Here is an excavated Ames naval boarding cutlass that would have been carried by any U.S. Navy seamen aboard ship during the Civil War. The boarding cutlass was derived from the French pattern of 1833, often referred to as a “cullere a pot” or more commonly called the “soup ladle” weapon.

The sword measures 32” overall and the blade measures approximately 26” long, 1 ¼” wide at the ricasso and has a flat back with a single, wide, unstopped fuller. The blade is in very good condition for a “dug” relic. Iron has a dark brown patina and surface pitting overall. Iron is now stable with no active rust. No markings remain visible on the ricasso, but Ames made all the model 1860 Civil War cutlasses for the Navy.

The brass hilt, often referred to as a “soup ladle” guard, is a rounded cup of heavy sheet brass riveted to the knuckle bow and provides hand protection to the user. Inside top edge of the quillon is stamped “17M / 787” which are thought to be rack position numbers on a ship. There is a bend on the guard and all the brass has a wonderful dark green patina. None of the grip remains.

Rare to see a “relic” Civil War naval cutlass.  [jet] [ph:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.