Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2007 2:24:41 GMT
Jonathan: not sure how you can make that claim when the breadth and depth of cutlass designs was enormous. The cutlass was enormously popular especially for ship to ship action and there are probably designs out there that we haven't even seen yet.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2007 3:28:36 GMT
Jonathan: not sure how you can make that claim when the breadth and depth of cutlass designs was enormous. The cutlass was enormously popular especially for ship to ship action and there are probably designs out there that we haven't even seen yet. There probably are, but I doubt this is one of them. It fits the general form of what would make a good cutlass--a short blade with good hand protection. Functionally it is fine. The basket hilt on it is a fantasy element (and there is nothing wrong with that). It would be great on a Renaissance Faire pirate, but would probably not be allowed by a living history (reenactment) group. I am not debating its function, or even its general form (that being a pierced basket hilt). It just does not have a 17th or 18th century aesthetic, and Windlass do not claim that this sword is a historical replica. It is hard to come to any kind of conclusion or agreement in a debate like this. I don't think we'll be able to prove to each other that one is right and one is wrong. I will just say that in my experience I have never seen a historical example that matches the hilt on the MRL pirate cutlass, nor do I expect that I ever will. If I do see one I will get a photo and share it here. MRL do offer more historically accurate cutlasses: The Pirate's Companion Sword is an amalgam or the French M1833 cutlass which had an iron guard, and a US M1860 cutlass that had a brass guard, but had a leather and wire grip. The Scottish Cutlass is a historically plausible design, and the basket is a decent approximation of a late 16th century or early 17th century basket hilt. The Pirate Captain's Hanger is a an alright take on an 18th century hanger. For other sub-$300 cutlasses that are more historical, check out the sword section at G.G. Godwin's website. For some online repositories for swords from the age of fighting sail, visit the edged weapon collection of the British National Maritime Museum, search the albums at myArmoury for cutlass and hanger, and search the forums at SFI and myArmoury using those same terms.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2007 3:36:42 GMT
Ah ok, i really like this cutlass because it has a schiavona 'esque basket and is married to a rather nice little blade. I have been working on a curved sabre married to a schiavona basket which i would love to get built one day after i get my darksword armory sword and my last legend kumoryu.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2008 7:46:02 GMT
The name Mary Read rings a bell. I'll check out the link when I get home. Mary Read and Ann Bonny disguised themselves as men and served under "Calico Jack" Rackham. Eventually, Rackham and his crew were captured, and Rackham (and most of his compatriots) were executed for piracy, but the two ladies claimed they were pregnant and were thus spared the hangman's noose. One of them was quoted as saying (of Rackham), "If he had but fought like a man, he needn't have been hang'd like a dog". I also read about a Chinese female pirate named "Madame Ching", who took over her husband's pirate fleet after he was killed in battle. Got that tidbit from a great book called "Romance of the Sea", about the 'golden age' of wooden sailing ships and the iron men who sailed them.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2008 8:34:07 GMT
Aye, that 'twere a fine report thar, Cap'n. That'n be a sharp-tongued lass. I like 'em wi' sass. Makes fer a more...ah...interestin' time.
Fer the rest o' ye swabs, how could ye be fergettin' Grace O'Malley? Ah, what be the world acomin' to when such a fine cap'n be forgot? Thank Davy Jones ye be not in my crew, fer 'twould be to th' brig wi' ye all!
I be in yer debt, sar. Thankee kindly.
Capt. Iron Roger Rackham, master o' the Mephistopheles.
Ahhh, one thing more. 'Tis a fine tricorn ye have an' I'm thinkin' it looks summat like the one Dirty semprini McAlpin lost in a drinkin' contest last year in Port Royal. Not sayin' 'tis his, but ye might be wantin' t'know that semprini be lookin' t'get it back. Just thought ye should know.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2008 18:51:35 GMT
LOL! A karma, glacier, for the best example of "piratespeak" yet. ;D
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2008 20:52:53 GMT
Well thank ye kindly, Cpt'n Rackham. N'deed she be a fine lass in a tussel. Tho' to me personal I tend to take the Chineee view of inter'stin...
Grace be a fine lass no doubt, as fine as any t' sail. Most lubbers tho 'no her less than Anne, mostly due that other Rackham. Any capt'.n too drunk to fight desrves 'is fate, says I. Anne was bonny to remind 'im 'ere he stretched!
Now as to me hat. I can't recall crossin' paths with the illustrious Mister McAlpin, though in Port royal all things be possibl', dontcha know? Be that as it may, I had this hat off a Gascon merchant off t' Golden Rock be now fice y'ar ago. So I be a thinkin' Dirty semprini needs be a searchin' elsewhar t'other lest he end up abroach a rocky shoal. Feel free to pass that bit on kin' sar.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2008 22:57:47 GMT
Well thank ye kindly, Cpt'n Rackham. N'deed she be a fine lass in a tussel. Tho' to me personal I tend to take the Chineee view of inter'stin... Grace be a fine lass no doubt, as fine as any t' sail. Most lubbers tho 'no her less than Anne, mostly due that other Rackham. Any capt'.n too drunk to fight desrves 'is fate, says I. Anne was bonny to remind 'im 'ere he stretched! Couldn't agree wi' ye more. He be no relation t'me, leastaways not t'me parsonal knowledge, but he's been a barnacle on me hull fer a long time, tarnishin' the Rackham name an' all. Ah, I've had me hands full a-makin' up fer that, I can tell ye. Aye, so I shall, should ever I have th' misfortune o' runnin' alongside o' that scurvy dog. His anchor chain be a few links short, if ye catch me drift. Fair winds and fat merchantmen t'ye, brother. If ye be in Tortuga, ask fer me at Stinky Bill's. He'll know whar t'find me. Or should ye drop anchor in la Isla de las Montañas, ask fer me at The Starving Stallion. 'Tis proud I'd be t'share a bottle o' me finest rum wi' ye.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2008 23:01:27 GMT
LOL! A karma, glacier, for the best example of "piratespeak" yet. ;D Thankee. Thankee kindly, sar. Ye be a gen'leman an' a scholar, aye, so ye be.
|
|