Original Item. Only One Available. In addition to the standard Model 1860 seaman’s cutlasses, the US Navy acquired a very small number of cutlasses for “officers”. These differed from the standard cutlass in that the brass basket was gilt, with the letters USN die cut out of its face. The “officer’s” version of the cutlass was further enhanced with some simple border line engraving around the edges of the guard.

This extremely scarce example we are offering today is one of the very few Officer’s pattern, with the letters USN die cut out of the face of the brass basket. This example is missing its scabbard. The reverse ricasso is marked with the four-line Ames scroll pattern address and reads:

Made By
AMES Mfg. Co.
CHICOPEE
MASS.

The obverse ricasso is marked 1862. There are no other markings on the cutlass. The blade is in very good worn condition for not having a scabbard, and retains most of its original darkened finish. There are a few scattered nicks but overall the blade is in great condition.

The grip retains its original leather covering and twisted wire wrap. The leather shows some scattered finish loss and flaking from service use, as well as some very minor loss due to wear and age. The twisted wire is all intact and is still tightly wrapped around the grip. There is a good bit of verdigris across the brass hilt, giving the cutlass a great patina.

Overall, this is a phenomenally rare piece of U.S. Naval Civil War History, being one of the most iconic edged weapons in U.S. History, and being the exceedingly rare Officer’s variant with the U.S.N. die-cut out of the brass basket. Comes ready for further research and display.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 26 1/8"
Blade Style: Curved Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 31 3/4“
Basket dimensions: 4 1/2" width x 5” length

There has long been some level of controversy regarding the designation of the “gilt”, die-cut guard M1860 cutlasses as “Officer’s Cutlasses”. Colonel Rankin theorizes in Small Arms of the Sea Service that these were really intended for Chief Petty Officers and by extension other “Warrant” type officers, such as the ship’s Master, Master Gunner, Boatswain, etc. These were the senior non-commissioned officers of the ships. Like their counterparts on land, the sergeants, these senior enlisted men were the heart of the crew’s leadership and the key to smooth sailing and hard fighting. No doubt Col. Rankin’s belief was based upon the fact that officers were required to purchase their own sidearms and were rarely issued swords, and a small number of inspected “officer’s cutlasses’ do exist. There is, however, one good precedent for the US Navy purchasing and issuing swords to their officers. When the Model 1852 Naval Officer’s Sword was adopted, replacing the preceding Model 1841 Naval Officer’s sword, the Navy purchased 500 of the new swords, inspected them and issued them to the current corps of officers. With this as precedent, it would seem reasonable that any “Officer’s Cutlass’ that is inspected is one that was acquired by the Navy via contract for issue. Based upon the very few references in McAulay’s book, it would be reasonable to believe that less than 100 of these inspected Officer’s Cutlasses, and likely less than 50, were acquired. The balance that were produced were privately purchased and used by officers as well as Petty Officers who could afford to acquire a personal cutlass of better quality. McAulay notes that 18 “Gilt Cutlasses’ were purchased in mid-1865 by the Navy at the rate of $25 each. If this price is indicative the prices charged during the height of the war, it would help to explain the relative rarity of this model. At $25 each, almost double what a Union infantry private was paid monthly and a price that exceeds what the Ordnance Department was often paying for pistols, carbines and rifle muskets, the purchaser would need to be wealthy in order to justify what would be an extravagance during the war. Naval officers were authorized to wear the Model 1852 Officer’s Sword and not the cutlass, so any such acquisition would be based purely on personal preference. Needless to say, the US Model 1860 Naval Officer’s Cutlass remains a fairly scarce item and is not regularly encountered as the more common enlisted cutlasses are.