Pirate swords and weapons

[David]

Originally Posted by David R

A genuine and accredited Pirate sword I have, and one of the true prizes of my collection. (original vendors pic).

Indeed a lovely beladah belabang and i understand why you prize it. But what makes it an accredited "Pirate Sword". Accredited by whom. Do we have actual historical references pointed to the use of these swords by pirates in the region. I ask not to be confrontational, but because i would like to know.

[Jim McDougall]

The 'pirate' trope as applied to most edged weapons is of course typically apocryphal. Pirates were notoriously poor record keepers, and there were no 'regulation' weapons (just 'guidelines'

Naturally we need to also specify 'which' pirates we are considering for association with a certain weapon, or indeed 'form' of weapon. If they were 'Caribbean' region, it is most unlikely that these Asian weapons would be found, unless an anomaly brought in by someone as a souvenir or trophy from those Asian areas.

The woodcut illustrations well known in popular culture from the well known pirate tales are of course, not particularly likely to be accurate.
I am still fond of the popular pirate tales, but also of learning more on just how much is fact and how much is fiction.
The thing is, while we find that much of this lore is well embellished and not necessarily accurate, yet often we find fascinating elements which are sometimes even more exciting that the original story.

I agree, we should strive for references which support the use of a certain weapon or form in a 'pirate' context, while of course allowing ourselves the joy of thinking,
"maybe, just maybe, it might have been' .
In our speaking openly on the weapon, that is the manner we should view it, until hopefully one day, some obscure evidence is revealed that can empirically prove its provenance or use as surmised.
I have been fortunate to have had numbers of weapons for decades which I stubbornly held onto, in which that very thing occurred.

[kai]

Indeed a lovely beladah belabang and i understand why you prize it. But what makes it an accredited "Pirate Sword". Accredited by whom. Do we have actual historical references pointed to the use of these swords by pirates in the region. I ask not to be confrontational, but because i would like to know.

Banjarmasin was a very busy trade port. In contrast to London, I'm not aware of any sponsorship for pirate-like activities by the local nobility...

Actually, the red beladah belabang (stained with "dragon blood") could well be considered a regulation weapon as it was worn by the outer perimeter palace guards.

The shape of the (by western standards short) blade and the adopted hand guard seem to fit the western notion of a pirate sword quite well and arguably should also work well in a melee on board of a ship. I haven't seen any historical account confirming "naval" use though.

Actually, I have to plead guilty myself: When my son was 4 or 5 years old and asked me to show a pirate sword, I pulled out my BB as the most suitable piece from my collection. A reproduction crafted from cardboard/tape/paint served its purpose perfectly...

Regards,
Kai

[Rick]

[QUOTE=kai
Actually, the red beladah belabang (stained with "dragon blood") could well be considered a regulation weapon as it was worn by the outer perimeter palace guards.[/QUOTE]

Like this.

[werecow]

Does the dragon blood come from dragons of the komodo variety (I know they're not from the same island, but still)?

[David R]

Originally Posted by werecow

Does the dragon blood come from dragons of the komodo variety (I know they're not from the same island, but still)?

Dragons blood is a resin used in paints and incense.

Ah well, so my sword turns out not to have the firm Pirate associations that I had read about elsewhere, we live and learn.

[TVV]

Originally Posted by David R

Dragons blood is a resin used in paints and incense.

Ah well, so my sword turns out not to have the firm Pirate associations that I had read about elsewhere, we live and learn.

None of our swords, not even the nimchas and cutlasses have any firm Pirate associations, unless they were taken by some 17th century captain in a battle with corsairs/pirates and have ironclad provenance to that effect.

Your beladah belabang is still an incredibly attractive, authentic sword that anyone here would love to have in the collection.

[werecow]

Indeed. I'm 85% sure I almost bought this very one, actually, but alas, was out of sword funds.

Just ran across this thread, thought I'd cross link it here since it mentions an association between the hudiedao and river pirates.

[kai]

I'm 85% sure I almost bought this very one, actually, but alas, was out of sword funds.

Yup, a really nice piece from PeterA.

Just ran across this thread, thought I'd cross link it here since it mentions an association between the hudiedao and river pirates.

That link is just as spurious. Sure, "river pirates" were utilising these - just as everyone in the region.

The slender hudiedao also was a regulation pattern in southern China and quite certainly based on earlier local traditions; the beefier blades seem to be a later "civilian" development to avoid fatal wounds.

