Question about 1804 British naval cutlass.

Jim McDougall · 8th May 2023, 06:30 PM

While we have been focused on naval references here obviously, this M1796 blade with crown over 12 is interesting so checked Robson (1975).
On p.191:
It is noted that from 1796 + swords from whatever source were inspected for quality at the Tower, and these view marks began to appear, initially a crown over single number, on the 1796 swords it notes these were not always discernible.
In 1820 the govt. view marks added a letter between the crown and inspectors number, i.e. B=Birmingham, E=Enfield,

The example in Robson uses this configuration : crown
E
13
So I wonder if the 12 might suggest later mfg. as the 13 coincides with the 1820 beginning of use of the letter designator.

David, thank you

.....yes, the shocks on the bookmobile are groaning!

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8th May 2023, 06:30 PM	#12
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	While we have been focused on naval references here obviously, this M1796 blade with crown over 12 is interesting so checked Robson (1975). On p.191: It is noted that from 1796 + swords from whatever source were inspected for quality at the Tower, and these view marks began to appear, initially a crown over single number, on the 1796 swords it notes these were not always discernible. In 1820 the govt. view marks added a letter between the crown and inspectors number, i.e. B=Birmingham, E=Enfield, The example in Robson uses this configuration : crown E 13 So I wonder if the 12 might suggest later mfg. as the 13 coincides with the 1820 beginning of use of the letter designator. David, thank you .....yes, the shocks on the bookmobile are groaning!