Early 18th Century British Naval Cutlass
29" slightly curved, spear point blade with 11.5" fuller. 5" hilt with sheet iron double disk guard and knuckle bow with curled iron quillon and sheet iron cover over grip. Bottom of knuckle bow stamped with what appears to be a partial Thomas Hollier cartouche. Hollier was a London sword cutler and gunsmith who worked ca 1700-1729. He delivered 1,000 cutlasses to the Royal Navy in 1726 and is generally credited as being the creator of the double-disk "figure-8" British naval cutlass form. This example appears to be a partial restoration with a replaced blade and possibly some enhancement to the poorly struck Hollier mark. Despite the shortcomings, this is an extremely rare example of one of the earliest contract cutlasses what would eventually develop into an official pattern for the Royal Navy and would subsequently be copied in America as well.
Condition:
Good. Replaced blade with some pitting, patina and discoloration. Hilt showing moderate to severe pitting over all the surfaces. Hollier mark poorly struck and potentially enhanced.
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