klewang

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Portret van Si Boendri voor een wand met een collectie krissen en klewangs Atjeh TMnr 60022756.jpg collection of Kris (hung vertically) and Klewang (hung diagonally) during the Dutch colonial period, c. 1893–95.]]

During the Aceh War the Acehnese klewang proved very effective in close quarters combat against the sabre-wielding Dutch troops and the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army. Mobile troops armed with carbines and klewang succeeded in suppressing Aceh resistance where traditional infantry with rifle and bayonet had failed. The Dutch klewang was developed at the end of the 19th century, because firearms and also traditional swords were not always reliable at that time, especially in the jungle. 'A klewang in the right-hand fist never refuses', it was said.

From 1898 until the 1960s the Royal Dutch East Indies Army, Royal Dutch Army, Royal Dutch Navy and Dutch police used the militarised version of the klewang. These military versions were shortened sabres completely by European design, and better suited for close quarter fighting and jungle warfare. Officially the weapon was named the Marechaussee-sabre but the name klewang was more popular and later on also used as an official model.

Even from the time after Aceh was pacified by the Dutch to the 1930s and right through World War II, lone wolf Acehnese without generals would still attack Europeans in hopes of getting martyred themselves and attaining paradise. Weapons used in such cases were usually klewang, if not the Rencong.{{cite book|author=James T. Siegel|title=Objects and Objections of Ethnography|year=2011|publisher=Fordham Univ Press|isbn=978-08-232-3274-1|page=88}} The klewang was also used by the U.S. Army during World War II in the Pacific. {{cite book|author=Puype, J.P. and Stürler Boekwijt, R.J. de|title=Klewang, Catalogue of the Dutch Army Museum|year=2001|publisher=Eburon|isbn=90-5166-836-8|page=68}}

File:Vaandelwacht van Heutsz.jpg

In the Royal Netherlands Army the klewang is still used as a ceremonial weapon by the colour guard of the Regiment van Heutsz which took over the traditions of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army, where the klewang was historically used as a side arm. The Royal Constibulary or Koninklijke Marechaussee and the Midshipmen of the Royal Dutch Navy also carries the Klewang in ceremonies and parades.

The klewang features a single-edge blade with a protruding notch near its tip.[https://books.google.com/books?id=g3FLFtThkU0C&dq=tjabang+trisula&pg=PA33 Weapons and fighting arts of Indonesia, Donn F. Draeger, Tuttle Publishing, Apr 15, 1992 p.33] In size, weight and shape it is halfway between the golok and the kampilan. The style of the klewang differs between the various cultures of Indonesia. Blades range from {{convert|15|to|30|in|cm}} in length and may be straight or slightly curved.{{cite book|author=Albert G Van Zonneveld|title=Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago|year=2002|publisher=Koninklyk Instituut Voor Taal Land|isbn=90-5450-004-2}} It is carried for show by followers of chiefs, or taken on expeditions to market or nightly walks in the villages. It is worn without a sheath{{cite book|author=Christian Snouck Hurgronje|title=The Acehnese, Volume 1|year=1901|publisher=Book On Demand|asin=B005G1O9SM}} although there are sheathed varieties.

In Malaysia, the klewang may be found in various states. The Kelantanese klewang features a curve blade with a spike, and was worn by men in the 19th century at the back of the sarong with the blade protruding.{{cite book|author=Farish Noor & Eddin Khoo|title=Spirit of Wood: The Art of Malay Woodcarving|year=2012|publisher=Tuttle Publishing|isbn=978-14-629-0677-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bIjQAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT195}}

