Cutlasses

[Alberta Ed]

Am researching a book on late 16th century Caribbean piracy, and have found many good sources on politics, geography, botany, sailing, but little on edged weapons of the era, specifically cutlasses. The woodcuts I have seen show multiple fullers on the blades. Anyone know of any sources for information on cutlasses, boarding axes, muskets, pistols of 16800-1700? Thanks
(Small confession: maybe like many of you, my psyche was scarred at a tender age by Treasure Island.)

 

[not2sharp]

You may want to post this under Bernard Levine's knife collecting and identification Forum.

Despite the movies, I doubt there was a formal sword issued for naval warefare during the 17th century. Even in the formal navy each ship's captain usually had much leaway in how they equipped and uniformed their men. It wasn't until the 18th century that Navies start to issue standard patterns of swords.

P.G.W.Annis, in Naval Swords British and American Naval Edged Weapons 1660-1815 (Arms and Armor Press, London 1970), writes:

"The short, straight or curved hanger employed at the beginning of our period was usually a cheap weapon and must often have been roughly finished; mounts for those issued to ratings were mostly of iron protected by paint...The difficulty which arises today, in this context, is that few examples of the cheaper type of hanger still exist."

 

[Steven Dick]

The best book I know of this subject is "Boarders Away, With Steel-Edged Weapons and Polearms" by William Gilkerson. There is also a second volume on firearms.

 

[Alberta Ed]

Thanks for the help!