Colonial officials were quick to label any resistance as bandit or pirate activity. The real pirates/predators had their bases in European (and later American) harbours. Of course, there also was local piracy & raiding - with whatever weapons were at hand.


Obviously, if you have a somewhat shady occupation, you usually don't want to show that and invite persecution. Same with specific "Ninja" swords - stupid idea...

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

Hello Rick,

Like this.

Apologies, forgot to answer your post #154.

Banjar blades often have dragon's blood decor on their fittings. Despite this, the vast majority of beladah belabang has unstained hilts. This may be partly explained by dragon's blood being most often applied to wooden fittings while most BB hilts are made from horn. Those BB with red-stained hilts usually are carved from wood with rings of dragon's blood added. On other Malay swords though, dragon's blood is rarely found on horn hilts, too.

The "regulation" BB got their name from the red-stained scabbard as in the attached pic.

Regards,
Kai

[David R]

Originally Posted by werecow

Indeed. I'm 85% sure I almost bought this very one, actually, but alas, was out of sword funds.

Just ran across this thread, thought I'd cross link it here since it mentions an association between the hudiedao and river pirates.

For me it coincided with a refund from an old savings pot.

[Victrix]

Exhibition may be of interest.

[Norman McCormick]

Hi,
Thanks Victrix for the heads up. Here is a more in depth idea of what's on offer.
Regards,
Norman.


https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/natio...museum/pirates

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by David

Indeed a lovely beladah belabang and i understand why you prize it. But what makes it an accredited "Pirate Sword". Accredited by whom. Do we have actual historical references pointed to the use of these swords by pirates in the region. I ask not to be confrontational, but because i would like to know.

The early Borneo expeditions (early 1800's, just after the VOC had been abolished), had as goals of occupying Borneo:
1: Confirming the Dutch flag and offering protection to sovereigns who requested it;
2: Subdue sea plunder by pirates, promote trade, and give peace and tranquility to the many regions where robbers and murderers beset weak nations with calamities.
3: Collect moderate taxes to provide revenue for the government and subsistence for the subjects.

It is point two, mentioned above we have to take in account.
The coastal areas of Borneo where a hotbed of pirates and piracy.
As we know, the beladah belabangs where manufactured (made) in South Borneo, the Bandjemasin area, to be specific in Negara. In Bandjermasin a lot of trade was going on! And there sure were some pirates trading or selling their trophies.

The attached photos give some food for thought:-)

One photo had been made in 1894/1895 by Schadee in the Landak area (NW Borneo). You see a bunch of lovely(?) people, with on the right a man wearing a Beladah Belabang. (Also notice the sundang on the left).

The other photo is a photo of the online database of the Scheepvaartmuseum, collectionnumber S.4543, pirate sword 1825-1850.
(mention the BB blade)...

There is also an old style Beladah Belabang in the Bronbeek collection known, captured from a pirate around 1850, during a raid against piracy in the seas south of the Philipines. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to place a photo here, which I have to ask first.

[Maurice]

Just had contact with John, and I'm allowed to place a photo from the pirate sword from the Bronbeek (in Arnhem) collection.
Captured from 'Alima Baba, uit het Soloschen archipel'.

[gp]

Originally Posted by Maurice

The early Borneo expeditions (early 1800's, just after the VOC had been abolished), had as goals of occupying Borneo:
1: Confirming the Dutch flag and offering protection to sovereigns who requested it;
2: Subdue sea plunder by pirates, promote trade, and give peace and tranquility to the many regions where robbers and murderers beset weak nations with calamities.
3: Collect moderate taxes to provide revenue for the government and subsistence for the subjects.

It is point two, mentioned above we have to take in account.
The coastal areas of Borneo where a hotbed of pirates and piracy.
.

the thought which comes to my mind and perhaps not so a strange thought...with regard to item 2:

for the population and peoples in that part of the world, were not we, the ones from Europe, actually pirates and robbers....?
And concerning " sovereigns ": were they not "bought" and left in their positions and thus allowed the Dutch, English and French to do their (colonial) mischief...? Which was specially a proven policy in the Indonesian archipelago by the VOC and their successor...

Nevertheless then just like now there were and are indeed quite some pirates active...

Beautiful sword from Bronbeek; which museum is a place highlý to be recommended to visit, although the Dutch government wants to close this historical treasure sadly...
It has items and data from the earliest times till the end of WW II and Indonesia's independence.
Most interesting to see there all the diversity of data, items, pictures and cold weapons

https://www.bronbeek.nl/museum

[Jim McDougall]

These parang nabur/beladah belabang are incredibly beautiful and no doubt formidable sabers, and interesting to learn more on them (thanks to Kai i the note on the term meaning dragons blood) . While these seem to have originated (?) in Kalimantan in S. Borneo according to references, I cannot resist noting features associated with Yemen, and perhaps Arab traders which of course brought notable diffusion to and from their ports of call.

