Arab Cutlasses of the Pirate Coast

Jim McDougall · 8th February 2024, 12:52 AM

There were pirates in the Persian Gulf in ancient times, but the subject here is those who preyed from the Strait of Hormuz at Ras al Khaima along the coast, southward. These regions were known as the 'Pirate Coast', until 1820 when the British signed treaties with many of the sheikhs in coastal principalities with these regions termed 'The Trucial Coast'.

While the complexities of these ongoing circumstances in these areas, it is interesting to note this obscure area of 'piracy', which typically of course is centered mostly on the familiar pirates of the Caribbean.

In these areas of Arabia, the focus here is on the al Qawasim tribe (termed Joasmi by the British) many of whom formed the groups of pirates who raided and attacked along the coasts of Eastern Arabia, vessels of the East India Co., and even as far as the western (Malabar) coast of India.
It seems that these coastal regions in the Gulf were studded with islands, twisting creeks, treacherous sand banks and ideal for pirate activity.

The book, "The Pirate Coast" by Sir Charles Belgrave (1966) is a wonderful source detailing the history of piracy in these regions.

The top example strongly resembles the 17/18th c. example in "Arms & Armor of Arabia", Robert Elgood, 1994, 2.1,
note the mention of resemblance of blade widening resembling the 'Moplah' weapons of the Malabar coast of India, where it seems these pirate vessels had certain contact. Both of these swords have similar widening of distal third of blade. While the mountings of both of these seem of course far more recent, the blades seem much older.

Would appreciate thoughts, ideas, other examples. I am not specifying these are 'pirate' swords but that they might be of the forms used by either these tribes of Ras al Khalma or perhaps Muscat. It is known of course that there was notable Yemeni influence in Oman, and the lower example, has a hilt shape with the blockish shape seen in the Yemeni sa'if (often termed Zanzibari). in example posted with ring guard.

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8th February 2024, 12:52 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,951	Arab Cutlasses of the Pirate Coast There were pirates in the Persian Gulf in ancient times, but the subject here is those who preyed from the Strait of Hormuz at Ras al Khaima along the coast, southward. These regions were known as the 'Pirate Coast', until 1820 when the British signed treaties with many of the sheikhs in coastal principalities with these regions termed 'The Trucial Coast'. While the complexities of these ongoing circumstances in these areas, it is interesting to note this obscure area of 'piracy', which typically of course is centered mostly on the familiar pirates of the Caribbean. In these areas of Arabia, the focus here is on the al Qawasim tribe (termed Joasmi by the British) many of whom formed the groups of pirates who raided and attacked along the coasts of Eastern Arabia, vessels of the East India Co., and even as far as the western (Malabar) coast of India. It seems that these coastal regions in the Gulf were studded with islands, twisting creeks, treacherous sand banks and ideal for pirate activity. The book, "The Pirate Coast" by Sir Charles Belgrave (1966) is a wonderful source detailing the history of piracy in these regions. The top example strongly resembles the 17/18th c. example in "Arms & Armor of Arabia", Robert Elgood, 1994, 2.1, note the mention of resemblance of blade widening resembling the 'Moplah' weapons of the Malabar coast of India, where it seems these pirate vessels had certain contact. Both of these swords have similar widening of distal third of blade. While the mountings of both of these seem of course far more recent, the blades seem much older. Would appreciate thoughts, ideas, other examples. I am not specifying these are 'pirate' swords but that they might be of the forms used by either these tribes of Ras al Khalma or perhaps Muscat. It is known of course that there was notable Yemeni influence in Oman, and the lower example, has a hilt shape with the blockish shape seen in the Yemeni sa'if (often termed Zanzibari). in example posted with ring guard. ' Attached Images Last edited by Jim McDougall; 8th February 2024 at 01:14 AM.