164 years old--civil war

Appears to have seen action as there are sword marks on the hand guard (soup ladle)and small chips along the blade.

Ames manufactured around 25,000 of these cutlasses. This example is marked "22M 518" which I believe means the 22,518th unit.

This cutlass is marked:

USN

DP

1862 

The original scabbard is long gone and the original leather-clad handle was replaced some time in the past.

Leather can deteriorate in 164 years.

I have a make shift scabbard that serves the purpose until a real antique scabbard can be acquired.

If not sold before the next gun show (Tucson Expo), that is where it can seen and handled.