The widely flared blades resemble the sabers we have established as having come from Yemen, and the banding around the scabbards resembles saif coming from Yemen as well.

We know that there was both piracy and privateering in times of war with trjbes in these regions, so the potential for circulation of these swords into surrounding areas certainly existed.

We know that 'pirates' (the ones we are familiar with) were not just situated in the Caribbean, but many took the 'round' around the Cape of Good Hope, north past Mozambique to Madagascar, and Comoros Islands. From there they sought to prey on Indian vessels etc. and some apparently reached far into the island archipelagos of Malaysia and perhaps further.
'
We only really know of the pirates of the Golden Age in the works of "Capt. Johnson" but cannot know the full roster of active pirates who dd not make the 'press'. Like trade routes, the voyages of pirates 'networked' and via these same conduits, all manner of goods, and weapons etc. changed hands in various means of contact.

There is no way to assert with confidence that a certain weapon was used by 'pirates', though there are a number retrieved from wrecks with compelling evidence of belonging to a certain pirate...the 'Whydah' for example, to Sam Bellamy.

Though we cannot say for sure, we can presume, through deduction, that certain forms in use in a period, and reasonable record of who used them, that a weapon is 'OF THE TYPE'.

As long as we recognize that evidence is compelling and believe what we will without assertion, the inevitable contention has no legs, but what fun is there? Looking back at the 18 years of this thread, there have been many broadsides and dynamic discords.... I learned a lot!

Glad to see the thread again, I had forgotten! and again beautiful sabers!
The exhibition! Thank you Victrix!!!! I wish I could go, but maybe there will be a catalog?

[gp]

Let's not forget the Barbary pirates ( most of them European renegades in Algiers, Tunis and Sale):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_Coast

and shorter home ( at least to Europe), the lads in France:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirkers
https://www.historiamag.com/dunkirke...ntury-pirates/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_corsairs

interesting to see which weapons they used / had...
and if any forum member can advise any museums about them,
next to the St Malo one
https://traveltoeat.com/french-corsa...t-malo-france/

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by gp

Let's not forget the Barbary pirates ( most of them European renegades in Algiers, Tunis and Sale):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_Coast

and shorter home ( at least to Europe), the lads in France:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirkers
https://www.historiamag.com/dunkirke...ntury-pirates/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_corsairs

interesting to see which weapons they used / had...
and if any forum member can advise any museums about them,
next to the St Malo one
https://traveltoeat.com/french-corsa...t-malo-france/

Absolutely not! and surprising that many of those Barbary pirates and others were Dutch (Europeans as you noted). Those guys got around.
Piracy was not a new phenomenon, and not isolated to any area, people, culture etc.
For most of our purposes things focus on the popularized versions of pirate which come of course from "Treasure Island" , Pyle and Wyeth illustrations which derived from Washington Irving, Sir Walter Scott, Poe et al.

In references I have found cases where a pirate referred to his cutlass as a 'shell', for the shell guards that were so often seen on European dusagge (also termed 'Sinclair sabers') in 17th c.

There are not 'pattern books' or 'regulation pirate swords', if course, and in the tag line from "Pirates of the Caribbean".....no 'rules', they're more guidelines'.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by gp

the thought which comes to my mind and perhaps not so a strange thought...with regard to item 2:

for the population and peoples in that part of the world, were not we, the ones from Europe, actually pirates and robbers....?
And concerning " sovereigns ": were they not "bought" and left in their positions and thus allowed the Dutch, English and French to do their (colonial) mischief...? Which was specially a proven policy in the Indonesian archipelago by the VOC and their successor...

Ofcourse, I have also my own concerns and thoughts about the goals mentioned above. And I am glad I'm able to look at myself in the mirror every day because they were not the goals that I would have set.
And take into account, that these were different times, and also before the Dutch, English, French and Portugese arrived, there was a lot of missoury at places all over the world.
It wasn't always that civilized or better before the colonial oppressors arrived.
However, this is something that is a hot topic now everywhere, and I understand that. But to dispose of all museum pieces now or put them behind lock and key, I also disagree. We can use it as a learning opportunity, but when I watch the news every day, we haven't learned much yet as a world population.

