First and foremost, Marlow White sells WKC swords and sabers. Our goal has always been to offer the best value - the best combined quality and price. We examined many different manufacturers' swords to locate what we thought was the best value. We have established this page to share with you some of our reasons for choosing WKC.
The majority of the photos on this page are raw, unretouched images. None of the photos has been retouched to cover up any blemishes, though we have cropped the cutlasses out of their background and have fixed minor photographic reflections (primarily because of the highly reflective clamshell guard). Read the footnote at the bottom of the page for more information.
Navy CPO Cutlasses |
by WKC |
by Country 1 |
by Country 2 |
Overall Design |
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Poorly crafted
Model 1860 design |
Fairly well-crafted
Pirate's Cutlass design |
Overall Quality |
Well crafted |
Poorly crafted
"replica" |
Fairly well crafted |
Manual of Arms |
Yes |
Yes |
Prevented by
oversized grip |
Finish |
Gold-plated |
Lacquered brass |
Gold-plated |
Blade length |
26" |
26" |
23" |
Scabbard Insert |
Metal |
None |
None |
Scabbard Leather |
High Quality
Calfskin leather |
Poor Quality Leather
with a Low Quality
High-Gloss Finish |
Moderate Quality
Leather |
Scabbard Weight |
1 pound, 5 ounces |
6.5 ounces |
6.5 ounces |
Scabbard Tip Attachment |
Recessed screw |
Unknown, but likely results in the large gaps
between the leather
and the fittings |
Staples |
Cutlass Style |
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- The most pronounced difference among the cutlasses is the cutlass style. Both WKC and Country 1 model their designs after the Model 1860 Cutlass. Country 2 uses a style that we do not feel is historically accurate and better represents a "pirate's cutlass."
- The blade from WKC and from Country 1 both have a fuller groove, more accurately representing the historical cutlass. Country 2 has no groove.
- Historically, Model 1860 cutlasses had blades ranging from about 23" to about 26". In the modern era, most prefer the 26" blade because it allows easier and more exact Manual of Arms. WKC and Country 1 have a 26" blade. Country 2 has the shorter 23" blade.
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Grip/Guards |
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- The hand guard is a critical part of the Navy CPO Cutlass. A properly shaped clamshell will have a French-curve edge to allow room for the hand to pivot during Manual Of Arms.
- Both Country 1 (not pictured) and WKC have the proper French-curve clamshell. Country 2 has a full clamshell which does not allow Manual of Arms.
- Both WKC and Country 1 feature a wire-wrapped handle. Country 2 does not have a wire-wrapped handle.
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Scabbard Openings |
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- You cannot help but notice the difference in quality between the scabbard openings. The fit, finish, and fittings vary drastically from scabbard to scabbard.
- This side-angle view helps to explain why WKC's Scabbard weighs 1 pound 5 ounces, whereas both Country 1 and Country 2's scabbards weigh 6.5 ounces each. WKC uses more robust fittings and a steel insert in the scabbard.
- Notice the inferior design of Country 1's mouth fitting and the staple Country 1 uses to attach the scabbard fittings.
- You may also notice the color difference Country 1 has from the other two. Country 1 uses lacquered brass for its fittings and hand guard, whereas both WKC and Country 2 use gold plating.
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Scabbard Leather |
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- Leather quality is another important factor when considering which Cutlass to purchase.
- WKC uses 100% genuine calfskin leather over a solid steel shank.
- Country 1's scabbard is a very low quality leather with a glossy finish coat which marks up fairly easily. The minor surface defects that are on the leather were caused by routine handling of the scabbard. The leather is fairly thick which helps to keep it from creasing, but the scabbard does not have an insert.
- Country 2's scabbard is a thinner leather of moderate quality and finish, but lacks an insert to help the scabbard retain its form. The creases you see in the scabbard occurred naturally as we drew the Cutlass out of the Scabbard; we did not bend the scabbard until it creased.
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Scabbard Inserts |
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- Here is a side view showing each scabbard resting on a prop. All of the scabbard's weight is being born by the prop.
- WKC's Scabbard retains its shape due to the steel insert.
- Country 1's Scabbard is made of a thick leather, which helps it to keep its shape. Without an insert, though, it will likely crease or sag over time.
- Country 2's Scabbard creased almost immediately after we received it. Keep in mind that when the Cutlass is inserted into the Scabbard, the Cutlass helps the Scabbard retain its shape.
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Scabbard Drag Fittings |
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- Because the leather is wrapped around each scabbard, each scabbard will have a seam. WKC crafts its seams so they are nearly indiscernible seams along the bottom edge of the scabbard. Country 1 has a large seam up the back side of the scabbard, as does Country 2.
- WKC takes great care to properly "fit" their leather into the scabbard drag fitting. You'll notice that Country 2 has a significant gap between their fitting and the leather.
- WKC uses a carefully recessed screw to secure the fitting to the scabbard (the recessed screw helps prevent clothing snags). Country 1 uses a staple to secure their fittings to the scabbard. Country 2's fitting is secured either by glue or by an internal mechanical means; The fitting is secure, but the securing method is likely why there is a significant gap between the fitting and the leather.
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Comparison Photos - Footnote
Prior to helping WKC to develop their cutlass, we special ordered cutlasses from other sources. Accordingly, we no longer have access to these cutlasses, but had some file photos of Country 2's Cutlass. We still have scabbards from each country, however. As a result, all photos of the scabbards are unretouched and are straight out of the camera. The full-size images of Country 2's Cutlass have minor retouching (removing the background, and digitally retouching photographic lighting reflections that were primarily on the blade). WKC's full-size Cutlass has also been removed from its background and had very minor lighting reflections retouched. Country 2's grip guard (detail image) also had some minor retouching and was removed from its background; WKC's grip guard (detail image) didn't have any retouching, but was removed from its background.
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