U.S. 1841 NAVAL CUTLASS, U.S.S. /C.S.S. UNITEDSTATES, C.S. N. MIDSHIPMAN BROWN, 1861/62

This U.S.1841naval cutlass with the original brass trimmed black leather scabbard was foundon board the U.S.S./C.S.S. United states Norfolk Virginia in 1861& 1862.

It was used byConfederate Midshipman Orris A. Brown when he was stationed on the old frigatein 1861 & 1862 & at Gosport Navy Yard. He took the old cutlass homewith him before he went overseas to serve on the C.S.S Shenandoah in 1864/65.

It is 25 7/16”long with a 20 1/8” blade that had about 1” of the tip broken off at some timein the past. It was rounded off on the corners & this whole area matchesthe rest of the blade in pitting & patina so it was broken off when it wason the old frigate!

It is in verygood condition, marked U.S.N. 1842 on the left side of the blade & N.P.Ames Cabotville Mass. on the other side & has an eagle cast into both sides of thepommel cap.

Deeply stamped invery large letters into the bottom front of the guard bow is a rack & shipnumber, 6 (over) 1DP. This marking was researched by the U.S. Naval HistoricalCenter at the Washington Navy Yard & it is the markings used on the U.S.S.United States!

The originalblack leather brass tripped scabbard is still with the cutlass & is in goodcondition the leather is in good condition with the stitching on the back stillintact & the brass throat & tip having a dark patina with some greencorrosion.

Itwas bought direct from the Brown family in 1946 by the famous Virginia collector JamesAnderson & was on display in the Fort Hell Museum in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil WarCentennial of 1961 to 1965. It comes with an Anderson Collection/Fort HellMuseum letter.