An Overview of Pirate Swords | Arms at Sea(1630-1730)

Join our discord: Hand over them doubloons: Fork it over: Channel merch: When I hear “Pirate sword“, I always think of the cutlass - in particular, this picture of Francois l’Ollonais, one of the most terrifying filibusters. Befittingly, he’s seen here against a backdrop of sinking ships, drowning castaways, and a burning settlement. One can imagine the blood-curdling screams of women and children, gunfire, and the hacking of blades. Modern sources: Boarders Away - William Gilkerson La Belle: The Archaeology of a Seventeenth-Century Ship of New World Colonization - Bruseth et. al Pirate Hunting - Benerson Little Pirates in their own words - E.T Fox Pirate Nests and the Rise of the British Empire - Mark G. Hanna The Great Days of Piracy - George Woodbury The Sea-Rover’s Practice - Benerson Little Under the Black Flag - David Cordingly Period sources: A new account of Guinea - William Snelgrave A New Voyage Round the World - William Dampier Captain Sharp’s Journey Over the Isthmus of Darien - Bartholomew Sharp The Buccaneers of America - Alexandre Exquemelin The Expert Swordsman, The True Art of Self Defence - Donald McBane Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 1:20 The cutlass blade 4:26 The cutlass hilt 8:52 Confusing cutlass 11:30 The smallsword 13:26 The rapier 14:20 The broadsword 16:26 Scabbard 18:29 Exotic swords 20:55 Maintenance 23:01 Melee techniques 27:12 Conclusion #pirates #history #swords