Originally Posted by gp

Beautiful sword from Bronbeek; which museum is a place highlý to be recommended to visit, although the Dutch government wants to close this historical treasure sadly...

What is your source that Bronbeek is on the list of closing by the government?

Originally Posted by gp

It has items and data from the earliest times till the end of WW II and Indonesia's independence.
Most interesting to see there all the diversity of data, items, pictures and cold weapons

Unfortunately there is not enough time to update the database, as many objects has no photos placed.
Bronbeek is by far one of my favorite museum. And I feel privileged to have the opportunity to visit the museum often in the past, and mostly that I had been able to visit the Bronbeek depot several times, to do some study.
As a matter of fact I visited Bronbeek a couple of months ago. They have a wonderful exhibition, also to let the visitors overthink and feel about the injustice that happened there a long time ago.
And to keep in track of this thread, the Alima Baba pirate sword is to be seen now in their exhibition!

[Norman McCormick]

Originally Posted by gp

for the population and peoples in that part of the world, were not we, the ones from Europe, actually pirates and robbers....?

Hi,
Not a European only trade. The history of the world is full of one group or groups, race, ethnicity, religious leaning etc. etc. coercing another for personal advantage be it labour, land etc. The African slave trade was well established and run by Africans long before Europeans got involved as was conquest and land grabs for power and financial gain. The Vikings were consummate slavers but as they enslaved almost exclusively from Europe it gets little attention these days. Unfortunately slavery, land grabs etc. still go on and as far as I can see it will always be endemic to the human psyche.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/britis...laves_01.shtml

[Jim McDougall]

This has been a fascinating thread which was intended to study the weapons and historic factors involved in piracy, admittedly with focus on the popularized versions most of us are familiar with. It is great to see this active 18 years later, and while there were of course the usual scrapes typical of forum and social media discussions, the valuable and interesting content manages to prevail.

I personally hope that more objective input can continue here without the editorial, idealistic and socio-philosophical perspectives which are better placed in other venues. I think we can all agree that 'piracy', clouded with 'privateering' has always existed in some degree on the seas, in most nations, cultures and times. However my goal here was to recognize the objective characters of the weapons used by all parties engaged in these activities.

I think Captain Kidd was one of the best examples of the fine line between privateer and legitimate preying on vessels and the state of being a renegade outlaw, pirate. Clearly there was great opportunity which attracted many men from various nationalities and ethnic groups. While this of course brought certain influences and biases, for the most part, pirate factions were strongly democratic in a most ironic twist. That being said, IMO that is as much of the political critique as needed to examine the weapons used in these pirate situations of these earlier periods and modern 'piratical' or other circumstances are indeed more political and not useful.

Returning to the central topic.......just WHAT determines a weapon is indeed a bonified pirate weapon? and how do we determine just what forms were in fact in use, and in certain areas in the 'Golden Age' and post Golden Age into early 19th c.?

[M ELEY]

I'm glad to see this thread alive and well after all of these years! As a collector of all things maritime,pirate/privateer, I'm also excited to see that the Maritime Museum is having this display. Too bad I probably won't be able to attend in person- Still, the history of piracy, which covers so many nations and many centuries of time, remains a fascinating subject for many. Keep up the posts as I'm enjoying them greatly!

[corrado26]

I want to add two pictures of captain Blackbird which demonstrate how he probably used to wear his armament. The following text I found in my archives but unfortunately don't know its author!

These 'Queen Anne' pistols have always recalled Blackbeard, and the 'Golden Age' of piracy. They are believed to have begun in England during the reign of Queen Anne (r. 1702-1707) but of course there may be more to it, also the term remained loosely applied to these type of pistols long into the 18th c.

Blackbeard, in the popularized illustrations, seems to typically be wearing several braces of what appear to be these 'Queen Anne' type pistols, but I have not found much in detail that substantiates that romanticized notion. It is presumed of course that obviously, with single shot pistols, and that these had to be dismantled (usually with 'turn off' barrels screwed off), that one in his 'line of work' would need multiple shot capacity, thus the number of them.

What is hard to imagine is that he somehow obtained not one pair (brace) of them, but up to three, and all seemingly matched. In paintings of his 'final action' vs. Lt. Maynard in 1718 off Ocracoke, N.C. he is shown with these pistols in place on his belts, while he fights with his sword. Why would these remain attached unfired? but that is artistic license.

Pirates of course used sundry weapons obtained through all manner of acquisition, and any sort of matching or 'typical' weaponry is mostly unlikely if not simply assumed or imagined.

