While the French Navy may have lost its world dominance after the Battle of Trafalgar in the early 1800's it was still formidable and had the best made and designed edged weapons.

Also featuring on this web page are the French Foot Aritillery M1831 and M1816 Double Edged Swords modeled after the Roman Gladius. Of note that American US Navy M1841 Naval Cutlass and the Confederate States Naval Cutlass made by Mole were also modeled after this French Sword.

Avove is a French Naval Cutlass Model M1833 and one of the most copied and preffered of 19th century edged weapons. The US Navy took this French design when it mass produced its Civil War Cutlass, the M1861.

Avove is a French Naval Dirk Model M1833 with Scabbard. Very rare piece and well marked with the proper arsenal stamps.

Here you will find Price and Availability as well as a brief Historical Analysis and Documentation of the French Naval Cutlass Models An IX m.1801 (An IX 1801) and m.1833 (M1833), and their influence in both the American navies during the Civil War: Federal Navy and Confederate Navy.

Towards that end we will provide detailed contemporary photographic illustrations and textual history of the M1801 (or An IX (1801)) and M1833 naval cutlass, how it was assembled, its' pieces, measurements, and weapons or arsenal manufacturers Klingenthal (Manufacture royale du Klingenthal 'DATE') and Chatellerault (MANUFre Rle de CHATELLERAULT 'DATE') the two specific manufacturer's who produced these two naval cutlasses and their maker marks. The Boarding Cutlass in French is 'Le Sabre d'Abordage' or Sabre De Bord.

In learning about the French Navy Cutlass we should note that this weapon was so popular and such a hallmark fighting weapon among sailors of the early 19th century that with the exception of England almost all of the European navies at some time adopted a duplicated version of the French Naval Cultass for their own use.

As a matter of fact, the United States Navy at the beginning of the Civil War incorporated many of the design features of the French Naval M1833 Cutlass into their own U.S. Navy Naval Cutlass which was designated the M1860 and manufactured by the Ames Company. Over 24,000 of the M1860 Naval Cutlass were produced and used by the US Navy for more than 80 years! There is documentation to suggest that a number of the M.Sabres Dus Bord were purchased by the Confederates States of America duing the Civil War for the Confederate States Navy.

The French AN IX 1801 and M1833 was the hallmark "cut and thrust" working naval cutlass mass produced for use by the French enlisted sailor in the 19th century. It was short in comparison to most calvary swords so that it could be used and wielded upon the confines of a sailing ship when boarding a ship or repelling boarders. Simple in design, black japanned steel hilt, without any frills, yet elegantly designed - a very effective fighting weapon. With the closed cup hilt and sweeping upturned falchion blade the M1801 and M1833 definitely had that "piratey" look and feel that we see in many movies and pictures.

How to differentiate the French AN IX 1801 and 1833 models:
(AN IX means 9th Year of the First Republic)
- model An IX 1801-1803: blade 65cm, 5 lobed beehive quillion, no anchors - model An X 1803-1811: blade 75cm, 5 lobed beehive quillion plus an anchor etched on each face of the blade, at an angle. - model An XI 1811-1816: blade 67.6cm, 5 lobed beehive quillion plus anchor vertical, eye towards the guard. - model 1833 : 67.7cm, anchor vertical, eye towards rhe tip of the blade, rounded tab quillion (no beehive)

Here below is an example of the French Model M1833 Naval Cutlass - a weapon for the enlisted sailor:

The above French model M1833 Cutlass has the sweeping upturned blade (called a falchion), a single wide fuller (a fuller is the long groove found on some sword blades, it is there for balance and not as some think for exiting blood), and the distinctive closed cup hilt which was made of iron. This French cutlass has that traditional "piratey" look and feel of a true boarding cutlass seen in all of the movies and artwork of the time.

The above French model M1833 Cutlass has the sweeping upturned blade slightly wider wider toward the tip (called a falchion blade), a single fuller (a fuller is the long groove found on some sword blades, it is there for balance and not as some think for exiting blood), and the distinctive closed cup hilt which was made of iron. This French cutlass has that traditional "piratey" look and feel of a true boarding cutlass seen in all of the movies and artwork of the time.

