In 2012, the United States Navy reintroduced a part of its rich heritage with that announcement of the Navy CPO Cutlass. Featuring a 26-inch blade and an anodized brass hand guard inspired by the one used on the Navy’s 1861 cutlass, this new ceremonial sidearm featured one of four CPO ranks in initials (CPO, SCPO, MCPO, and MCPON) on one side of the blade’s base and the initials “U.S.N.” on the other.
The cutlass is issued with a specific set of accessories, including a black-leather sword frog that is customized to fit the scabbard issued with the CPO Cutlass. Held up by a shoulder hardness that keeps the frog from pulling the dress coat up or down, the frog is attached to the left side of the belt (not part of the Cutlass package) and then inserted through the side slit in the dress coat.
Chief Petty Officers are authorized to wear the CPO Cutlass with the Full Dress Uniform at any event or ceremony for which Officers are required to wear swords. The cutlass, however, is never drawn from it scabbard during these events; a hand salute is sufficient if military courtesy calls for that level of response.