Although originally designed and intended as hunting swords, called in France “Couteau de Chasse,” these swords were readily adopted as side arms by seafarers.
William Gilkerson in his book “Boarders Away: With steel – Edged Weapons and Polearms” documents their regular use by Royal Navy officers.
The use of the name “Cuttoe” to describe these weapons is a bastardisation of their French name by English sailors.
This very rare Naval Cuttoe was hilted in England in the late 17th Century by the London Cutlers’ Company. The blade is most probably a German import and was made in Solingen. The blade bears the remains of a Fleur de Lis stamp used by the London Cutlers’ Company at the turn of the 17th/18th Century and this sword is the twin of one recently sold which along with the Fleur de Lis also bore the name “Harvey” stamped into the blade. Harvey was a well known outfitter and supplier of swords in the latter part of the 17th Century.
What makes this sword stand out and identifies it as the work of Harvey is the hand engraved Bacchanalia scene and the naked nymphs adorning the D-guard, quillion, pommel and shell guard. This would have been a very rare and risqué choice of hilt adornment given the strong puritan movement and beliefs in England during the 17th Century. The parliamentarians led by Puritan Oliver Cromwell had only recently beheaded King Charles and Cromwell as Prime Minister of England had for a period banned both Christmas and dancing.
This sword would have been the personal choice of a man wishing to make a strong political statement but also with a keen sense of humour and Devil may care attitude; perhaps a buccaneer sailing under letters of marque to attack Spanish shipping? The depiction of the Bacchanalia, a festival of wanton debauchery, on the hilt furniture of this sword is likely to have offended the sensibilities of many gentlemen.
The 21.5 inch single edged blade has a flat spine, long narrow fuller on both sides and tapers to a double edged spear point. The cutting edge and last 5.5 inches of the back edge have been sharpened for action and are still very sharp. The blade has wear and nicks commensurate with edge to edge contact – fighting use.
The hilt is made of wood over laid with tortoise shell and the shell guard, D-guard, quillion and pommel are all of brass. The hilt furniture is all tight and good and the blade is firm in the hilt.
A narrow strip of tortoise shell is missing from the inside of the hilt but this in no way detracts from the beauty of this weapon nor compromises it structurally.
The blade has a pleasing salt and pepper patina consistent with its age and use.
This sword is un-cleaned and fresh to the market.
