COLD STEEL 1917 CUTLASS SWORD

Hey Rick. I have been tempted several times to acquire one of these guys. I think that the design is attractive and I'll bet that they are sturdy and great cutters. Just haven't found the time or money to get one.

I have done some reading on them though. The design that Cold Steel is copying is apparently the 2nd type of the U.S. Navy Model 1917 cutlass. The 1st Model 1917 looked just like Cold Steel's version, but had a solid guard without the cutouts. According to Harold L. Peterson in THE AMERICAN SWORD 1775-1945, neither model of the 1917 cutlass saw any real use by the U.S. Navy. The Model 1960 cutlass could still be found on some U.S. warships at the beginning of WWII !! The Cold Steel version of the Model 1917 wasn't marked as a standard model and were sold after WWII as surplus and many ended up in Indonesia. I have seen Dutch cutlasses that bear a great resemblance to the Cold Steel cutlass.

But, I'd like to have one too.

Jim.

No coincidence there because America was also making them for the Dutch, to their pattern. Hence the open basket reflecting the Dutch cutlass.

A compilation of some cutlass writings here
www.cwsmma.org/TheCutlassCaveditsNiche.htm

An article on Mike McWatters' fine pages by Ric Wagner here
www.angelfire.com/wa/swordcollector/cutlass.html

A U.S. Navy page on swords and cutlasses.
www.history.navy.mil/library/online/uniform_sword.htm

Originals pop up at good prices too. There is a $135 example sitting at one of the antique dealer links I have posted previously. I don't want to start a stampede for it but it is still there. Others do surface.

There are several cutlass drill manuals online as well.

Folk that own the Cold Steel version do generally seem to like it. the longer sabre version has been called into question as in it being fantasy but there were apparently longer Dutch patterns as well.

I've actually been eying a cheapie in the KOA blowout section and regular offerings. Not listed as functional but I think it may well be servicable and looks better than some (historically). The problem might be a slim tang but it is an unknown. The blade and overall construct actually have a good period look to them. Maybe not listed as functional beause it's not sharpened. We could handle that though.
www.kultofathena.com/product~item~DX25.htm

Yarrrrrrrr

Hotspar; just getting in touch with my inner pirate

I have this sword it's a bit of a crowbar, with no distal taper. But being that it's cheap I have bean happily, and slowly grinding away on the top half, to get it good ol' paper cutting sharp and to get it balanced better. Oh one more thing it uses a screw, going in to the tang to secure the guard. I'd like to change that too and put a knuckle bow type guard on it. Maybe when I'm done with mine I'll post some pics.