German cutlass, the cutlass has a French style hilt, which consists of a knuckle-guard formed by a large, teardrop-shaped stool connected by a bar of rectangular section to the pommel. On the obverse side of the connecting bar there is a large bowl guard, which is connected to the obverse half of the stool. The cap-shape French style pommel has an annulet near the end and a smooth dome; through this dome protrudes the tip of the tang, which is then burred over it. The grip is covered with leather; the binding is now missing. There is a small plain ferrule at the top of the grip. A tongue with scalloped edges protrudes from the guard at the back. The hilt mounts are made of iron. The steel blade is straight, flat-backed, kopis-shaped and has a false edge nearly 200mm long. The cutting edge curves from the hilt towards the back and then forward to the point in a large gentle curve. The reverse of the blade at the shoulder is engraved with the word 'SOLINGEN' under an indecipherable name. The scabbard is missing.

It is likely that this general pattern of cutlass dates from soon after 1848. Wanger ('Hieb und Stichwaffen') illustrates a similar, possibly earlier weapon, bearing the cypher of Frederick William IV. Although there are differences between that drawing and this cutlass, they are slight and Wanger's date of 1865 is almost certainly inaccurate.