Pirates in the 16th and 17th centuries utilized various tactics to increase the success of their naval raids and to quickly acquire their desired loot and hostages. The Pirate weapons were mostly very lightweight and offensive-oriented, with most of them being acquired from their raids.
Despite not having any advantage over other sea voyagers in terms of weaponry, pirates relied on strategic methods to overpower easily vulnerable merchant ships.
Pirate Swords
The pirate era deemed swords as essential weapons since they provided the widest range of defense against other forms of melee weaponry. The Cutlass stood as the most renowned sword on the sea, epitomizing the compulsory equipment for every pirate.
Other favored swords employed on pirate vessels included the rapier for its slender blade, the Calvary saber with its singular edge, and the Broadsword for its extended and double-edged design.
Cutlass
The Cutlass was perhaps the favored and most used close-ranged Pirate weapon during the 17th and 18th centuries. Weighing roughly three pounds and measuring about two feet in length, the cutlass, made for an efficient weapon to wield in areas of limited space such as onboard ships or below decks.
With a slightly curved, single-edged blade sharpened along the outer edge, the cutlass originated from the “Boucan,” a long knife used by Buccaneers for carving meat.
Though shorter and heavier than a comparable saber, this did not pose a disadvantage as the cutlass was more practical in its versatility, enabling skilled pirates to easily break down sturdy doors and slash through thick canvas and ropes.
Broadsword
The Broadsword was the weapon of choice for the Vikings. This sword was known for being heavy and lengthy making it less ideal for use on board, thus not being preferred by pirates.
However, buccaneers and naval soldiers did utilize this sword while at sea. Its lethal nature, capable of causing deadly blows with a single swing made it a desired weapon among the pirates despite its limitations. The Broadsword’s distinguishing features include its focus on slashing attacks and having one or both edges of the blade sharpened.
Pirate Pistols and Guns
During the era of piracy, gunpowder weapons revolutionized modern warfare not only on land but also in naval battles. These weapons took various forms and played a significant role in shaping the outcome of conflicts at sea.
Flintlock Pistol
The flintlock pistol model which was predominantly utilized by the pirates is a lightweight and compact firearm based on the flintlock system (which superseded matchlock and wheellock technologies).
This pistol size proved to be pretty useful during boarding attacks as it could be quickly secured to the belt, and some pirates like Blackbeard wore multiple pistols, up to six. It was developed in France in the early 1600s, and the primary downside of this pistol was that loading it was notably difficult.
Multi Barrel Pistol
This type of pistol typically consists of two to four barrels, with each barrel fired independently. Its mechanism is based on flintlock.
Two versions of this model exist, the first and most common variant has each barrel outfitted with its own firing mechanism. However, certain multi-barreled pistols operate using only one firing device on two or more revolving barrels.
Multi-barreled pistols were expensive weapons reserved for affluent commanders. One reason why pirates did not frequently use them is because they were slow and heavy.
Musket
The muskets were the first sniping weapons of pirates. With a very long barrel, muskets were not ideal for close encounters during boarding attacks.
However, pirates found a new way to use this weapon, introducing a new dimension to their fights. A skilled shooter would stand on platforms known as fighting tops during ship battles and shoot at opponents from above.
Muskets, like pistols, underwent an evolution in mechanism from wheellock and matchlock to flintlock during the golden age of piracy. Typically fired from the shoulder, they were not only difficult to handle but also quite expensive.
Buccaneers found muskets to be useful in their exploits, particularly when attacking wealthy Spanish towns, but Golden Age pirates did not favor them as much.
Musketoon
The Musketoon was the preferred musket of Golden Age pirates due to its design for close encounters during boarding. It had a shorter barrel and lighter weight, making it easier to handle. Although less accurate, its firepower could cause significant damage.
Blunderbuss
The blunderbuss was like a miniature handheld version of a Pirate Cannon that served as a firearm similar in power and capability to a full-sized cannon, causing widespread damage in a broad area.
Although it could be held like a musket, it was fired from the shoulder just like other two-handed guns. Due to its wider shape at the end of the barrel, the blunderbuss was not very accurate or capable of long-distance shooting. Rather, it spread shot even further.
Despite its limitations, the blunderbuss was a popular and practical choice for defense, particularly against pirate attacks, being much shorter than a standard musket.
Pirate Knives
Pirates commonly carried knives as their primary weapon due to their portability. Among the preferred knives used by pirates were dirks, which were optimized for throwing, while others used daggers for melee combat. As most naval ships did not provide enough space for maneuvering, knives were a more convenient choice for pirates.
Dagger
A Pirate dagger was a smaller version of a classical knife, with double-edged blades and crossbars and hilts located at the beginning of the blade for added security, preventing the hand from slipping onto the blade during a fight.
These daggers were often used by pirates in surprise attacks, as they could easily be concealed under clothing and swiftly used to defeat their opponents. Pirates also found other uses for daggers, such as cutting ropes and food, and it was a common accessory for nearly every pirate.
Dirk
A dirk is a type of dagger that is smaller in size. Its primary use was as a throwing weapon and it could have either a double-edged or single-edged blade.
Gully
The Gully is a larger type of knife, that lacks a hilt and bears a resemblance to contemporary kitchen knives. It has a single-edged blade and pirates utilized it on ships, such as for severing rigging and ropes. Gullies were frequently employed during mutinies as well.
Other Pirate Weapons
Boarding pike
The boarding pike was a common fixture on ships, owing to its considerable length and effectiveness against pirate weapons such as cutlasses. Its long reach meant that it could strike an opponent before they even had a chance to draw their sword.
These versatile weapons were even used for throwing. While the pikes used on pirate ships were shorter than their land-based counterparts, measuring roughly five feet in length, they still served as effective defensive weapons to ward off would-be boarders.
Marlinspike
A marlinspike is a rugged hand tool typically used to untangle ropes and splice them together on a ship, as well as to connect knots.
While not typically regarded as a weapon in the traditional sense, this tool has at times been utilized as a makeshift weapon during periods of mutiny or other situations wherein no other weaponry is readily available. This pirate weapon generally boasts a circular blade with a sharpened end, which can be utilized to damage ships by piercing heavy cannonballs.
Boarding axe
Boarding axes were commonly used by pirates and other sailors as a versatile tool for a variety of tasks during ship-to-ship combat and other nautical activities. The sharp blade and sturdy handle made it an effective weapon for cutting through ropes, rigging, nets, and wood, as well as for boarding enemy ships.