British cutlass early 19th .

Norman McCormick · 7th May 2024, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

What a great entry Norman! Thank you!
Had no idea Sheffield was in the game as well as Solingen,
What was the source of this plate? aside from the cite shown.
Best
Jim

Hi Jim,
The illustration is from a pamphlet sent to me by Philip Lankester about 20 yrs ago when I was enquiring about a particular cutlass blade, photo attached.
My Regards,
Norman.

David R · 18th May 2024, 10:19 PM

I get the distinct impression that Solingen would stamp up any blade with any motif that would help it sell, wherever! I saw some machetes for sale at Birmingham AF with all these lovely suns moons and whatever and due to the marks were being sold as RN cutlasses of the 18th C! Knowledge is power, and is why I haunt (haunt I say) and value this forum. Anyway, for what it is worth, here is one of mine.
Posted before on another thread.... Sold to me as a Victorian British military blade for cutting forage.

Jim McDougall · 21st April 2025, 06:49 PM

In revisiting this thread while looking more into the cutlass I posted, I apparently failed to respond to this David, my apologies. VERY interesting example, and despite the VR stamp. clearly a blade from Spanish colonies and indeed a machete, likely from similar context as mine.

The 'Spanish Main' in the Caribbean ('South Seas') was very active well through the 19th c until Spanish-American war. As previously discussed, there were many sword forms mounted in the Americas using British blades. The shell guard espada with blade from Lyndon & Wignall (1833-39 Birmingham) from Brazil mid 19th c. is another example.

The very broad short blade with the VR stamp (?) and Spanish worded markings is puzzling. Perhaps blades made in Latin America using the Solingen convention of royal cypher stamp?

18th May 2024, 10:19 PM	#2
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,116	I get the distinct impression that Solingen would stamp up any blade with any motif that would help it sell, wherever! I saw some machetes for sale at Birmingham AF with all these lovely suns moons and whatever and due to the marks were being sold as RN cutlasses of the 18th C! Knowledge is power, and is why I haunt (haunt I say) and value this forum. Anyway, for what it is worth, here is one of mine. Posted before on another thread.... Sold to me as a Victorian British military blade for cutting forage. Attached Images

21st April 2025, 06:49 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,190	In revisiting this thread while looking more into the cutlass I posted, I apparently failed to respond to this David, my apologies. VERY interesting example, and despite the VR stamp. clearly a blade from Spanish colonies and indeed a machete, likely from similar context as mine. The 'Spanish Main' in the Caribbean ('South Seas') was very active well through the 19th c until Spanish-American war. As previously discussed, there were many sword forms mounted in the Americas using British blades. The shell guard espada with blade from Lyndon & Wignall (1833-39 Birmingham) from Brazil mid 19th c. is another example. The very broad short blade with the VR stamp (?) and Spanish worded markings is puzzling. Perhaps blades made in Latin America using the Solingen convention of royal cypher stamp? Attached Images