The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
British Pattern 1870 'lead cutting' cutlass and scabbard. The hilt has a sheet steel guard and ribbed iron grip painted black. The slightly curved blade is single edged with a false edge on obverse side for the last 305 mm ending in a spear point. The ricasso is stamped on the left MOLE BIRMn and a broad arrow over a proof mark over X on the right. The black leather scabbard has a brass chape and frog stud (no locket). It is stamped on the reverse with a broad arrow, a proof mark and '01.
The 'lead cutting' sword remains the most unusual of all the British military regulation patterns. These swords are generally characterised by flexible blades with broad widths and with cutlass type hilts. They are in the List of Changes of 1 September 1870 and described as a "Sword, Lead Cutting" and a "Mould for casting lead", both for use in the gymnasia. The sword was possibly used in some way to strengthen the wrist by cutting pieces of lead produced in the mould?
Pattern 1889 cutlass with a straight flat blade and spear point. The hilt has a turned over edge basket guard with a slot for a wrist strap near the pommel and a cast iron ribbed grip. The blade is st
Pattern 1889 cutlass with a straight flat blade and spear point. The hilt has a turned over edge basket guard with a slot for a wrist strap near the pommel and a cast iron ribbed grip. The guard is st
Pattern 1845 cutlass with a curved flat blade and spear point. The hilt is a basket guard with a slot for a wrist strap near the pommel and a cast iron ribbed grip. The blade is stamped with a broad a
British Pattern 1890 Cutlass. Basket hilt is black painted with the edge turned over and a slot in the guard near the pommel for a sword knot. The leather grips are secured by five rivets. The blade i
Indian Pattern 1912 Cavalry Officer's sword and scabbard. The hilt has a nickel plated steel bowl guard decorated on the outside with a scroll design incorporating a crown over GRI in a shield and has
British Pattern 1871 Cutlass Bayonet & Scabbard. The hilt has a sheet steel guard and compressed black leather checkered grips that are held to the tang with four rivets. The pommel is stamped 60 and
