1917 Naval Cutlass (the last regulation pattern for the US Navy), with the exception of the pierced sheet-metal pattern in the cup.

The hilt is of a half-cup design, sheet-steel construction, pierced to form three branches, not including the D-guard. All metal furniture is "blued" similar to firearms. The 2-piece grips are of hard-plastic, black in color, smooth, and held in place by three brass rivets. Cup and hilt and held onto blade by a single screw (butt of pommel).
Steel blade, blued, is ~24-3/4" in length, curved, and of clip-point "Bowie" style with ~2-1/2 false-edge, ~23-1/2" cutting-edge. Single-fuller - both sides - is ~14-3/4" in length. Very functional.
No markings are present anywhere on this sword.
It has been argued that this cutlass was also used by the US Navy; I have not been able to confirm this either way.

The regulation cutlass - a short saber with a cut and thrust blade and a large hand guard - "was issued to enlisted men as a sidearm and maintained in ships armories until the beginning of WWII. The weapons was officially declared obsolete in 1949 by the US Navy. The Cutlass was considered an organizational issue item, but was never considered to be a part of the enlisted uniform."

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