The blade on this cutlass is in good condition. It is clean and free of pitting and only exhibits light mottling. Both edges are sharp and the point is good. The edges have one or two visible nicks and few smaller ones that can be felt rather than seen. The ricasso is marked on one side “N. P. AMES / SPRINGFIELD.” The word “SPRINGFIELD” is weak but the Ames mark is strong. The reverse side of the ricasso is marked “USN / 1845.”

The hilt is the usual cast brass hilt similar to the one found on the Model 1832 Artillery short sword. There is a spread-winged eagle embossed into the pommel and the grip has a fish-scale surface and three iron rivets. The sheet brass counterguard is wide at the base and narrows as it moves up to the pommel to form the knucklebow. The wide end of the guard ends in a quillon which is marked with inspector initials “RC” on one side and “JL” on the other.

The cutlass comes in a leather scabbard with a brass throat and drag. The throat has a round stud for attaching to a frog. The leather body of the scabbard has numerous surface cracks but no breaks. The seam up the back is closed. One of the rivets anchoring the brass throat is missing but the other is present.

Ames had an 1844 contract for 1200 cutlasses which he filled in 1845 and another contract for 1200 in July of 1845 with delivery being made in July and September of 1846. This cutlass is from one of these two contracts.

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