Pirate Weapons: The Cutlass
The Sword of the Seas
17th to the 19th century
One of the most famous swords
was the cutlass, used by navalmen for centuries, but made famous
by pirates. The overall build of
the cutlass made it extremely popular among
seafarers in the 17th to 18th centuries.
As a short broadsword,
generally about 28 inches in length,
the cutlass was ideal for use on ships where space
was limited.
In comparison, a longer sword may get tangled in
the ship's rigging or be difficult to swing below deck during the battle.
The straight or curved single edged blade
was extremely rugged and sturdy, making it
appealing to pirates not only as a weapon, but for also hacking through
thick ropes, canvas and wood.
Something that a different type of sword would break from if
done regularly.
Additionally, a large guard specific to the cutlass
allowed for sailors and pirates to keep a grip on their swords
while climbing or swinging from ropes
while simultaneously also serving as a protector
for the swordsman's hand.
The cutlass sword became associated with pirates during
the Golden Age of Piracy, which ran during the 17th and
early 18th centuries.
Of great importance to these men the cutlass sword
meant for slashing didn't require lengthy periods of training,
and was fairly inexpensive. Unlike other swords
popular in the era for thrusting attacks, such as the rapier,
its features were well-liked by vicious pirate-folk,
for it was so cheap and easy to use as a shipboard weapon.
The cutlass was especially attractive compared to other options
for pirates at that time.
Among the best examples are fliplock hand-guns.
Such guns often let down seafarers as
it only released only one shot at a time
and were painstakingly slow to reload.
Additionally, they became even more undesirable
for pirates as the oceanic environment
constantly proved damaging, as gunpowder became damp,
and guns became water-logged.
It is also said that the cold-hearted nature of many pirates
made the cutlass all the more attractive
as the broad, flat side of the blade could be utilized to beat
a prisoner during an interrogation without ruining the risk
of killing them in doing so.
Among those known to favor the cutlass was
the Gentleman Captain Stede Bonnet and his pirate
crew aboard his ship, The Revenge.
Although known for his gentlemanly status,
Captain Stede Bonnet wrecked havoc off the coast of
Virginia and South Carolina and in the Caribbean by plundering
numerous ships. Sources document that
the cutlass was the favorite weapon by his pirate crew in hand-to-hand combat.
The cutlass was so well-suited to naval life that its
design was made considerably consistent over
its more than 400 year history.
During the use of the cutlass by pirates, the sword was
adopted by military powers. For example,
in the 18th century, the British Royal Navy produced a
slightly updated version, the Military Hanger Sword,
which was essentially a cutlass with a lengthened blade.
The French Navy too sought to alter the cutlass for its
own means by equipping a cupped-hilt
as well as thickening the blade and including a distinct curve
towards the end.
It proved so useful that the United States Navy
adopted this version in the American Civil War, as well as the
Spanish-American War.
In fact, the cutlass has proved so timeless, that
it was used by the British Royal Navy and US Navy
well into the 20th century.
Subscribe and click the notification bell for more
history videos.
Hey guys, check out this Simple History Merch on
teespring!
There's T-shirts, mugs, stickers, phone cases and
much more. Link in the description below.