Cutlass, the hilt of the cutlass consists of an iron double-disc guard, which has been painted black. The guard ends in a tongue at the back, and there is a small disc at the pommel. The tang passes through this small disc and is of the same circumferences as the grip, which is burred. The cylindrical grip is covered entirely by a sheet of iron. The core of the grip serves as a mandrel, and the iron sheet is hammer-welded down to the leading face. The steel blade is straight and flat-backed almost to the symmetrical point. A narrow fuller runs near the back edge of the blade from the hilt for 560mm. On the reverse of the blade, some 50mm from the hilt, there are marks, which may indicate a weld. The scabbard is missing.

The cutlass may well be an example of the pre-1804 naval cutlass, which first bore a double-disc guard. The style of the blade, with its groove near the back, is similar to that of a hanger, used by private soldiers in the Infantry, during the mid-18th century. However, hanger blades were usually curved. The hanger was abolished in 1768, so it is possible that a number of hanger blades were still in Ordnance hands and might well have been reused in cutlasses. This cutlass probably dates from the end of the 18th century but, not much earlier than 1800. It is interesting to compare this cutlass with WPN1409, especially the relative dimensions.