Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (UK Und.) committing murder; thus Cutler’s Alms-house, the condemned cell.

c.1850

Duncombe New and Improved Flash Dict.

2. (US) any form of edged weapon, usu. a knife.

1846		in Oehlschlaeger Reveille 215: Cutlery – Each party to carry [...] two bowie knives, and [...] two short swords [HDAS].
1866		Night Side of N.Y. 35: The knife is used with great freedom by the negro, who seldom shows any fight unless he has ‘cutlery’ about him. [Ibid.] 43: The ‘cutlery’ is always on hand, and not a night passes but bright blades reek with human blood.
1873		J. Mair Hbk of Phrases 13: Cutlery. Andrea Ferrara Sword [...] Joc-te-leg Knife [...] Toledo Sword.
1889		Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 30 Nov. 3/1: [headline] The Cutlery and Gun Business Booming. / a graveyard-crowding week.
1902		J.D. Corrothers Black Cat Club 14: Sandy drew his razor. ‘Come on wid yo’ cutlery’ [...] exclaimed Spooks.
1906		S. Ford Shorty McCabe 60: Stiletto, eh? [...] Shorty, have you any friends from abroad that are in the habit of leaving their cutlery around promiscuous?
1909		‘A “Push” Story’ in Port Pirie Recorder (SA) 8 Sept. 4/2: [H]e was investigating his dental formation with the small blade of a pocket-knife. [...] Presently he pocketed bis cutlery, and [...] gained the other side of the street.
1919		D. Runyon ‘A Tale of Two Fists’ XXIII in Pittsburgh Press (PA) 5 June 32/2: A more timid person [...] might wel have hesitated about visiting an expert razor swinger in reach of his cutlery.
1943		in W.C. Fields By Himself (1974) 25: They would have cutlery with them, and after they were finished with me, as an encore, they would stuff me in sausage skins.
1972		(con. 1916) G. Swarthout Tin Lizzie Troop (1978) 28: While they put away the cutlery, Dinkle had several long thoughts.
1987		(con. 1950s) G. Moloi My Life 117: You could pick yourself a jail sentence [...] for having cutlery in your house (‘dangerous weapons’).