Cutlass, the hilt of the cutlass consists of a case hardened steel basket, the thin metal guard is welded to the shell and the knuckle-guard. The cutlass has a flat pommel, with a central excrescence to take the tang button. The iron grip is eight-sided. The steel blade is slightly curved, with a broad groove running within 127mm of point. The edge of the blade is notched and the point is broken. The obverse of the blade is engraved with an anchor motif. The reverse of the blade is engraved with an anchor motif and the words 'Mre Impale de Chatellrault Mai 1865'. The scabbard is missing. According to Bottet this type of cutlass was introduced in 1833. The US Navy Cutlass of 1860 was based on this design (see WPN1243 and WPN1244).