• Amanremu
• Co Jang
• Ladieng
• Sikin Panyang

{{overlay

|image = Sulawesi kelewang.jpg

|width = 350

|height = 270

|legend1title = Various klewangs from Sulawesi:

|legend1start = 1

|overlay1 = Dua Lalan

|overlay1link = Dua Lalan

|overlay1top = 250

|overlay1left = 25

|overlay2 = Sumara

|overlay2link =

|overlay2top = 250

|overlay2left = 68

|overlay3 = Guma Tadulako / Tonolampa

|overlay3link =

|overlay3top = 250

|overlay3left = 120

|overlay4 = Báde/Pade Ta'awu

|overlay4link =

|overlay4top = 250

|overlay4left = 170

|overlay5 = Penai, Torajan style

|overlay5link = Penai (sword)

|overlay5top = 250

|overlay5left = 220

|overlay6 = Unidentified klewang

|overlay6link =

|overlay6top = 250

|overlay6left = 270

|overlay7 = Penai, eastern and southeastern Sulawesi style

|overlay7link = Penai (sword)

|overlay7top = 250

|overlay7left = 315

}}

{{overlay

|image = Timor kelewang.jpg

|width = 350

|height = 290

|legend1title = Various klewangs from Timor:

|legend1start = 1

|overlay1 = Topo, Sikka style

|overlay1link =

|overlay1top = 245

|overlay1left = 80

|overlay2 = Topo, unknown Flores style

|overlay2link =

|overlay2top = 285

|overlay2left = 105

|overlay3 = Péda (?)

|overlay3link =

|overlay3top = 260

|overlay3left = 125

|overlay4 = Belida

|overlay4link = Belida (sword)

|overlay4top = 260

|overlay4left = 145

|overlay5 = Suni

|overlay5link =

|overlay5top = 285

|overlay5left = 175

|overlay6 = Toa/Topo stick sword

|overlay6link =

|overlay6top = 240

|overlay6left = 205

|overlay7 = Moso of Alor Island or Opi of Timor

|overlay7link = Moso (sword)

|overlay7top = 215

|overlay7left = 225

|overlay8 = Tulie, Wemale style of Seram

|overlay8link =

|overlay8top = 280

|overlay8left = 245

}}

{{overlay

|image = Various kelewang 2D drawing.jpg

|width = 350

|height = 290

|legend1title = Other variety of klewangs:

|legend1start = 1

|overlay1 = Klewang from Banda Besar or Seram

|overlay1link =

|overlay1top = 270

|overlay1left = 25

|overlay2 = Seruk from Maluku Islands

|overlay2link =

|overlay2top = 270

|overlay2left = 70

|overlay3 = Kra Péeté from Yamdena

|overlay3link =

|overlay3top = 270

|overlay3left = 100

|overlay4 = Unidentified klewang

|overlay4link =

|overlay4top = 270

|overlay4left = 150

|overlay5 = Gari from Nias

|overlay5link = Gari (sword)

|overlay5top = 270

|overlay5left = 200

|overlay6 = Balato, northern Nias style

|overlay6link = Balato (sword)

|overlay6top = 270

|overlay6left = 230

|overlay7 = Arit

|overlay7link = Celurit

|overlay7top = 270

|overlay7left = 275

|overlay8 = Toa stick knife from Solor

|overlay8link =

|overlay8top = 270

|overlay8left = 325

}}

{{Clear}}

{{Portal|Indonesia|Malaysia}}

• Kampilan
• Kalis
• Parang (knife)
• Surik (sword)
• Pirah

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Klewang}}

• {{cite web

|url=http://www.collectie.legermuseum.nl/sites/strategion/contents/i004543/arma09%20het%20ontstaan%20van%20de%20militaire%20klewang.pdf

|title=Het ontstaan van de militaire Klewang (in Dutch)

|year=2008

|publisher=Armamentaria/Dutch Army Museum

|access-date=2010-02-28

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160819/http://www.collectie.legermuseum.nl/sites/strategion/contents/i004543/arma09%20het%20ontstaan%20van%20de%20militaire%20klewang.pdf

|archive-date=2011-07-24

}}

{{Indonesian Weapons}}

{{Malaysian Weapons}}

{{Swords by region}}

Category:Southeast Asian swords

Category:Weapons of Indonesia

Category:Weapons of Malaysia

Category:Edged and bladed weapons

{{Sword-stub}}

{{Indonesia-hist-stub}}