The Cutlass is the weapon most associated with the pirates and was probably more common among them at times than even a flintlock pistol. Here is the one thing that would keep working after all the guns were discharged; a pistol took precious time for a reload, but another slash wound was just an arm swing away. With cutlasses being shorter than swords or sabres and having a broader, sturdier, curved blade, they were ideal for fighting in the close confines on or below deck.

They were believed to have evolved from the 'Boucan' hunting knife of the French Buccaneers, and the blades needed to be sturdy for the other tasks on the ship like cutting down doors, cutting lines, and dividing pieces of eight. Their handles offered some cushioning with leather wrapped on the bone or ivory stock. (There was also a straight type of cutlass called a shortsword or a stabbing dagger.)