US NAVY CUTLASS WITH SCABBARD, STARR CONTRACT OF 1826

Overall length 30-7/8", with a curved, single-edged blade with narrow, unstoppered fuller measuring 25-1/4" long by 1-1/4" at ricasso; the obverse or right side of the blade is stamped “FT / US / [N. STAR]R” near the hilt, with a small “K K” or “X X” across ricasso on the left or opposite side. The maple grip is barrel-shaped like the 1816, but now with turned with ribs or cross-channeling. The sheet iron D-guard of the hilt in slightly convex in profile, with flared or outward-turned edges for strength. During its service life, a brass, diamond-shaped issue placard (1-7/8" x 1-1/8") was brazed to the outside face of the D-guard at center on which is engraved “1 C / 1” (similar diamond-shaped issue placards have been noted on US Navy boarding pikes of the period). The scabbard is entirely of iron, with frog button or stud set on a diamond-shaped base brazed to the scabbard body. A diamond2000 cutlasses with iron scabbards of this pattern were contracted for with Nathan Starr & Company in 1826 and delivered the following year, at a cost of $4.25 per set. CONDITION: The blade now a gunmetal grey; the hilt bearing traces of its original black japanning on all iron parts; the maple grip with a well-aged split on its obverse side due to oxidation expansion of the iron tang within; the scabbard with traces of japanning remaining, elsewhere a gunmetal grey, the frog button slightly bent. JLK Blade Length: 25 - 1/4" Overall Length: 31"