The French model M1833 Cutlass with the iron hilt had its entire hilt (grip, guard, closed cage and pommel) coated in a heavy black japanning to protect the metal from rusting. Sometimes collectors thought this was black paint which was added on post-production, but it was actually part of the manufacturing process.

Here at The Pirate's Lair have a French M1833 Cutlass which has had the black japanning covering the inside guard and closed cup, however the exterior japanning on the closed cup was removed sometime in the past. This lack of japanning has allowed us to fully document the various maker-marks, ordinance marks, and cartouche consisting of stamped letters, numbers, anchors that would ordinarilly be hidden by the black japanning.

Note the anchor lightly engraved on the above blade near the ricasso, (the location of the unsharpened blade closest to the guard or hilt). On the French M1833 cutlass this anchor was lightly stamped or engraved on both sides of the blade making there no mistake that it was of naval provenance. The M1833 also had a relatively wide and thick blade, making it a substantial weapon to wield.

Photo showing the obverse side of the M1833 French Naval Cutlass and Scabbard.

Photo showing the reverse side of the M1833 French Naval Cutlass with Leather Scabbard.

Left photo showing large anchor stamped on blade with small anchor poincon or cartouche stamped onto brass throat of the scabbard.

Right photo showing obverse side of blade's ricasso with an oval cartouche having a crown over a capital L and laurel leaves on either side of the L. Another cartouche or poinon of an oval with a captial letter B which is presumably the ordinance inspector's initial.

Outside Guard Quillon - French M1833 Naval Cutlass M1833 cartouche of an oval with the numeral 10 and a deep cartouche that cannot be identified.

Inside Guard Quillon - French M1833 Naval Cutlass cartouche and poincon located on inside quillon - stamped capital letter B in a banner and the number 34 inside an oval

Above photo shows the reverse side of the inside guard and quillon. The small anchor cartouche signifying naval ordinance approval is in the lower left of the photo. The two inspection cartouche and poincon are also shown on the tip quillon.

Above photos show the reverse and obverse sides of the M1833 French Naval Cutlass. Note the stitching going down the entire reverse side, where the staples are located on both the brass throat and tip, and the throat stud or bracket location.

Above photos show the reverse and obverse sides of the M1833 French Naval Cutlass. Note the stitching going down the entire reverse side, where the staples are located on both the brass throat and tip, and the throat stud or bracket location.

Custom Wooden Wall Brackets for the Naval Cutlass Elegant in Their Simplicity! Custom Crafted Wooden Wall Brackets Specifically for a Cutlass Display or Sword Display for a Secure, Beautiful and Professional Presentation. These Handcrafted Wooden Wall Brackets or Wall Mounts Are Made for the Wide and Large Hilts Normally Found on Cutlasses and Some Swords and Prevent the Hilt or Cup From Touching the Wall. The TPL Wall Brackets Come Complete with 2 Brackets and 2 Mounting Screws, and are Available in 3 Sizes with a Choice of Oak or Walnut Woods!

Click Photo

$35. Pair 2.25" 2.75" 3.75" specify length and either Oak or Walnut when calling.

