The Pirate Sword
Although piracy spans many centuries, people still think of the Golden Age of Piracy that occurred around the 16th century to the 19th. One of the premiere weapons used by Pirates of this time was undoubtedly the pirate sword. Even upon invention of the firearm, the sword still reigned supreme on the high seas likely due to the fact that sailors were afraid of their gunpowder becoming wet.
Of all swords, the cutlass was the most widely used. This sword was often issued to the British navy as well as in the United States. The cutlass was a curved short sword with a sharp cutting edge and point. Reportedly, the cutlass sword was easy to use, making it an ideal pirate sword. Combat was often secondary to other skills learned by sailors of the time.
Pirates used to the cutlass sword as early as the mid-17th century. As a naval side arm, the British royal navy were still using the cutlass as late as 1935. The United States Navy was actively using a 1917 model cutlass as late as World War II.
The cutlass is not the only choice for a pirate, however. Historical pirates also used a sword known as the scimitar. This pirate sword was often originated in the middle-east. The scimitar was similar to the cutlass, but had a larger blade and a more pronounced curve.
The cutlass sword and Scimitar are great for pirate reenactment and costumes. SwordWares.com offers these at a price point well below retail. Navigate our product category using the links to the upper left.
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