Collecting Pirate Swords

The Caribbean pirates are some of the most popular figures in history, and there is a whole culture of myth built up around their exploits. One of the classic ideas is the image of a pirate wielding his cutlass in battle. The cutlass was the most popular sword used by pirates, and it was chosen for a variety of practical reasons. The weapon was derived from the European backsword, which was a heavy chopping weapon carried by cavalry in the 16th and 17th centuries.

One thing many people don't realize is that the cutlass was just as much a tool as a sword. Pirates used it on the ship to cut ropes and do other chores. On land, it was used to hack through thick brush. Its use as a jungle hacking tool was so popular, that it eventually evolved into the modern machete. If you look closely, the machete still resembles the cutlass in shape and size.

In battle, the cutlass was perfect for the close range fighting situations that pirates encountered. Its short length and curved blade allowed for easy chopping and slashing action in tight places, like the lower decks of a ship. The weapons were light, and quickly maneuverable. All these factors in combination with its basic utility made the cutlass popular on all naval vessels. Pirates favored the weapon even more than your average sailor because of their particular way of fighting.

The pirates overall battle strategy was simple: they used small maneuverable ships to get close and board the enemy's vessel. At that point, muskets would be discharged, and blades would be drawn. The whole idea was to terrorize the opponent into quickly surrendering with sheer aggression. The thought of being hacked to bits by cutlasses was a terrifying prospect and pirates used the psychology of this to their advantage. These battles were very short and very bloody, and the effectiveness of the cutlasses for this kind of combat made it a supremely practical choice.

The romance of television and movie images has kept the idea of the pirate alive and well. As long as pirates remain popular, you can bet that pirate swords will also be popular. There are many great replicas of classic cutlass designs available, and some of them are still made with the exact kind of balance and sharpness that made the weapon legendary.

Pirate Sword