Here is a very nice original example of an Ames 1862-dated government naval boarding cutlass that would have been carried by U.S. Navy seamen aboard ship during the Civil War. The blade is New Jersey stamped with “N.J.” on the obverse ricasso of this cutlass. Blade measures 26” long, 1¼” wide at the ricasso and has a flat back with a single, wide, unstopped fuller. Blade is perfectly clean and shiny overall with a few tiny nicks on the blade edge. On the reverse ricasso is an anchor over the date “1862” while the obverse ricasso bears a thin maker’s four-line address that reads “MADE BY / AMES MFG Co / CHICOPEE / MASS” all with in the scroll pattern. “MASS” is worn away and other stampings visible but light. The two Jersey initials “N. J.” are strongly stamped directly on the maker’s mark.

Brass hilt, often referred to as a ‘soup ladle’ guard, is a rounded cup of heavy sheet brass riveted to the knucklebow and provides hand protection to the user. Guard shows no evidence of cleaning and wears a pleasing bronze patina. Inside top edge of the quillon is stamped “8M / 810” which are thought to be rack position numbers on the ship. 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. Cutlass is missing its leather washer. The carved wooden handle is wrapped with original black bridle leather that is in excellent condition. The grips have none of its original double-twisted brass wire wrap.

Original leather scabbard body, which measures 26 ½” long, is in strong condition with no breaks, cracks or separations. The very strong scabbard retains its brass stud or finial strongly secured at top edge of the scabbard. Thirty-nine copper rivets are tight along the seam. A very fine Civil War naval cutlass with its accompanying leather scabbard. [jet]

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