Restored Police Cutlasses Now on Permanent Display

June 2025

We’re pleased to announce a new addition to the Bradford Police Museum’s permanent collection - a striking display of 27 restored police cutlasses, now exhibited in their original scabbards.

Our new Police Cutlass display, now a permanent part of our gallery space.

Over the past few months, our curatorial team has worked meticulously to conserve and prepare these historic weapons, which once formed part of the Bradford City Police’s emergency equipment in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their restoration has brought out remarkable detail in both the blades and the leather scabbards, highlighting craftsmanship that spans more than a century.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Dale Keeton of Bradford Museums & Galleries for his generous support and expertise during this project. His assistance has been invaluable in helping us bring these objects back to life for public viewing.

The cutlass, most commonly associated with naval service and piracy, became a surprising part of British police equipment from the mid-1800s. Though seldom used in conflict, these weapons were carried by officers on night patrol and during moments of industrial unrest - most notably in the Morley and Manningham strikes of the 1890s. By the 1930s, the cutlass had become purely ceremonial and eventually entered the museum’s care.

Dale Keeton, from Bradford Museums & Galleries, visited the museum to provide expertise and support our curatorial team in restoring the cutlasses.

This new display not only preserves these artefacts for future generations but invites visitors to explore the evolving role of authority, symbolism, and restraint in policing history.

Come and see these evocative objects for yourself - and discover how a naval weapon found its place in the streets of Bradford.