Presented is a seldom seen, original Pattern 1826 Nathan Starr naval cutlass in very good overall condition. In August of 1826, US government commissioners for the Navy contracted with the Middletown, Connecticut firm of Nathan Starr to produce 2,000 naval cutlasses for use by Navy seamen aboard ship. Initially, the contract for these cutlasses did not call for scabbards but they were added later at the time of delivery in June 1827.

The curved, single-edged robust blade measures 25½” long and has a pronounced down angle at the blade hilt. Blade has a thick back, and an unstopped, 19¼” long, ¼” wide, narrow fuller that starts at the hilt and extends to within seven inches of the point. Blade obverse bears the two-line stamping of “US / N.STARR” that runs parallel to the fuller. The reverse ricasso has a single but deep stamp of an “X”. No other markings are visible on the piece. Overall, the blade wears a light gray scheen and exhibits two small casting flaws along with scattered areas of dark oxidation pitting. Shows two noticeable edge nicks 8” from the hilt.

Grips are a cylindrical, slightly swelled piece of maple wood cut with ribs or spirals capped on both ends with iron ferrules. The convex-shaped heavy guard cup is of iron that has its edges turned outward to increase its strength. Maximum width of the guard measures 3½” wide. Slightly domed iron pommel is integral to the guard. A partial ID rests at the outer left side of the guard and reads “2 DIV IX…”, likely the area and rack position number aboard ship where this cutlass was stored for combat. Cutlass has no leather washer.

The crude iron scabbard measures 26” is in very good condition overall but is missing its small iron stud that normally sets in a lozenge-shaped disc. Scabbard had no ring mounts and the stud was used to hook into a leather frog. Throat area is curved to fit the guard. Scabbard shows a seam visible at the top and has the wide iron slipper drag with no perforations. Very good, rare Starr cutlass.

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