CONFEDERATE MODEL 1841 NAVAL CUTLASS
Confederate copy of a Model 1841 naval cutlass, 21" blade, 26 1/4" overall, with a cast-brass grip with a "D"-shaped hand guard. An almost exact copy of the cutlass manufactured by the Ames company for the United States Navy, the grip features a molded "fish scale"-style pattern, with a federal eagle on either side of the pommel. The hand guard bears the rack number "93" stamped into the exterior. All Ames-manufactured examples were very well marked as such, and the lack of markings besides the rack number on this example, as well as the lack of rivets on the grip, indicates Confederate manufacture. The exterior surface of the hand guard also features stippling throughout, matching other known Confederate examples; Union examples featured a smooth surface. The sword is housed in a brown leather scabbard with hand-formed metal throat and points guard, with the leather heavily flaked and a diagonal cut approx. 6 1/4" from the tip. The remnants of a black leather frog are also affixed to the throat. The blade bears dark oxidation and pitting throughout, with several nicks along the edges and a small chip near the point, perfectly acceptable for an extremely scarce sword.