Ratings of the Royal Navy have used cutlasses, short, wide bladed swords, since the early 18th century. These were originally of non-uniform design but the 1804 Pattern, the first Navy-issue standard cutlass, was introduced at the start of the 19th century. This was a bluntish weapon that was perhaps intended for cutting away canvas and ropes rather than as a thrusting combat weapon. The 1845 Pattern cutlass introduced a bowl-style hand guard which provided greater protection, with a longer and more curved blade. Its sharper point made it more useful for thrusting attacks, which were now emphasised in the drill manual. The 1845 Pattern was modified several times including shortening and straightening the blades, which weakened them. The 1889 Pattern had a straight, spear-pointed blade with a hilt that curved outwards to catch and redirect an opponent's sword point. The 1900 Pattern, the last navy-issue cutlass, was similar to its predecessor with the introduction of a fuller and a hilt insert that cushioned the user's little finger. The cutlass was withdrawn from service in 1936 but remains in use for ceremonial purposes. It is thought that it was last used in combat in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion.
The Royal Navy cutlass was withdrawn from combat service.
On October 22, in the year 1936, The Royal Navy cutlass was withdrawn from combat service. This event is recorded as a Selected Events event in the history of October 22, one of 409 recorded events on this date across all of history.
Key Facts
- This event took place on October 22, 1936 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Selected Events event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 1 Wikipedia article.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 10 October 2026.
On This Date in History 409
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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