Small-sword said to have belonged to Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood (1750-1810). The hilt of the small-sword consists of a gilt knuckle-guard with straight quillons, which have upturned ends and an embryo pas d'ane ring. The single bowl shell is almost flat. The gilt, urn-shaped pommel is engraved with a naval crown. The grip consists of very fine steel wire bound with three slightly thicker plaited wires. There is a band at the base of the grip, which is engraved with a naval crown.

The triangular steel blade is of the 'Colichemarde' type. This is essentially a duelling blade, which went out of fashion with civilians about 1750 and disappeared entirely by 1775. It is seldom seen in military or naval weapons. The black leather scabbard has two gilt lockets and rings with a stud for frog suspension on the top locket. The top locket bears the words 'C (or G) Cullum Charing Cross'.

The authenticity of the sword is very doubtful. The sword is of a distinctly civil pattern. With the exception of the naval crowns on the pommel and the grip, there is no connection with the sea service. The sword may have belonged to a naval officer. The only connection with Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood is by way of the sword cutler 'Cullum' who made Collingwood's dress sword and was sword cutler to a number of other prominent naval officers of his day. It is impossible to say, that the sword did not belong to Collingwood.

After entering the Royal Navy in 1750 Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood (1750-1810) served with his maternal uncle Captain Braithwaite in 'Shannon', 'Gibraltar' and 'Liverpool' on the home station. In 1774 in 'Preston' he was stationed in North America under Vice-Admiral Samuel Graves. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant after leading a party of seaman supporting the Army at the Battle of Bunker's Hill. He then transferred to the West Indies where he was court martialled for neglect of duty but was acquitted.

His professional association with Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) began at this time. In 'Hinchinbrook' he was employed in the expedition against San Juan personally avoiding the sickness, which swept the British forces. While commanding 'Pelican' he was shipwrecked on Morant Keys in August 1781 but was rescued with most of his crew. After 1786, his ship was paid off and he spent the next three years back in Northumberland where he married Miss Sarah Blackett.

After the outbreak of war he was in command of the 'Barfleur' the flagship of Sir George Bowyer and distinguished himself in Lord Howe's victory during the Battle of the Glorious First of June, on the 1st June 1794. He was only awarded the gold medal retrospectively for this action after his distinguished part in the Battle of Cape St Vincent on the 14th February 1797. He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral in 1804 and in May 1805 he moved from the command of Cornwallis to that of Nelson and as second in command at Trafalgar, took over after Nelson's death. He remained Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet until his resignation on health grounds on the 3rd March 1810, dying a few days later during his homeward journey on board HMS 'Ville de Paris'.