Naval arms I.D.
 

Maybe among the naval enthusiasts on here some one can help me identify which outfit used this cutlass?

It's not Navy that I can see? Perhaps an Army short sword?

The KM is the property mark of the Prussian/German Navy in the second half of the 19th century. KM = Königliche Marine (Royal Navy) while the 796 is the weapon number of this particular Entermesser (cutlass).

The first repeating pistols used by the Prussian (later Imperial) Navy were Colt 1851 Navies that Colt tried to smuggle to Russia in bales of hay shipped by rail. They were discovered and confiscated in Prussia, who later issued 1,000 of them to the Navy. The pistols and accessories were marked numbered like this cutlass.

http://www.rockislandauction.com/vie...id/55/lid/1111

Thank you very much Mike. I seem to remember seeing a photo on the forum with sailors holding both Lugers and these cutlass's. Hugh

I don't recall seeing photos of a group armed with both Lugers and this model cutlass. This is a
Model 1861 Entermesser, which was obsolete by the time the Lugers entered regular service with the German Navy in Spring 1906. The most common of those "class" pictures are of the first or second Torpedo Division training classes. The earliest ones with Lugers still have the Hirschfanger 71 or the Marine Seitengewehr 98 a.A., while ones after early 1911 have the M1911 Seitengewehr.

Most of the other class photos of the training groups have rifles and bayonets, without the Lugers.

Mike the photo I was referring to showed a bunch of rather dirty sailors. Two in front were pointing lugers at one another as if getting ready to fire and in the background were other sailors a couple with cutlass's

Ah. Could you please post a copy? I'd be very interested to see one with P.04s and the old M1861 cutlasses.

Mike I finally ran the photo down - it was on another forum__ http://luger.gunboards.com/attachmen...2&d=1449530642

I've seen that one before. They must be stokers - or coal miners!:cheers:

In any event, they are not holding cutlasses like your EM1861. They are holding Seitengewehr 1911s. Look closely at the hilts.

Happened to see these two pics, sailors with cutlasses...Torpedo Division and Great War VBSS detail... :D

(Pics from S&G/TBLAP)

Great Photos Richard!

Excellent pictures. The I.T.D. and II.T.D. (1st & 2nd Torpedo Divisions) were among the major users of the SG1911s shown in the photos, and their "class photos" are by far the most commonly encounter ones with matrosen holding P.04s. The 1st looks to be the II.T.D. in Wilhelmshaven
The second photo appears to be the Minen Abteilung, which was in Cuxhaven. Although they were also issued the SG1911s, their photos are not often seen.
I have a number of T.D. photos, but have none of the M.A. One of the Navy collectors on the two Luger forums scored an M.A. marked SG1911 at SoS in Louisville a couple of years ago. A very nice find.