33. Pirate Weapons

The weapons that pirates used were mainly offensive oriented and lightweight.

Boarding Pikes were used to effectively repel boarders as they were climbing up the side of a wooden hull.  

The Boarding Axe was useful not only for fighting but also for climbing on the side of the ship and cutting and chopping rigging, doors and hatches.

Popular large sized gunpowder weapons were Musket Rifles, Musketoons and the Blunderbuss.  The Blunderbuss produced such a kick that they were often mounted to the rail of a ship and called Rail Guns. 

Flintlock pistols, the most common mobile gun of the pirate age.  Another form of Flintlock was the Miquelet. Superseding the Flintlock was the Percussion Pistol. 

The most famous sword on the seas was a Cutlass, which is remembered in pirate lore as necessary gear for every pirate.  With a weight around three pounds and length of about two feet, the cutlass was an ideal weapon for fighting in confined areas like on board or below decks of a ship.  

Knives were the most portable of all weapons, almost every Pirate carried a knife that could be used for melee combat. Dirks and Daggers, that were specifically optimized to be thrown, were also in use by pirates. 

At this stop familiarize yourself with the many weapons displayed that were used by Vikings, Conquistadors, Pirates and Navy's. 

Real and replica weapons of the pirates age are for sale in the Gift Shop.