AMERICAN CUTLASS C.1760-80

From a group about which there is still much to learn. By that time, virtually all military swords were made to standard patterns or at least, with recognizable common features. In America, most military swords were imported. The pressure of the Revolution fostered the manufacture of a great array of swords, from crude modifications and clumsy hand made as well as better to fine creations. This sword, however, is from an earlier group which are bound by their specific peculiarities including bone or antler grips and forged shell guards. Visually, they are unmistakably related to each other and unrelated to any others. Examples include Swords and Blades of the American Revolution, Neumann, 364.S, 365.S and 366.S, Weapons of the American Revolution, Moore, E-73 and Arms and Armor in Colonial America, Peterson, plate 256 bottom. Neumann identifies the first two as European/American and the third as American. Moore identifies his as American and Peterson identifies his as American, naming the maker.

This example has a forged iron guard incorporating a side guard, even more rare among the group. The antler grip has brass ferrules (bottom cracked with small piece out).  The blade is 26” long curved, of wedge section. It would serve equally well as a cutlass or infantry hanger. The significant differences in the group suggest that, rather than having been made commonly, they were produced by diverse smiths, to a published pattern, perhaps in a pattern book.