A Revolutionary War cuttoe

[M ELEY]

Here's an old one from my collection that I never posted. It is a Revolutionary War era American saber in the style of a cuttoe/hunting sword. She is an austere example, but also elegant in her plainness. Classic put-together sword made during a time period where desperation fueled many American arms to be simple, crude and often 'clunky'. (see George Neumann's 'Swords & Blades of the American Revolution' for said examples). Many of the colonial swords from this period truly bordered on folk art!

This cuttoe has a curved, deeply fullered European import blade with etched panopoly of arms/vine designs, etc. The yellow bone grip decorated with simple line work, the ovoid pommel classic for swords of this era with the tang peened at the end.

The simplist element of this sword, the small wood block guard, is also the most endearing. Made from a wedge of cherry wood (an extremely popular wood used in American grips), the guard is further secured by a few primitive tacks. This weapon would have been popular for an officer or miltia leader and while it has no direct connection to a naval origin, I can't bring myself to part with it. I'm told it came from upper state New York.