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I have a small collection of naval weapons mostly of the 18th century . I illustrate her 2 recent additions to my collection. The ribbed iron hilted one ( overall length 72 cm ) is in every way like the British Pattern 1814 cutlass but the guard is not the standard 'figure of 8' style, but instead is much simpler . It has the GR cyppher to its blade . The brass hilted cutlass ( overall length 80 cm ) has many features in common with the French sabre de bord of the 1780s but the pommel is different and perhaps this is not naval at all but just some type of hanger . The blade is inscribed 'VINCRE OU MOURIR' ... victory or death ... though I would have expected VAINCRE rather than VINCRE .I would much appreciate your views on these swords .