The hilt of this cutlass, crafted in the middle 17th century, once belonged to English sailor Edward Teach. Ye probably know him by his dread knickname -- Blackbeard, piratical menace of West Indies and American East Coast. The blade is not original. The protective basket is of noticeably intricate craftsmanship. It would have been expensive, suggesting it was swag from one of his many raids on wealthy merchant ships. The grip has been determined to be wrapped in cured human skin, clearly a replacement from the original leather.
The sword was taken from Teach at his death by a British Naval officer charged with capturing Teach.
Also taken was Teach's head, which was used to collect the bounty.
"With that he gave him a second stroke, which cut off his head, laying it flat on his shoulder." -- The Boston Newsletter, November 1718.
This was not Teach's only sword, nor do we know how long it was in his possession. But due to a reputation bloodier than the Gramke brothers, it's reasonable to assume this sword was used to kill. You'll notice it's fairly short, hardly longer than a man's arm. Once the cannon and small arms had been discharged, pirates preferred shorter blades when boarding ships for attack. It was close-quarters combat. Among pirates bent on mayhem, there was nothing more embarrassing than swinging to cleave an enemy's skull, only to have your sword snag in the overhead rigging.
5 comments:
Arrr, ya picaroom! Avast ye, indeed, that be a fine cutlass ye be presentin'! Arrr! I'd give my left testicle for a chance to swashbuckle a landlubber or six with that beaut! Arrr!
Here's an image that will tickle the fancy of both Psmoke and Badway.
I don't get it. That doesn't look a like a knife. More like a car.
It's a Cutlass. Jeez, where are you from, Brookside?
Or maybe excremental destruction?
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