British 1845 Pattern Naval Cutlass (1887 Conversion)

Slightly curved, unfullered spear pointed blade, steel bowl hilt with cut down side edges and sword knot slit near the pommel, the outside of the hilt inset with a diamond-shaped brass plaque secured by two brass rivets through the steel. Cast iron ribbed grip, steel teardrop shaped pommel cap. Black leather scabbard with steel throat and chape pieces, the throat piece with teardrop frog stud. Blade just under 26½ inches in length, 1½ inches broad at the shoulder, 7mm wide at the shoulder, the cutlass 32 inches overall.

The blade is stamped on one side at the forte with a broad arrow and ‘WD’, indicating War Department property, as well as a crown inspection stamp with ‘E’, indicating the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, and on the other side with ‘C’ over ‘/87’, indicating that it underwent conversion in the year 1887, a reissue stamp /93 for 1893, and a crown stamp with ‘BR’ indicating that the cutlass underwent repair at Birmingham. The spine of the blade is stamped with a faint BR Birmingham Repair stamp and also with the letter ‘B’. The ricasso of the blade is stamped with a crown inspection stamp with ‘E’. Given that the cutlass underwent conversion (which would have taken place at Enfield) it is possible some markings were removed and replaced in the process.

The outside of the hilt is stamped with ‘N’ indicating Royal Navy ownership. The brass plaque on the outside of the guard is stamped with ‘13’, which would be a rack number. The leather of the scabbard is stamped on one side next to the seam with another broad arrow and ‘WD’, another ‘N’, two more crown inspections stamps for Enfield and the manufacture date ’97. The throat piece is stamped beside the mouth with ‘97’, which has been cancelled with a strikethrough, and ‘1’.

Experiments during the early 1840s for a new naval cutlass design to replace the venerable 1804 Pattern resulted in a design by George Lovell, the Inspector of Small Arms, being accepted in 1842. A fire at the Tower of London destroyed early stocks and the design did not enter service in bulk until three years later, hence being termed the 1845 Pattern. It was considered very successful, handling well compared to its bulky predecessor the 1804 Pattern and being simpler to manufacture.

Like many successful designs the 1845 was tinkered with in attempts to improve it further. First a version sometimes referred to as the ‘Type B’, was introduced in 1859, which had a modified guard and a blade much like the original but only 27 inches in length. Then in the 1870s the blade was judged to be the wrong shape and attempts to modify the original stocks began (Type Bs in 1871 and Type As in 1875). Converting the numerous old cutlasses in store was substantially cheaper than ordering new ones.

Many 1845s therefore had their curved 29½ or 27-inch blades altered by reforging to be straight and 25½ inches in length. This process was botched, however, by a lack of proper heat treatment after the reforging, leading to blade failures in combat, the deaths of British sailors, a public outcry and a military procurement scandal when the scale of the problem became apparent in the 1880s.

In the wake of these problems, it was ordered in September 1887 for all remaining 29-inch cutlasses to have their blades reduced to 27 inches – this time there was no attempt to straighten the blade and it was simply ground down, which eliminated the reforging issue. This cutlass is one of these conversions, although its blade has been reduced another half inch further, possibly to repoint it during a repair. Judging from the shape of its grip, the downturned edge of its hilt and the presence of a strengthening piece, this was originally a Type B.

This would be the last chapter of the 1845 Pattern, as a new pattern of cutlass was finally introduced in 1889, which had a straight blade and incorporated new features like a full-width tang that could not have been added by conversion. With the size of the Royal Navy the 1845 probably had a few further years of service while the new type was being introduced.

This example has been modified by cutting down the inner and outer edges of the guard in straight lines, turning it from a disc shape into more of a rectangle. This was perhaps done to prevent it rubbing against the wearer’s uniform when worn, and brings it roughly in line with the shape of the 1889 Pattern and 1900 Pattern cutlasses’ hilts. The exposed edges are patinated to the same extent as, for instance, the inside of the hilt, so it is not a recent modification.

The cutlass is solid with no movement to any parts, its blade rings when struck. The blade has some small nicks to its edge, which is unsharpened, its tip is intact. Its faces are bright with old polishing marks, a few spots of frosting, track marks from rubbing against the scabbard retaining spring while sheathing and drawing, some light scratching in places and some small streaks of heavy patination near the edge towards the tip.

The hilt, grip and pommel all have varying amounts of their original black lacquer ‘japanning’ – the inside of the hilt retains quite a lot, as do the recesses of the grip while the outside of the hilt only has fragments remaining. Where the japanning has worn the steel is darkly patinated on the inside of the hilt the grip and the pommel, while on the outside of the hilt it is brighter with some scratching and patches of dark patination. The brass plaque has a moderate patina with some spots of light staining. 

The steel scabbard fittings are free of dents and darkly patinated with light rust spotting to the chape piece. The leather of the scabbard has some light dents and surface rubbing but remains strong and flexible. The cutlass will sheath and draw fully, the retaining spring holds the blade quite tightly so take care to hold the throat piece.  The chape piece has a few dents which do not interfere with sheathing and drawing.