[CutlassCollector]

The number of different patterns of the British Naval Cutlass that date to the 1840 - 1850 can be confusing. Not to mention the several different new models, there were 1804 blades fitted with new hilts and even cutlasses made from the ubiquitous 1796 heavy cavalry blade shortened to suit. Added to this mix were unaltered 1804 cutlasses marked with the royal cypher of Queen Victoria.

‘Swords for Sea Service’ notes that no 1804 pattern cutlasses were ordered for the Royal Navy after 1808, so why then are there seemingly authentic 1804 cutlasses marked with the cypher of Queen Victoria who reigned from 1837 to 1901?
Replicas or fakes are always a possibility and yes there is an 1804 replica stamped with the letters VR, see picture. But stamping the letters with readily available letter stamps is a very different matter than producing an inch high cypher and in any case why fake an 1804 with VR when GR would make more sense.

In 1840 following complaints from the navy it was decided that an improved hilt and guard would be fitted to existing blades to improve hand protection. Initially 10,000 1804 cutlasses were ordered to be fitted with the improved hilt and all available cutlasses were sent to the Tower of London armoury for modification. By March 1841 only about 1000 of these modified 1804 cutlasses had been re-issued when a major fire at the Tower destroyed a large number of the remaining cutlasses and left the navy seriously short of weapons.

Is it possible that, because of the shortage, the survivors of this fire and possibly those still en route to the Tower were simply inspected, stamped with the royal cypher and sent back into service unaltered?
Well it’s just a theory but look closely at the two cyphers. I think they were made by the same stamp and I also think the ‘V’ on the stamp itself was made by removing the first part of the ‘W’ on the WR cypher of the previous monarch William. If true this may indicate that they were stamped early in Victoria’s reign before new cyphers had been made.
It’s hard to be sure so any opinions would be received with interest.
The picture with small letters is a replica. The other two are from two different seemingly authentic 1804's. One mark is very faded - any comments?
Regards CC.