Measuring 31 1/2 inches overall, with a 26 inch curved single fuller blade, bearing a faint Ames mark on the left side and "U.S./ADK/1864" on the right. The guard and pommel are of brass construction, the latter stamped "ADK", and a wire wrapped leather grip. Included with the sword is a copy of an article by Ron Hickox in the May/June 1981 issue of Man At Arms, which discusses an order placed with the Army Ordnance Office with Ames in January of 1864 for 300 Navy pattern cutlasses. The reason for this order is unknown, as no Regular Army units had cutlasses as regulation sidearms. It is speculated that a militia or volunteer unit with non-regulation equipment may have placed the order, and Ordnance went straight to the source instead of asking the Navy.

Fair. The blade shows pitting and a gray patina, with deep pitting visible showing some evidence of weld repair at the tip. The hilt shows a mixed patina, with mild wear.