An extremely rare English C.1690’s Dog-Head Naval Cutlass. These swords are likely to be of a style of “brass hilted hangers” that were ordered in 1692 by the British Board of Ordnance and were produced for issue to sailors or “matrosses”. There is also a contemporary reference to these swords as being “dog headed hangers for matrosses”. The hilt style is thought to have been influenced by contemporary Sinhalese (Sri-Lankan) swords and were carried by sailors in the service of the Dutch East India Company. It is thought that the styles were then copied by English and German sword makers and sold on to the British Board of Ordnance. This example is a more elaborate version of those normally encountered and comprises a brass, two-bar bilobate hilt with an elaborately decorated cast brass grip and pommel. The shell guard has a monster head to the underside. The blade is stamped to both sides with a maker’s name but it is difficult to make out. The blade is single-fullered, double-edged and slightly swollen near the point.
Earliest example of English naval cutlass
Condition is excellent for its great age with only a narrow gap in the blade towards the end where it has worn away. This is probably the earliest known officially sanctioned English naval cutlass and consequently super rare – very few ever come on the market. This type of cutlass is featured both in my book – The Sword in Britain 1600-1700 and Boarders Away by Gilkerson – see pics below. Blade length is 29 inches (34 inches overall).
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