This is a British Pattern 1845 Naval Cutlass manufactured by Robert Mole & Sons of Birmingham, England. The cutlass has an overall length of 36 1/4", with the slightly curved blade measuring 31". This full length, unaltered blade has a width of 1 11/16" at the ricasso, and has a 3/8" spine. The blade has a fire blued finish with patches of pitting on the reverse side of the blade about half way down. There is some very light surface rust, mostly in the stamps of the blade. The spear point style blade edge has numerous nicks, starting 8 1/2" from the hilt and running all the way out to 1 1/2" from the tip of the blade. The obverse ricasso is stamped with a Birmingham inspectors mark of a crown over the letter B over the number 21. The reverse ricasso is stamped ROBT MOLE & SONS/BIRMINGHAM. The letter G is also stamped into the reverse ricasso, just above the ROBT MOLE stamp. It is the same size letter G as found stamped on British Pattern 1853 Cavalry Sabers purchased by the governor of Georgia from S. Issac & Company during the Civil War. Stamped on the spine of the blade is MOLE and the same Birmingham inspectors mark of CROWN/B/21. The iron cup hilt still retains the majority of the black finish. There is some scattered light surface rust on the hilt. The knuckle bow has a period repair, a small piece of iron has been riveted to the bottom side to reinforce a crack just below the sword knot opening. There is absolutely no deflection in the blade, which has a pretty good heft to it. It's not hard to imagine this one being swung against some Barbary Coast pirate, or possibly some Yankee Blockader!

Item # AA3019