Pirate swords and weapons

[Rick]

Great picture of the Indian smoking process Fernando .

Pity the poor Grenadier Barry; I'll bet those things killed as many throwers as receivers .

[A. G. Maisey]

From memory, Oxford defines 'machete' as a cutlass.

[VANDOO]

IT IS SAID RIFLES OR MUSKETS WERE FIRST CHOICE WHEN CLOSING IN BY PIRATES AND PISTOLS SECOND THEN THE SWORD OR AX. DURING THE TAKING OF A SHIP ANY SANE PIRATE WOULD PREFER TO SHOOT DOWN HIS ENEMY FROM A DISTANCE OR PERHAPS STAB HIM IN THE BACK THAN TO FACE HIM IN A SWORD FIGHT AS NOT ONLY COULD THE OTHER FELLOW BE A BETTER SWORDSMAN OR GET LUCKY BUT WHILE ENGAGED YOUR BACK WAS EXPOSED.
RIFLES AND PISTOLS WERE USUALLY LOADED WITH MORE THAN ONE BALL ,USUALLY ONE THAT FIT THE BARREL TIGHT AND PERHAPS 2 OR MORE THAT WERE A BIT SMALLER. THIS LESSENED THE CHANCE OF A NEAR MISS CONSIDERABLY AND ALSO ADDED TO THE KNOCKDOWN POWER OF THE WEAPON IF ALL STRUCK. I WILL TRY AND ADD SOME PICS OF SOME OF THE GUNS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN USED AND SOME STRANGE ONES AS WELL. THE RIFLE IS A SEASERVICE BROWN BESS CIRC. 1745, MADE SHORTER FOR SERVICE ON BRITISH SHIPS, THE PISTOL IS A SPANISH MIQUELET CIRC. LATE 16 TO EARLY 17 CENTURY. THE LAST IS A DUCKFOOT PISTOL ,ALL BARRELS FIRE AT ONCE SOME CAPTIANS CARRIED THEM AS THEY WORKED WELL AGAINST A MUTINY.

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE GUNS FROM THE PERIOD THAT MAY HAVE SEEN USE BY PIRATES. 1. A BORDINGAX PISTOL GERMAN 1600'S, 2. A 1660 ENGLISH SMOOTHBORE FOWLING GUN (SMOOTH BORE GUNS WERE FAVORED BY BUCCANEERS), 3. 1717 FRENCH 69 CAL., 4. FRENCH TRADE GUN 1700'S, FRENCH MATCHLOCK 1690, 5. SPANISH 70 CAL. 1756.
THE PICTURES DID NOT COME OUT IN THE ORDER LISTED IN SORRY.

[VANDOO]

A FEW EDGED WEAPONS, ABOUT TIME EH?

1. BOUCAN KNIVES OFTEN MADE FROM BROKEN WEAPONS WERE USED BY BUCANEERS.
2. CUTLASS, 1500'S TO 1700'S STYLE
3. CUTLASS OPEN BASKET
4.HANGER
5.SMALLSWORD
6.BOARDING AX CIRC. 1700'S

SO FAR MY PIRATE POSTS HAVE MOSTLY COVERED WEAPONS FROM MORE RECENT TIMES AND OF EUROPEAN ORIGIN. THE FIRST MENTION OF PIRATES GOES BACK TO ANCIENT GREECE, ROME ECT AND NO DOUBT BEFORE WRITTEN LANGUAGE WAS INVENTED TO RECORD IT. AFTER ALL A GROUP ON ONE ISLAND OR CONTINENT MIGHT HAVE BEEN NOTED FOR PADDELING AND SAILING TO OTHER ISLANDS TO RAID AND PLUNDER SEASIDE VILLAGES BEFORE WRITING WAS AVAILABLE. THE VICTIMS OF SUCH ATTACKS WOULD HAVE HAD A TERM FOR THESE RAIDERS FROM THE SEA EVEN THEN. PIRATEING INCLUDED ATTACKS AT SEA AS WELL AS RAIDS ON LAND WHERE CONVIENT. SOME RAIDERS WERE CALLED BY OLDER NAMES BEFORE THE TERM PIRATE WAS COINED IF I REMEMBER IT CAME FROM A LATIN WORD USED DURING ROMAN TIMES.
THESE PICTURES AND INFORMATION IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG AS THERE HAVE BEEN SEA RAIDERS ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR A VERY LONG TIME. THERE WERE AFTER ALL OTHERS BESIDES (PIRATES OF THE CARRABEIAN)

[Freddy]

This big knife would fit in quite nicely. I haven't a clue where it comes from. Just picked it up because it was cheap

Total length is 41 cm

[fernando]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

... THE TERM PIRATE WAS COINED IF I REMEMBER IT CAME FROM A LATIN WORD USED DURING ROMAN TIMES.

From the greek πειρατής ( peiratés ) derived from πειράω ( atempt, assault ), by the latin pirata.

[fernando]

After the drawing of a hanger, here is a real one.
Indeed a handy sword to use abord ships, with a short but wide and thick blade.