British 1845 Royal Naval Cutlass

British 1845 Royal Naval Cutlass regulation pattern with curved single edged blade altering to double edge for the 9 inches. Stamped with various issue and inspection stamps including crowned B with 13 below and broad arrows. The spine maker marked Heighington – May and Annis Swords for Sea Service, Vol.1 p.82-3 state John Heighington took over from Thomas Osborn as a contractor for the Board of Ordnance in August 1847, having taken over Osborn’s premises at Bordesley Mill. May and Annis note that Heighington had his contract increased over the following few years and, whilst they acknowledge some confusion in the records and Board of Ordnance Minutes regarding orders and supply of the various makers around this time, it seems Heighington continued to regularly supply cutlasses to the Board until at least 1852 overall length 39 inch the blade 29 inch