1860 Naval Cutlass
In stock
$229.95
- Shipping estimated at checkout
- Every blade inspected before shipping
- 30-day returns
- Class
- Battle Ready
- Blade
- 1065 High Carbon Steel
- Overall Length
- 31 1/2''
- Weight
- 2 lb 0.2 oz
- Brand
- Windlass Steelcrafts
- Culture
- American
- Era
- 19th Century
Overview
1860 Naval Cutlass
The 1860 Naval Cutlass is a fine reproduction of the cutlass designed by Ames and first carried in 1860. A fine addition to your Civil War armory. Features an unsharpened, hand forged, high carbon steel blade, with brass cup hilt and a leather and wire wrapped wood grip. Includes a leather scabbard with brass accents and belt frog. Its 25 1/2" blade and brass basket hand-guard were well suited for the close quarters combat of wooden ships and iron men. Leather frog. 31 1/2" overall. The Naval Cutlass Sword comes with scabbard.
Specifications
Every measurement that matters
- Brand
- Windlass Steelcrafts
- Culture
- American
- Era
- 19th Century
- Pommel
- Peened
- Overall Length
- 31 1/2''
- Blade Length
- 25 1/2''
- Blade
- 1065 High Carbon Steel
- Weight
- 2 lb 0.2 oz
- Edge
- Unsharpened
- P.O.B.
- 4 1/4''
- Thickness
- 4.6 mm - 3.2 mm
- Width
- 30.8 mm
- Grip Length
- 3 7/8''
- Class
- Battle Ready
- Country of Origin
- India
- Type
- Cutlass
Reviews
What collectors are saying
Q&A
Questions from the community
Q What is this cutlass built for? Common Question
This is a Battle Ready reproduction of the 1860 Ames naval cutlass, built with a full-length tang and a hand-forged 1065 high carbon steel blade. That construction makes it suited for reenactment, historical collection, and display, while the unsharpened edge means it ships ready to handle and study rather than to cut with out of the box. It can be sharpened with our optional sharpening service to make it a functional cutting sword.
Q Is the tang full length, and is it sturdy? Common Question
The tang runs the full length of the grip in the same 1065 high carbon steel as the blade and is peened over the pommel at the end, which is the construction that lets a sword take real handling stress rather than relying on a narrow tang pinned into the hilt. That's the same build Windlass uses across its Battle Ready line.
Q Does it come sharp, and can I cut with it? Common Question
The blade ships unsharpened, as is typical for this piece. If you have it sharpened, the 1065 high carbon steel blade is capable of cutting work such as tatami or water bottles, but as delivered it's set up for handling, drilling, and display rather than cutting.
Q What does the point of balance feel like in the hand? Common Question
The point of balance sits 4 1/4" out from the guard, close enough to the hilt to keep the blade quick and maneuverable. That balance point suits the cutlass's original role as a close-quarters boarding weapon aboard ship, where fast cuts and parries mattered more than reach.
Q What are the grip and guard made of? Common Question
The hilt is brass, formed into the cup-style bowl guard and knuckle bow that protected a sailor's hand in close combat. The grip is wood, wrapped in leather with a wire twist over it, matching the original 1860 pattern.
Q Does it come with a scabbard? Common Question
Yes, it includes a leather scabbard with brass fittings at the throat and tip, along with a belt frog for wearing it at the waist. For long-term storage, it's better to keep the blade out of the scabbard, since leather can trap moisture against the steel over time.
Q How do I maintain the blade and scabbard? Common Question
Wipe the blade down after handling and apply a light coat of oil to the 1065 high carbon steel to keep moisture off it, since it isn't stainless. Store the sword in a dry place, and keep it out of the leather scabbard for long-term storage so trapped moisture doesn't reach the blade.
Q What markings does the blade carry? Common Question
The ricasso, the flat section of blade just forward of the guard, carries etched markings referencing its Ames and U.S. Navy heritage alongside the Windlass Steelcrafts maker's mark, tying it to the historical 1860 naval cutlass pattern it reproduces.
The Maker
Windlass Steelcrafts
Windlass Steelcrafts not only creates props, clothing, and accessories to customers and popular TV productions, but also military supplies to governments across six continents – a testament to their expertise and quality. Their weapons, armor, shields, clothing and accessories are top notch quality for a price you can’t beat.
Often paired together
Excellent Sword The sword is in immaculate condition, it is incredibly light weight, well balanced and feels great in the hand. It is well sharpened, and the scabbard and frog are well made of a sturdy leather.
Elegantly tough Excellent little sabre, very close copy, based on my research, to the originals. In fact, take it back to the 19th Century and it would probably pass for one-except for the Windlass maker’s mark. Handles very well, very fast and maneuverable, one can feel the sword pivoting around its point of balance, which at 4 1/4 inches is gives the sword strong blade presence without feeling blade heavy. And the construction, well, it’s very solid, will certainly stand up to a smash up melee’. The only downside are a few finishing issues. There are small pits in the brass in a couple spots and the where the knuckle-bow and the pommel cap meet is very slightly misaligned. This doesn’t effect the strength of the construction in anyway and it’s only noticeable if you know to look for it and even then from certain angles you’d have to look twice (and the cutlass is still a handsome piece). In all, a great sword, elegant and brutal all at once. By the way, in addition to being historically on the mark it also makes a great Steampunk looking sword for those Air Privateers out there in your zeppelins and Sopwith Camels.
Admirable sword, and service. Surprizingly elegant looking for a cutlass, and quite nimble in the hand is this replica of the U.S. Navy M1860 cutlass. My life has never depended on a sword and I should not pretend to experience I don’t have, but I feel pretty sure that this is a serviceable sword my several generations of U.S. Navy relatives would have been happy to have to hand. I did first receive a blade with serious flaw, but when I complained Kult of Athena courteously and promptly replaced it with no additional expense to me. I greatly appreciate that. Mistakes happen in every company—it is how they deal with them that counts. The sharpening service was also good. Thanks to Ryan and company!
Fabulous cutlass I bought this a couple of years ago and absolutely love it. The blade geometry and center of balance work well for my build and style. I love the clean lines and simple elegance. It is easy to control on the thrust and quick to parry. For a Windlass piece it is surprisingly good.
I opted for CoA’s sharpening service and was not disappointed. While not as sharp as I prefer they were able to grind the Windlass monstrously thick blunt edge to useable.
Ouch! I purchased a blunt, munitions version of this product for practice and sparring. I have one very important piece of advice for users of this blade:
WEAR. GLOVES.
Preferably thick leather ones. That ornamental texture wrapping around the handle? Yeah, that texture gets really grating on the palm after a while. After just a few swings the hand shock kicks in, and the metal wire wrapping will leave you with blisters.
That being said, it handles well for a budget sword. Reasonable center of mass and sufficient point control, noted.
I expect it, in the hands of a skilled user, to perform well enough against water bottles or beach mats or whatever we’re cutting on nowadays. Avoid wood, especially dead wood, as always and never use bare handed.
This is the best handling reproduction cutlass on the market, period. This is also the only battle ready version of the current US Navy CPO Ceremonial Cutlass. Superb point control, very quick in the hand, really comes alive with gloves. Wide fuller runs almost the entire length, and KOA even sharpened the false edge. Scabbard is accurate but terrible, mine was bent from being folded in half.
I can’t give this it’s full five stars as the scabbard arrived damaged with a dent in it but my roommate was very happy with his gift. It looks very high quality and feels like I imagine an authentic cutlass would, he knows more than I do about this kind of thing and was very ecstatic when he opened it.
(apologies for the duplicate review, please reject the other one where I said full four stars)