USN PRACTICE CUTLASS, MODIFIED FROM STARR CONTRACT OF

In late 1815, the Navy Board approved a new cutlass pattern submitted by Nathan Starr and entered into a contract for 1000 the following year. This 1816 cutlass was a more robust version than that of his contract of 1808 cutlass, having a heavier and slightly shorter blade and a more robust, wide, cupped guard and barrel-shaped grip to the hilt. This example has been altered during the period of use into a practice cutlass and is one of two 1816 cutlasses known in this configuration. The single-fullered blade was shortened to 19", reversed and reattached to its hilt, the wide and flat spine now the “cutting edge”, with the original edge also ground down slightly and the tip rounded for safe practice; the blade is 1-1/4" wide at ricasso with “N. STARR” stamped across on left side. The hilt has had its wide, cupped guard and knucklebow cut down into a simple D guard of 7/8" width, but with the addition of an oval strip of iron around the sides of the grip to form and the application of two iron strips crisscrossing (also 7/8" width), to form a rudimentary basket-hilt that provides full protection for the user’s hand. Overall length: 24-1/2". CONDITION: The iron blade and hilt fittings now a gunmetal grey, with a good number of nicks/gouges on the blade from its use as a practice cutlass; some light pitting to the ferrules on each side of the maple grip. JLK Blade Length: 19" Overall Length: 24"