Pirates were highly successful in robbing people by witlessly scaring them and part of this performance included carrying and collecting a stack of weapons such as the
Cutlass sword. However, during the looting, pirates had to defeat the crew of the ship they embarked on. For such hand to hand combats, pirates required hand weapons that were offense-oriented, lightweight and concealable to gain an advantage in the fight. Below are the most trusted weapons used by the pirates.
Cutlass
The
Cutlass sword, with the blade length of 2 feet and weight around 3 pounds was perhaps the most cherished close-ranged weapon of the pirates. The blade of the Cutlass sword is slightly curved with a single edge and a sharp outer side. The sword’s sheer strength could easily cut through ropes, canvas, and wood, also the short length and light weight made it ideal for combats in cramped areas of ships. This makes the cutlass a must carry hand weapon for the pirates.
Boarding Axe
With the length of 3 feet and a 1 feet head, the Boarding axe was an indispensable tool for various tasks like scaling the sides of the enemy ship and cutting through ropes, riggings and wood. A pirate could easily disable a whole ship with this weapon. They were light enough to be hung on the shoulder with the help of mounted units and transported to a battleship. A single blow from the boarding axe could easily kill a person, making it a multipurpose must-have tool for the pirate.
Dagger
The most portable weapon that almost every pirate carried into a battle was a dagger. The small space of the ship deck for maneuvering made small weapons such as a dagger a lot more convenient. A pirate dagger is smaller than a classical knife and blade on both of its sides is edged. It has a crossbar and a hilt before the blade to add more protection and prevent the hand from slipping on the blade. The dagger is also specifically optimized to be trusted at the enemy. I was a pirate’s favorite weapon to carry out surprise attacks as it was easily concealed under clothes and swiftly kill the opponent. It was also used to cut ropes and food which made it a weapon that every pirate carried.
Buckler
With the length of 4 feet, a buckler is a comparatively small shield that can easily deflect sword attacks and even large projectiles. It was an ideal weapon for violent close-quartered fighting such as
Swashbucklers Rudimentary Buckler Shield . The primary use for the buckler was to protect the hand with the sword. Secondly, it curved center and lightweight made it exceptional for deflecting a sword. A buckler could also be used as a metal fist to punch an opponent with its flat face or rim. Also, it could be used as a blinder to shield the sword hand to keep the opponent from guessing the next attack of the pirate. Lastly, it was also helpful in grappling, which allowed the pirate to wrap and control the opponent's arm. All these characteristics made the buckler a favorite for the pirates.
Boarding Pike
A Boarding pike was a primitive weapon that was a necessary equipment in every ship. With a sharp metal point appended to a wooden pole, it was the most reliable weapon for hand to hand combats. Due to its long length of about 5 ft., the boarding pike was very effective against all the pirate weapons including the cutlass. It could easily reach the enemy’s heart even before he lifts the sword. The boarding pike was used as a throwing weapon and also to repel an enemy ’s attempt to board the ship.
The times when storms and rain would debilitate all the firearms on the ship; pike, axe and cutlass sword were the only tools available to fight in the combat. Hence, making them the most reliable weapons for the pirates. Above was the list of the top 5 most trusted hand weapons used by the pirates. If you know about any more such weapons, feel free to share in the comment section below.
