French cutlass, the hilt of the cutlass consists of an octagonal steel grip, steel guard, flat steel shell and an up-turned quillon. The curved, flat-backed steel blade has a broad groove running almost to the point. The obverse of the blade is engraved with a large anchor motif and the name 'L Nelson'. The reverse of the blade is engraved with a small anchor motif and the date '1793', which is inverted. The reverse of the blade is also engraved with a large anchor motif and the name 'Coulaux Freres'.

The cutlass was made at the government sword factory at Klingenthal, France and three different hands appear to have added the large anchor motifs and the name 'L Nelson' at a later date. The black leather scabbard has two gilt lockets with a frog button on the top locket and a ring on each locket, and chape. The scabbard was made in England, especially to fit this cutlass. The cutlass was probably on board a ship taken during the Napoleonic Wars.