Swords

Cutlass&scimitar — A cutlass (left) and a scimitar (right).

Swords are weapons with long metal blades and a hilt with a hand guard that are used for slashing or stabbing.

Types of Swords[]

Cutlass: The cutlass is a short, broad saber or slashing sword, with a straight or slightly curved blade sharpened on the cutting edge. The hilt often had a solid-cupped or basket shaped guard.
Backsword: Backswords are swords with a single-edged blade and a hilt with a single-handed grip. It is called a backsword because the triangular cross section gives a flat back edge opposite the cutting edge
The French Briquet Sword is a sword with a short, slightly curved blade and a hilt with a simple D guard. It is the standard sword of the British Regulars, as well as the Colonial Regulars.
Saber: Sabers are a type of backsword with a slightly curved blade associated with light cavalry.
Shortsword: a shortsword is sword with a relatively short blade.
Basket-Hilted Sword: basket-hilted swords are swords with a basket shaped guard that protects the hand. They had long and heavy double edged blades. They are famous for being the sword of Scottish clansmen.
English Tuck Sword: The English Tuck Sword is a variation of the longsword. It is characterized by a cruciform hilt and a straight, edgeless blade that was sharply pointed.
Rapier: Rapiers are large, slender, sharply pointed swords. The sword is meant to be a thrusting weapon, but it can also be used for cutting or slashing attacks. They often have complex, sweeping hilts designed to protect the hand wielding the sword. A large pommel secures the grip to the weapon and provides some weight to balance the long blade.
Spadroon: A spadroon is a light sword with a straight edged blade, enabling both cut and thrust attacks. It is in between a small sword (which is exclusively a thrusting sword) and a broadsword. They can be single or double edged, and have a variety of hilts.
Scimitar: A scimitar is a backsword or saber with a curved blade, originating in the Middle East. They were used in horse warfare because of their relatively light weight and their curved design, good for slashing opponents while riding on a horse. The curved blade allowed riders to slash enemies and keep riding without getting stuck as stabbing with straight swords on horseback would.
Machete: A machete is a broad blade use either as a tool like an axe or in combat like a short sword.
Katana: Katana were one of the traditional made Japanese swords that were used by the samurai of ancient and feudal Japan. It has a slightly curved, single edged blade. It has a circular or squared guard and a long grip to accommodate two hands.
Wakizashi: Wakizashi is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords worn by the samurai of feudal Japan. They are typically between 12 and 24 inches. It is worn together with the katana to signify that the wearer is a samurai.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

The swords used on the show were provided by armourer Hamish Macleod's company, History in the Making.
Billy Bones, Mr. Scott and Captain Berringer all at one point carry the same cutlass with a lion's head pommel.
The French Briquet Swords that are seen on the show as the standard issue sword for the British Army were actually the standard issue for Napoleonic French infantry.
The type of cutlass that Israel Hands uses (also seen in the hands of pirates and sailors) is identical to the Royal Navy 1804 Pattern Boarding Cutlass.
Both Edward Teach and Woodes Rogers use English Tuck Swords, albeit in different seasons (Teach in the first half of Season Three, Rogers in Season Four).