SMALL SWORD
Several differant types of swords were used by pirates. They would have mainly used the most common ones found in their particular part of the world. For European pirates in the 'Golden Age of Piracy', these were normally the one handed type popular in Europe at the time called a small sword. This straight bladed short sword was designed mainly as a thrusting weapon, and was normally used for dueling. This sword weighed about two pounds, and was thirty to forty inches long. Some skill was needed to weild this sword in anger. And it could be broken if used against a heavier blade.
SPADROON
A light sword with a straight blade. The style became popular among military and naval officers in the 1790s, spreading from England to Europe and the United States. Hilts were often of the beaded or "five-ball" type with a stirup guard. The blade usually had a broad, central fuller and a single edge, often with a false edge near the tip. This sword was used for slashing and thrusting. Some spadroon's can also be double-edged as well.
CUTLASS
The pirate cutlass in swashbuckling lore is perhaps one of their most popular weapons. According to legend, buccaneers invented the cutlass, but this may not be factual. It is said to have evolved from the long knives used by the early buccaneers to butcher their meat. It had a blade length of about two feet, and was straight or slightly curved with a single edge. Strong enough to hack through heavy ropes, canvas, or flesh and bone. It's short broad blade proved to be an ideal tool for hand to hand fighting in the confined area of a ship. Making this sword a favorite weapon among Caribbean pirates in the 17th and 18th century. The cutlass was so successful it was copyed by many naval forces around the world.
RAPIER
The rapier was another straight bladed sword that may have been used by some pirates. It's use and popularity had diminished by the end of the 17th century, having been replaced by the smallsword. However, some skilled pirates may still have prefered it, especially the Spaniards. Rapiers were usually about a foot longer than the smallsword, and were used in much the same way. One of the more difficult swords to master, it's blade could also break when used against a heavier sword. Because of it's size and the space needed to properly use it, the rapier probably was not used much by pirates as a boarding weapon. But rather for it's intended purpose of dueling.
CAVALRY & BROADSWORD
The broadsword and cavalry saber may also have seen limited use. These swords weighed around four pounds, and were about forty inches in length. Broadswords had either a straight heavy blade with a double edge, or a slightly curved blade. The cavalry saber had a straight or curved single edged blade that was designed mainly for slashing. There size and the confined area aboard ships made it difficult to use these large heavy swords efficiently. However, the infamous pirate Blackbeard meet his end in battle when he was hacked to death and decapitated by a broadsword. Pirates could also have had the blades shortened on any of these longer swords to adapt them to shipboard service as needed.
DAGGER & DIRK
The Dagger was eccentually a small knife much the same as it is today. It was small enough to be hidden under clothing. And deadly in cramped areas where there was no space to swing a sword. Daggers weighed between one and two pounds, and were twelve to eighteen inches in length. They were carried by most sailors and pirates because of there small size and variety of uses. Such as in cutting rope, sail, and food to eat. Daggers also served as the last means of self-defence in a fight. A Dirk was just a specific type of small dagger. It was designed to be used mainly as a thrown weapon.
BOARDING AXE
Common and popular on ships for fighting fires and boarding parties alike. It was used by pirate crews as often as the cutlass. The boarding axe helped pirates climb the high wooden sides of a large ship. It was also very useful in cutting through the rigging lines, bring down the enemy ships sails. The boarding axe weighed around four pounds, and was roughly two to three feet in length. They were a handy tool in opening closed doors and hatches while boarding. The axe was used effectively as a deadly hand to hand fighting tool as well.
BOARDING PIKE
Pikes were basically long spears with a wooden handle and metal point. The ship board version of the pike was usually slightly shorter than it's land based counterparts. They could be thrown at a target, or used held by the sailor while fighting. The boarding pike weighed around six pounds, and was between four to six feet in length. It was a common weapon on board a ship. They were often kept in racks around the base of the ships mast. Because of there length, they would have been most effective against swords and knives in a boarding action.