Still, I would like to consider if this weapon, by a London maker might have been in use in the time of Blackbeard. While we know it is 'of the type' , and these were produced well into the 18th c., often even using earlier preferred styles, sometimes amalgamated with later, such as 'rococo' decoration ...it is interesting to try to consider.

John Harman (1693-1760) was apparently apprentice to Henry Antonison with James Freeman, and was 'turned over' to James Shaw in 1707. It is noted (Burgoyne, 2002, p.29-30) that he was 'free' of the gunmakers co. in 1714.
He worked at the 'Cross Guns over against Norfolk Street in the Strand' from 1718-45, and was gunmaker to Frederick, Prince of Wales from 1729.

As this pistol has the crowned proof and viewers marks (P and V) we would presume the gun was made prior to 1714, if by being 'free' on the Gunmakers Co. (of London) in 1714 means he was no longer 'under their jurisdiction'.
However the grotesque face (or pugnosed) was apparently first used by Turvey (London) c. 1720.
Silversmiths of course produced these elements privately, so it may be possible that James Shuder had begun using that form earlier, but that seems unlikely unless it is simply that Turvey was a more profoundly known maker than Harman.


The Blackbeard Image and Queen Anne pistols
________________________________________
Just thinking more on the depictions of Blackbeard, and the appearance of usually six pistols worn in some sort of bandolier(s) somewhat consistently. It would seem that these pistols may represent 'Queen Anne's ' by the butt shape and plates. In my previous post I wondered if perhaps the pistol of the OP may be of the period including Blackbeard (d. 1718) or if perhaps artistic license is at hand.

The beginning source for 'Blackbeard' would best be construed as by the mysterious Capt. Charles Johnson's "General History of the Pyrates" (1724).
Apparently he took accounts from various persons, including Israel Hands, the mate in Blackbeards crew.
According to an account by Henry Bostock (Capt. of the ship 'Margaret' captured by Blackbeard) given Dec. 19, 1717:
"...he was dressed in a long sea captain coat, crossed by two belts-a sword belt and a bandlolier-while three brace of pistols hung from improvised holsters over his chest. He wore a small brown fur cap* with two small lengths of match poked out behind each ear"

*this was probably what was known as a 'thrummed cap', worn by sailors in cold weather...but as he was in Caribbean, odd. In first version of Johnson's book the cap is shown, but later changed to a tricorn hat.

The tricorn hat seems more in line with the fashions of c.1720s, and I am thinking perhaps that the following illustrations of Blackbeard, following the style context with the hat. might follow the pistols as well.

It is known that other pirates wore pistols in similar fashion, but it seems they often used ribbon tied around the handles as with the case of 'Black Sam Bellamy' (note the 'Black' appellation, cf. 'Blackbeard') . He and Blackbeard were both in the crew of Benjamin Hornigold c. 1716.
In Feb. 1717 he became captain of the captured English slaver "Whydah".
In an account on Bellamy, it was said he always wore black coats (hence 'Black' Sam) and had four 'dueling pistols' in his sash.

The Whydah wrecked in April 1717 off Cape Cod, and in 2004 wreck was found. One of the relics was a 'Sun King' (Sonnenkönig Louis XIV) pistol, which still had silk ribbon tied around it, as it was known some pirates did, and draped them around their necks. It would seem unlikely that four full size pistols (of the probable French cavalry size c. 1710 =sun king?) would carry well in his sash, so perhaps two on a ribbon?

[Jim McDougall]

Udo, this is an absolutely fantastic and wonderful entry, and thank you so much for putting all this together and the great illustrations.

You bring up an intriguing subject! these braces of "Queen Anne pistols" which have become virtually cliche' for the Blackbeard persona.
It makes sense that in these times, long before the famed 'six shooter', and single shot pistols, one would need multiples in case of misfire or needing more shots.

You bring up a good point, how did Blackbeard acquire not one, but six (a brace is a matching pair) of these seemingly select pistols?

It would appear that these 'Queen Anne' pistols with turn off barrels (had to be screwed off to reload) were intended as smaller pocket type pistols for the use of gentlemen as self defense. If I understand correctly they began in England about 1680s-90s with Huguenot makers and Andrew Dolop, a Dutch maker in England around 1695.

While the style was apparently known in England in this time, these seem to have been in use for years later, but these early ones are what seems depicted in the woodcuts in Johnson (1724).

