Original Item. Only One Available. This is a gorgeous service-worn example of one of the scarcest yet most iconic naval weapons designed for the United States Navy, the Model 1841 Naval Cutlass. The M1841 was patterned after the M1832 Artillery Short Sword, featuring the gorgeous eagle feather grip. The vast majority of these cutlasses were manufactured by Ames, but this is one of the scarcer “Horstmann” style examples, with a thinner blade, lack of rivets, and recessed face of the guard.

The Naval cutlass was intended for general use as ship defense; the sword is relatively short to allow for fighting in close quarters. The wide brass guard was designed to protect the sailor’s hand.

The M1841 naval cutlass was heavy and cumbersome and therefore not very popular with the enlisted sailors who needed to wield it on pitching and rolling decks. Only 6600 of these were manufactured between 1841 through 1847. It was replaced just prior to the Civil War with the M1860 naval cutlass for which over 24,000 were produced. However, model 1841 Naval Cutlasses were used extensively during the Civil War by both the North and the South.

This example is correctly not marked on the ricasso. This cutlass retains the leather blade buffer, a rare sight to see on these early cutlasses. It also retains a partial and heavily damaged brass-mounted leather scabbard.

The scabbard retains the brass throat and frog button, but the leather is extremely worn, torn and repaired, and heavily crazed. It currently measures 17 ⅝” but there is a major break in the leather at 5 ¾” which has been crudely glued back together. The last 3 ½” of the blade stick out of the tip of the scabbard when it is on. 

The model 1841 US Naval Cutlass features a solid brass hilt with eagle feather scale grip with a D-style knuckleguard. The pommel has the Federal Eagle cast into both sides. The blade is double edged, slightly diamond shaped with a raised center line on both sides. The blade on this example is at full length and is in tremendous shape with just light oxidation, with the edge of the blade being fantastic. The cutlass overall has a tremendous patina. There are a few small dents in the handguard which has been applied with a rough finish. 

A wonderful example of what has become one of the most sought after naval weapons, ready for further research and display.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 21”
Total Length: 26½”
Scabbard Length: 17 ⅝”