Several differant types of swords were used by pirates. They would have mainly used the most common ones found in their particular part of the world. For European pirates in the 'Golden Age of Piracy', these were normally the one handed type popular in Europe at the time called a small sword. This straight bladed short sword was designed mainly as a thrusting weapon, and was normally used for dueling. This sword weighed about two pounds, and was thirty to forty inches long. Some skill was needed to weild this sword in anger. And it could be broken if used against a heavier blade.
SPADROON
A light sword with a straight blade. The style became popular among military and naval officers in the 1790s, spreading from England to Europe and the United States. Hilts were often of the beaded or "five-ball" type with a stirup guard. The blade usually had a broad, central fuller and a single edge, often with a false edge near the tip. This sword was used for slashing and thrusting. Some spadroon's can also be double-edged as well.
CUTLASS
The pirate cutlass in swashbuckling lore is perhaps one of their most popular weapons. According to legend, buccaneers invented the cutlass, but this may not be factual. It is said to have evolved from the long knives used by the early buccaneers to butcher their meat. It had a blade length of about two feet, and was straight or slightly curved with a single edge. Strong enough to hack through heavy ropes, canvas, or flesh and bone. It's short broad blade proved to be an ideal tool for hand to hand fighting in the confined area of a ship. Making this sword a favorite weapon among Caribbean pirates in the 17th and 18th century. The cutlass was so successful it was copyed by many naval forces around the world.
RAPIER
The rapier was another straight bladed sword that may have been used by some pirates. It's use and popularity had diminished by the end of the 17th century, having been replaced by the smallsword. However, some skilled pirates may still have prefered it, especially the Spaniards. Rapiers were usually about a foot longer than the smallsword, and were used in much the same way. One of the more difficult swords to master, it's blade could also break when used against a heavier sword. Because of it's size and the space needed to properly use it, the rapier probably was not used much by pirates as a boarding weapon. But rather for it's intended purpose of dueling.
CAVALRY & BROADSWORD
The broadsword and cavalry saber may also have seen limited use. These swords weighed around four pounds, and were about forty inches in length. Broadswords had either a straight heavy blade with a double edge, or a slightly curved blade. The cavalry saber had a straight or curved single edged blade that was designed mainly for slashing. There size and the confined area aboard ships made it difficult to use these large heavy swords efficiently. However, the infamous pirate Blackbeard meet his end in battle when he was hacked to death and decapitated by a broadsword. Pirates could also have had the blades shortened on any of these longer swords to adapt them to shipboard service as needed.
DAGGER & DIRK
The Dagger was eccentually a small knife much the same as it is today. It was small enough to be hidden under clothing. And deadly in cramped areas where there was no space to swing a sword. Daggers weighed between one and two pounds, and were twelve to eighteen inches in length. They were carried by most sailors and pirates because of there small size and variety of uses. Such as in cutting rope, sail, and food to eat. Daggers also served as the last means of self-defence in a fight. A Dirk was just a specific type of small dagger. It was designed to be used mainly as a thrown weapon.
BOARDING AXE
Common and popular on ships for fighting fires and boarding parties alike. It was used by pirate crews as often as the cutlass. The boarding axe helped pirates climb the high wooden sides of a large ship. It was also very useful in cutting through the rigging lines, bring down the enemy ships sails. The boarding axe weighed around four pounds, and was roughly two to three feet in length. They were a handy tool in opening closed doors and hatches while boarding. The axe was used effectively as a deadly hand to hand fighting tool as well.
BOARDING PIKE
Pikes were basically long spears with a wooden handle and metal point. The ship board version of the pike was usually slightly shorter than it's land based counterparts. They could be thrown at a target, or used held by the sailor while fighting. The boarding pike weighed around six pounds, and was between four to six feet in length. It was a common weapon on board a ship. They were often kept in racks around the base of the ships mast. Because of there length, they would have been most effective against swords and knives in a boarding action.
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