Cold Steel 1917 Naval Cutlass - June 2008
Oct 2, 2010 20:48:32 GMT
Post by RicWilly on Oct 2, 2010 20:48:32 GMT
Cold Steel 1917 Naval Cutlass. Reviewed by Richard Williams of Evansville Indiana USA.
I had a couple hundred bucks burning a hole in my pocket so I was sword shopping. This cutlass caught my eye because of
it's sturdy utilitarian design. I shopped around and found the price varied quite a bit. "True Swords" had the best price
and after checking "Sword Buyers Guide" and finding them in good graces of Mr. Paul Southren I ordered one for $148.99 plus
$11.17 shipping. The sword arrived in a timely fashion, packaged very securely.
My first impressions of the sword were favorable. It looked a lot better in real life than on the web. I had thought the tip
of the blade appeared a bit odd in pictures but found it looked quite natural and right in person. I liked the whole package right off.
Stats;
Overall length - 29 1/2 in.
Blade length - 25 in.
Ricasso - 2/3 in. long 1 1/2 in. wide.
Blade width - 1 5/16 in. to four in. from tip, tapering slightly to a 2 in. false edge on short side.
Blade thickness- 3/16 in.
Blade stiffness- 1/4 in. or less tip movement when struck firmly on the butt with the blade held upright.
Fuller - 14 in. in length by 3/16 in. wide and shallow.
POB - 6 1/4 in. from guard.
Cop - 15 in. from guard.
Hilt length - 4 1/2 in.
Grip - 4 in. in circumference and a rounded rectangle shape.
Guard - 4 1/2 in. at the widest narrowing to 1 in. at the butt of hilt.
Weight - 2 1/2 lbs.
It came with a very nice scabbard and frog.
Dry handling the cutlass felt like a handy weapon made for close contact fighting. The sword feels a bit blade heavy although
I think that is normal for a cutlass and it wasn't an issue during cutting. This is the first blade of this type I have so take my impressions with that in mind.
Test cutting;
The sword cut very well. It felt fairly faster in hand than I had imagined a cutlass would be. A couple of minor issues; the guard came a bit loose during use, the way it's designed it still can't move more than a 1/8th of an inch so I don't consider this a problem, it could probably be fixed easily. Also the guard rubbed a sore spot on my thumb joint, could have been my inexperienced grip, (now I can buy those cool gloves I been wanting from the Walmart). Overall I'm well pleased. I'm going to enjoy getting to know this blade.
The report card;
Historical Accuracy: 4/5
Fit and Finish: 4/5
Handling: 4/5
Structural Integrity: 4/5
Value for Money: 5/5
This cutlass wasn't my first choice on this shopping foray, the first two were out of stock and I don't wait well. I'm glad they
were or I might have missed out on this one.
When held in hand I get the urge to board ship and go toe to toe with the likes of Capt’n Bloody Robert Betts. YO HO!
I had a couple hundred bucks burning a hole in my pocket so I was sword shopping. This cutlass caught my eye because of
it's sturdy utilitarian design. I shopped around and found the price varied quite a bit. "True Swords" had the best price
and after checking "Sword Buyers Guide" and finding them in good graces of Mr. Paul Southren I ordered one for $148.99 plus
$11.17 shipping. The sword arrived in a timely fashion, packaged very securely.
My first impressions of the sword were favorable. It looked a lot better in real life than on the web. I had thought the tip
of the blade appeared a bit odd in pictures but found it looked quite natural and right in person. I liked the whole package right off.
Stats;
Overall length - 29 1/2 in.
Blade length - 25 in.
Ricasso - 2/3 in. long 1 1/2 in. wide.
Blade width - 1 5/16 in. to four in. from tip, tapering slightly to a 2 in. false edge on short side.
Blade thickness- 3/16 in.
Blade stiffness- 1/4 in. or less tip movement when struck firmly on the butt with the blade held upright.
Fuller - 14 in. in length by 3/16 in. wide and shallow.
POB - 6 1/4 in. from guard.
Cop - 15 in. from guard.
Hilt length - 4 1/2 in.
Grip - 4 in. in circumference and a rounded rectangle shape.
Guard - 4 1/2 in. at the widest narrowing to 1 in. at the butt of hilt.
Weight - 2 1/2 lbs.
It came with a very nice scabbard and frog.
Dry handling the cutlass felt like a handy weapon made for close contact fighting. The sword feels a bit blade heavy although
I think that is normal for a cutlass and it wasn't an issue during cutting. This is the first blade of this type I have so take my impressions with that in mind.
Test cutting;
The sword cut very well. It felt fairly faster in hand than I had imagined a cutlass would be. A couple of minor issues; the guard came a bit loose during use, the way it's designed it still can't move more than a 1/8th of an inch so I don't consider this a problem, it could probably be fixed easily. Also the guard rubbed a sore spot on my thumb joint, could have been my inexperienced grip, (now I can buy those cool gloves I been wanting from the Walmart). Overall I'm well pleased. I'm going to enjoy getting to know this blade.
The report card;
Historical Accuracy: 4/5
Fit and Finish: 4/5
Handling: 4/5
Structural Integrity: 4/5
Value for Money: 5/5
This cutlass wasn't my first choice on this shopping foray, the first two were out of stock and I don't wait well. I'm glad they
were or I might have missed out on this one.
When held in hand I get the urge to board ship and go toe to toe with the likes of Capt’n Bloody Robert Betts. YO HO!