Call To Purchase 540 659 6209

RARE! French Naval Officers Dirk with Scabbard M1833 RARE! French Naval Dirk with Leather Scabbard Model M1833 Properly Marked with Arsenal and Inspector Stamps. Excellent Condition. Has all of the appropriate maker marks, cartouche and poincon clear and visible. Like its larger bretheren, the Model M1833 cutlass, this no-nonsense French Dirk was simple yet elegant in both purpose and function.	Click Photo!	Not For Sale	Historical Display Only
RARE! French Naval Cutlass with Scabbard M1833 Dated 1847 #8 Excellent Condition. Has all of the appropriate maker marks, cartouche and poincon clear and visible.	Click Photo!	$895. Sold!	To Order Call 540 659 6209
RARE! French Naval Cutlass with Scabbard M1833 Dated Juine 1847 (June 1847) #9 Excellent Condition. French Naval Anchors on both sides of the blade and stamped on the inside hilt handguard cup. Has all of the appropriate maker marks, cartouche and poincon clear and visible.	Click Photo!	$1195. Sold!	To Order Call 540 659 6209
RARE! Two French Naval Cutlasses with Scabbard M1833 Dated "Juine 1842" (June 1842) and "Aout 1841" (August 1841) French Naval Cutlass #10 dated 1842 and #11 is dated 1841 and both have the necessary French arsenal poincons and anchors clearly visible on the hilts, blades, and ricasso. Cutlass #10 is in better condition with a clean polished blade indicating that it was safely kept in a scabbard for 170 years. Cutlass #11 is in good condition with a darker patina indicating that it was stored outside of a scabbard, the poincons on the ricasso and hilt can be seen but are somewhat obsured by the leather lozenge and black japanning, it also has some very minor battle marks/nicks on the blade. The original M1833 scabbard came with cutlass #10 and is in good condition with some flaking of the leather as could be expected, it also has an anchor arsenal stamp on the throat.	Click Photo!	Cutlass M1833 Dated 1842 #10: $895. Cutlass M1833 Dated 1842 #10 with Scabbard: $1095. Cutlass M1833 Dated 1841 #11: $695. M1833 Scabbard: $300	To Order Call 540 659 6209
RARE! French Naval Cutlass Model M1833 Dated Juine 1847? #15 Excellent Condition. French Naval Anchors on both sides of the blade and stamped on the inside hilt handguard cup. Has all of the appropriate maker marks, cartouche and poincon clear and visible on the blade, visible but not clear on the guard due to the black japanning.	Click Photo!	$895. Sold!	To Order Call 540 659 6209
RARE! French Naval Cutlass with Scabbard Model M1833 Dated Jain 1842 (January 1842) #11 Excellent Condition - Museum Quality. French Naval Anchors on both sides of the blade and stamped on the inside hilt handguard cup. Has all of the appropriate maker marks, cartouche and poincon clear and visible.	Click Photo!	$1095.	To Order Call 540 659 6209
French Foot Artillery Sword Model M1831 or m.1831 - #12 Excellent Condition. The French M1831 Foot Artillery Sword was patterned after the Roman Gladius doubled edged weapon manufactured by Talabot of Paris. The French M1831 Sword was indirectly used as a model for the US Army's M1832 Foot Artillery Sword and the US Navy's M1841 Ames Naval Cutlass. The Confederate States Navy Naval Cutlass made by the British firm Mole was also a doubled edged weapon originally intended as a foot artillery sword and was itself perhaps Mole modeled after the French M1831.	Click Photo!	Blade Length: 19" Total Length: 24.75"	Price: $295. SOLD
French Foot Artillery Sword Model M1831 or m.1831 - #13 Very Good Condition with Proper Marks. NOTE: Unique to this sword are the stamped rack numbers or inventory numbers 20 and 0 on the cross guard. The French M1831 Foot Artillery Sword was patterned after the Roman Gladius doubled edged weapon. The French M1831 Sword was used as the pattern for the Ames US Army's M1832 Foot Artillery Sword and indirectly as a model for the US Navy's M1841 Ames Naval Cutlass. Tip of this sword is very slightly blunted from past use. The Confederate States Navy Naval Cutlass made by the British firm Mole was also a doubled edged weapon originally intended as a foot artillery sword and was itself perhaps modeled after the French M1831.	Click Photo!	Blade Length: 19" Total Length: 24.75"	Price: $295. SOLD
French Infantry Briquet or Short Sword - #14 Excellent Condition with Proper Marks. The French Infantry Briquet ca 1800-1812 was widely used by the French Infantry throughout the Napoleonic Wars. This is a very handsome and sturdy weapon with all brass hilt, upturned flat falchion blade, with proper arsenal, inspection and manufacturer marks on hilt and blade.	Click Photo!	Blade Length: 19" Total Length: 24.75"	Price: $495. To Order Call 540 659 6209

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The Pirate's Lair
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78 Canterbury Drive
Stafford, Virginia 22554
Phone: 540-659-6209

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