Ames USN Officer's Cutlass [Archive] - Ethnographic Arms & Armour

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celtan

14th September 2008, 12:59 AM

FYP

BTW: Its a pleasure to hold, it truly is. Feels really nice, I own a very few pieces that I truly enjoy handling, this is one.

After cleaning

http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r371/runswithswords/1862%20Ames%20USN%20Officer%20Cutlass/USNM1860Cutlass4.jpg

http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r371/runswithswords/1862%20Ames%20USN%20Officer%20Cutlass/USNM1860Cutlass5.jpg

This was before cleaning

http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r371/runswithswords/1862%20Ames%20USN%20Officer%20Cutlass/USNM1860Cutlass03.jpg

http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r371/runswithswords/1862%20Ames%20USN%20Officer%20Cutlass/USNM1860Cutlass02.jpg

14th September 2008, 02:55 AM

Very neat. Where did you pick it up?

14th September 2008, 03:33 AM

Here are some shots of my enlisted man's boarding cutlass. And I agree, it's function certainly is apparent when you heft it.

This shows the grip which was often varnished to retard rotting. Stripping the brass wire off was evidentially common. Remember that the enlisted mens weapons were racked while the officer's were presumably with the officers. That's actually an interesting queston. Did officiers keep their weapns with them?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/Incitatus/IMG_4707.jpg

Here is a close up of the rack number.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/Incitatus/racknum.jpg

And here is the inspection mark and date. The other side says that it was manufactured by Ames.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/Incitatus/IMG_4705.jpg

celtan

14th September 2008, 04:13 AM

Hi Ed,

From an auction house 13 yrs. ago.

This type of boarding saber is non-regulation, and was bought by officers and NCOs directly from Ames, consequently they were kept by them and their descendants. Not racked.

Not many of these remain around, I believe they are amongst the most beautiful and pleasant to handle ever made.

Yours is very nice also, congrats!

Manuel

[QUOTE=Ed]Here are some shots of my enlisted man's boarding cutlass. And I agree, it's function certainly is apparent when you heft it.

This shows the grip which was often varnished to retard rotting. Stripping the brass wire off was evidentially common. Remember that the enlisted mens weapons were racked while the officer's were presumably with the officers. That's actually an interesting queston. Did officiers keep their weapns with them?