The cutlass and its direct descendant — the cavalry saber — played a powerful role in American history. When the first European ships landed parties on American shores, the cutlass landed with them. Many of us think of the cutlass as the pirate sword, but it has a much broader history. This blade began as the weapon for the common seaman — who had very little training in sword play but lots of experience at chopping things. The Navy issued short heavy cutlasses to sailors shortly before hand to hand confrontations, while officers carried their more slender and deft sabers at all times.
The distinctive basket hand guard of the cutlass carried over to cavalry sabers, the swords carried by mounted soldiers throughout the Civil War and the many conflicts that followed. Cutlasses also found use in peaceful applications, and were the preferred tools for harvesting sugar cane on Caribbean plantations.
Today’s cutlasses are usually reproductions of museum antiques, though some are more fanciful, influenced by movies as well as the inaccuracies of romantic literature. The concept of a short, heavy chopping sword still finds practical application from time to time, as modern companies recreate new versions of this old military blade. The cutlass is a working man’s sword, only slightly more refined than a machete and as well suited to chopping brush as to repelling the occasional boarding party.
Cold Steel makes a US Navy officer’s cutlass. It’s a replica, of course, but it’s combat-quality.
With the same clean lines as the Cold Steel, this Cavalry Cutlass matches the kit of the typical Civil War Cavalryman.
For those who love the Pirate trade, here’s a costume version of a pirate cutlass that really is pretty good.
Time for pirates out there to get serious, because here's a decent cutlass for you at last. Trademark Global raised its own standards with the Black Beard Pirate Sword.
This 38-inch cutlass features bronzed steel fittings and an antiqued high carbon stainless steel blade -- no shiny department-store look in this ...
This cutlass-style sword from Bud K. shows the flair of a blade from Prince of Persia -- but buy it for its good looks, not historical accuracy.
The brass pommel, hardwood grip, and brass handguard place this 46-1/2-inch-long sword a level or two above the usual fantasy sword. Lack of plastic ...
This replica of Captain Leo's broad sword from the hit kung fu movie House of Flying Daggers looks better than most true combat broadswords of today. Antiqued cast steel fittings give the sword an authentic appearance with quality materials and workmanship throughout.
The 38-inch-long sword's 2-1/4-inch high carbon ...
Since today's pirate cutlasses are usually part of a costume rather than battle weapons, you'll want to consider the Pirates of Caribbean Cutlass Sword with Basket Guard. This cutlass is clearly an accessory rather than a fighting cutlass, but it does offers some good features at a reasonable price.
The Cutlass ...
Ka-Bar's Black Cutlass Machete reaches back to the roots of both designs, coming up with a new approach that works well for modern campers and adventurers. The 16-1/2-inch rat tail tang knife -- with 11 inches of 1085 high carbon steel cutting edge -- chops brush, slashes rope, and in ...
This 31 1/2" replica sword with a highly polished 25 1/2" high carbon steel blade recreates the familiar sidearm of U.S. Marines, Naval officers, and Cavalry, last seeing extensive use in the American Civil War. A brass full hand guard, wire wrapped handle, and polished brass fittings on hilt ...
So you've decided to be a pirate. You got a parrot? Check. Tri-corner hat? Check. Jolly Roger flag? Check. Seems like you're almost set - all you need now is a cutlass. The cutlass is a well-documented weapon of pirates. This shorter sword ...
This 36" overall length flat ground stainless steel replica more closely matches the weapon a naval officer might have carried than it does the shorter, heavier seaman's cutlass that was the official sidearm of the enlisted riffraff of the day. Officers of the day were trained in fencing techniques. ...
This is a replica of the last sword issued by the US Navy. A cutlass design, it's often referred to as a "pirate sword" due to the sweeping cup and hilt design. This saber was issued to sailors from 1917 until the mid-1940's. In 1949, it was officially made ...
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