French cutlass, the hilt of the cutlass consists of a rectangular sectioned knuckle-guard, which swells to form a roughly oval shell, ending in a slightly upturned tongue. The cutlass has a large sheet iron guard, which is cast in one piece and covers practically the whole of the knuckle-guard and shell. It has a beaded after-edge. The pommel cap is fitted with a domed tang button. The cutlass has an octagonal grip. The steel blade is slightly curved, single-edged, flat-backed with a false edge 127mm long. A broad, shallow fuller runs from the small shoulder of the blade to within 127mm of the symmetrical point. The blade has been over-cleaned but the obverse and reverse of the blade, near the hilt still show traces of an engraved anchor. The reverse of the blade is engraved with an inscription, which incorporates the word 'Royale'. The black leather scabbard is sewn down the reverse face and is fitted with a brass top locket and a brass chape. The locket has a rectangular loop fitted near the mouth on the obverse side and the chape has a ball tip. Both parts are secured to the leather by a brass wire staple. The rectangular loop fixed to the locket originally had a leather strap through it. It is secured to join the scabbard to a frog.

This pattern of cutlass was introduced in 1833. The word 'Royale' indicates that the cutlass was made before the end of the French monarchy in 1848.