Well shiver me timber...please!A cutlass is a short thick sword with a curved blade sharpened on the convex side, or a gross sabre. Best known as the sailor's weapon of choice, likely because it was also robust enough to hack through heavy ropes, canvas and wood. It is also short enough to use in relatively close quarters, such as in the rigging or below decks.
Another advantage to the cutlass was its simplicity of use. The cutlass required less training than the rapier or court sword, and was more effective as an infantry weapon than the saber. The cutlass is the sword most usually portrayed in films about pirates.It was also used on land, particularly by cavalrymen such as the Mamelukes, since its curved blade made it useful for slashing and slicing combat. The typical European cavalry sword resembles a longer and thinner cutlass.
cutlasses aboard the frigate Grand Turk
A cutlass is as often an agricultural implement and tool, as a weapon (cf. machete, to which the same comment applies), being used commonly in rain forest and sugar cane areas, such as the Caribbean and Central America.
According to pirate myth, the cutlass was invented by the Caribbean buccaneers, and was originally a long knife made for cutting meat. As a historical fact, however, this remains dubious. It must be noted that the hey-day of corsairs and pirates were well over before the widespread use of cutlass. The weapons used by such were most likely to be falchions.
The word cutlass is probably derived from the Italian coltelaccio, meaning "big knife." This was the name of a short, broad-bladed saber popular in Italy during the 16:th century.
For a fabulous selection of authentic reproduction and fantasy swords and armour, please be sure and visit Reliks Swords and Collectibles