Blackbeard is usually who I think of regarding these pistols, as you note, Black Sam Bellamy (the 'Whydah') was noted as wearing 4 dueling pistols in his sash. As you note, these were much larger pistols and hard to imagine 4 in a sash.....let alone on ribbons (as the one pistol found in that wreck had).

The book "General History of Pyrates" (Capt. Charles Johnson) is agreed to be by an unknown author, and with notable license, however it literally set the standard for the pirate persona ever since.

I noticed that Bartholomew Roberts, who became 'pirate' in 1719, the year after Blackbeards death, was noted in Johnson(1724, p.212) as having "...a sword in hand, and two pair of pistols slung over his shoulders".

It seems an interesting coincidence that both Blackbeard and Bellamy, both in the service of Hornigold, followed the practice of multiple pistols, in braces in either bandolier or ribbons.

Yet Roberts, after them, adopted the idea, it would seem independently.

So the question is:
Did pirates indeed wear braces of pistols as discussed ? was this a practice more widely known in these times? or was this exclusive to the pirate images of 'Capt. Johnson'?
Was Johnson (?) inspired by the 'Queen Anne' pistols which were likely known among gentlemen of his time in England and chose these smaller pistols as good candidates for braces of guns as illustrated in his book?

Obviously a number of the larger 'sun king' type guns would look ridiculous in a bandolier or strung on ribbons, rather like a bandolier of howitzer shells.


Great food for thought!!! Thank you again Udo!

[M ELEY]

I think the description of the bandoliers makes sense for several reasons. Obviously, the guy with the most armament stands a better chance of winning. One-shot flintlocks in a battle had limited effect unless you had more. Secondly, remember that these folks loved to intimidate simply by their looks. Blackbeard purportedly set fuses in his beard and under his hat on fire to appear like the devil himself! They exaggerated their appearance, so a multi-brace of pistols did just that. As far as the Queen Anne types being of smaller caliber, you didn't necessarily need a huge .70 cal hand cannon! These folks were fighting in close proximity on the deck of a ship. Their swords, far from being huge rapiers or broadswords, were shorter hangers. The Queen Anne types were lighter for carrying in bundles and had just as lethal effect at close range!

[Jim McDougall]

VERY good points Capn, the notion of psychological impact was clearly used by pirates, much as in many combative or adversarial situations. As Confucius said (loosely translated) 'the idea is not to beat the opponent into submission, but to make him not wish to fight".

Blackbeard was probably the most notably recorded for this practice, especially the decoration of his beard, said to be with lit fuses (possibly to deter mosquitos ?) but more likely red ties or to that effect. However the braces of pistols on display would be formidable in appearance as well. The idea is, any guy with this much firepower means business!

Well noted on the close quarters combat, no need to large guns, caliber, or swords of length. Which brings the subject of the swords depicted in these woodcuts from Johnson's book......these appear be 'hangers' of various sorts, some which fall into the nebulous category of the 'scimitar'. The oddly clipped blades seem to defy comparison in most blade forms we are familiar with, aside from some ethnographic forms such as the kampilan, mandau and some Chinese types.

So then, might these 'cutlasses' depicted in these images also be somewhat 'sensationalized'?

[Jim McDougall]

VERY good points Capn, the notion of psychological impact was clearly used by pirates, much as in many combative or adversarial situations. As Confucius said (loosely translated) 'the idea is not to beat the opponent into submission, but to make him not wish to fight".

Blackbeard was probably the most notably recorded for this practice, especially the decoration of his beard, said to be with lit fuses (possibly to deter mosquitos ?) but more likely red ties or to that effect. However the braces of pistols on display would be formidable in appearance as well. The idea is, any guy with this much firepower means business!

Well noted on the close quarters combat, no need to large guns, caliber, or swords of length. Which brings the subject of the swords depicted in these woodcuts from Johnson's book......these appear be 'hangers' of various sorts, some which fall into the nebulous category of the 'scimitar'. The oddly clipped blades seem to defy comparison in most blade forms we are familiar with, aside from some ethnographic forms such as the kampilan, mandau and some Chinese types.

So then, might these 'cutlasses' depicted in these images also be somewhat 'sensationalized'?

[Ed]

This always struck me as having seafaring roots. The guard is hammered steel and the grip is bone(?). Blade is marked as the picture shows but has that north african vibe.

Came with a wooden scabbard too. I bit long for hand to hand on a ship's deck I think.

[Rick]

We seem to have overlooked the Iranun peoples somehow.

https://the-iranun.blogspot.com/2011...of-iranun.html