Cutlass-Bayonet

The cutlass is a heavy naval sword with a single-edged blade of medium length which is generally given a very slight curve, but may often be straight. A brass or steel simple handgrip and guard wrap around the top tang of the blade.

"The blade's weight is concentrated to provide a shattering blow delivered with the edge of the blade. There is little in the design to facilitate the use of the point, nor is it easy to parry another's blow. This is a sword designed for simplistic use by a user who has had little training in fencing." Navy News item by Tom Lewis

The cutlasses used in the Victorian Navy could be fixed to the Martini-Henry rifles as bayonets. They were therefore worn on the belt, most likely through a bayonet-frog, and accompanied the men to China.

The engraving above from a Victorian Naval Forces exhibit shows that the cutlasses could be attached to the martini-henry rifles as bayonets. Click to view whole image. The Australian Illustrated News, 23 January 1884	Cutlass Drill on board Cerberus. The Weekly Times, 14 July 1900. courtesy of "Newspaper Collection", State Library of Victoria
	A close up of the Cutlass Drill photo shows that the cutlasses had a loop through which the rifle barrel could pass. This allowed the cutlass to be attached to the Martin-Henry rifles as a bayonet. Thanks to Tom Lewis & John Underwood for pointing out the above feature.	Bayonet Frog for slinging the cutlass-bayonet in its scabbard from the sailor's belt. AWM REL26333.006 Click image to enlarge.
The dual use cutlass-bayonet in action. Australasian Sketcher, 8 April 1882.

Sword

photographed courtesy of The Museum of HMAS Cerberus.




Victorian Navy sword once belonging to Gunner Christopher Jones.
Photographs courtesy of the Christopher's Great great grandson, Paul Jones.

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Boarding Pike

Boarding Pikes were described as being kept on the main deck (most likely the Shield Deck) and were basically a spear head on a long pole. They had no function on the ship apart from use as a weapon.

Boarding Pike heads

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Nordenfelt Ammunition

Fig 1 - ammunition for 1 inch four barrel guns. Figs 2 - 8 for six pounder QF gun. image courtesy of Steve Johnson's ammunition website