British WD 1845 Pattern Royal Navy Boarding Cutlass Weapon With Earlier 1805-1817 John Gill Birmingham Blade, Guard Mounted With Brass Rack Identification Plate With Partially Visible Rack Weapon Number ‘L3’. Sn 22370:1 Sword

British WD 1845 Pattern Royal Navy Boarding Cutlass Weapon With Earlier 1805-1817 John Gill Birmingham Blade, Guard Mounted With Brass Rack Identification Plate With Partially Visible Rack Weapon Number ‘L3’. Sn 22370:1 - 22370:1

British WD 1845 Pattern Royal Navy Boarding Cutlass Weapon With Earlier 1805-1817 John Gill Birmingham Blade, Guard Mounted With Brass Rack Identification Plate With Partially Visible Rack Weapon Number ‘L3’. Sn 22370 The British Royal Navy due to its global presence and command of the sea was by far the most organised and trained of all the World major sea services and it's edged weapons used for boarding and repelling boarders reflected this. The Royal Navy was one of the first Navies in the 18th Century to begin standardising the personal edged weapons used by ordinary seaman. 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 (see page 248 of World Swords by Withers). Our example has an earlier straight single edged 29” (35” overall). The blade is 1 ½” broad at its widest and the spine is 7mm width at its widest. The blade has staining consistent with age & service use. The spine of the blade is signed ‘J.Gill’ (John Gill is recorded working with his father Thomas Gill in London 1807 "Sword Cutler & Gunmaker", 83 St James’s Street, London. John Gill also recorded in Birmingham 1805-1817) indicating that this cutlass is fitted with an earlier blade similar to 1804 pattern cutlas but our example is fullered. One side of the blade has a War Dept broad arrow, the reverse has WD inspection mark. It has the correct full steel bowl knuckle guard and ribbed steel hilt all blackened. The guard is slotted for wrist strap and has an additional period 2 pierced holes. The guard has its original brass lozenge riveted to the front with a partially visible weapon / rack number ‘L 3’ number (Wither’s book illustrates afore described hilt plates). These weapons were stored in locked racks on board ships and issued only for training or combat so are often found without scabbards. Only a small number were furnished with scabbards so that with a baldrick they could be worn for land-bound duties. Our example is without scabbard. The price for this piece of British Naval history includes UK delivery. Sn 22370:1 (tub armoury)

£675.00