I still find fascinating topics here just browsing through search etc. and find so many threads that simply stopped, with zero discussion!
Anything with pirates, cutlasses piques my interest instantly, and this one was worth another soliloquy!
The sheet metal guard is indeed of the style favored on cutlasses in the last quarter 18th c. and resulting in the familiar double disc types British of c.1800.
The bone grip is most interesting and unusual.
One of the most interesting areas of piracy in the latter 17th century was during what became known as the 'golden age of piracy', which seems to have largely ended with the demise of Blackbeard in 1718. However piracy itself in the contexts typically popularized in the lore which grew out of the work of Robert Louis Stevenson and "Treasure Island" was far more expansive and long lived than characterized in this fantastic story.
While most of the popular lore on pirates seems focused on those of the Caribbean and Eastern shores of America, there was a far more dynamic theater of operation in the East in the waters off the Malabar Coast of west India, and to Madagascar.
These regions proved even far more lucrative than the gold and silver laden Spanish galleons, as the treasures of the Mughal Empire and the emperor Aurengzeb were with not only gold and silver in huge quantity, but incredible hoardes of jewels and other valuable commodities.
Beginning largely with Henry Avery in 1690s, and followed by the notorious Captain Kidd of course, those pirates who rounded the Cape to prey on these treasure vessels are often termed 'rounders' in much of the literature.
While this cutlass (notably 'of the type') in use in the late 17th c. and clearly as earlier noted resembling the 'Hounslow' style hilts of earlier in in the century, seems likely later it still seems to be of 18th century (likely latter).
The curious thing is the 'C'mark on the blade, which seems more in line with markings in 19th c. and what appears to be an 'I' ? above it. The blade is notably worn so it is tempting to think it was added later?
One of the most telling things with this cutlass is on the scabbard throat, what appears to be the langet from an Indian tulwar.
I cannot resist thinking this might well be an older cutlass, likely refurbished with the horn grip, and remaining in service probably privately on a vessel frequenting these eastern seas.
One of the more esoteric areas in the study of pirate weapons is the more exotic forms (and their components) which entered the scope of those used in this general area.
An outstanding example of the 'traditionally' regarded cutlass, this one clearly has more stories to tell!
