Revolutionary War to Federalist period cutlass

M ELEY · 4th November 2024, 02:19 PM

Hey, I think I figured out what we are looking at in that museum chart. Post # 4, Figure 148, the 'sailor's sword', is hinged. This was probably a sketch of a very large navaja 'knife', controversially believed to be carried by sailors and thus misidentified as a sailor's sword. I've had whole threads I've started and argued about concerning sailors carrying jack knives, but I won't digress right now (I just bought my first navaja and will post it soon with all the arguments pro and nay for sea use!

. Of course, it could be something else...

Jim McDougall · 4th November 2024, 08:44 PM

You have an amazing eye Capn! I hadnt noticed that! Indeed a navaja is quite possible though I had not seen them with the clipped blade. However the name I believe means razor, which was a folding blade item.
These kept getting larger until they became the size of dirks and even larger. With the ratchet lock on the blade, they went from pocket knife to short sword/dirk instantly.
Colloquially known as 'carracha' for the click of the ratchet lock, they were the 'baratero weapon', sailors knife fighting weapon.
Part of New Orleans French Quarter, the lair of pirate Jean Lafitte was known as Barateria.

M ELEY · 5th November 2024, 01:12 AM

Thank you for this information, Jim. I know we had a very long and contested thread I started back in 2012 concerning folding knives at sea. As I recall, we were split down the middle. I, for one, still believe smaller folding knives did see service perhaps on merchant ships and undoubtedly privateer/pirate vessels. I plan on posting my new 'little folder' soon. I just think there is way too much references and incidences involving such items, including 'baratero' weapons (gotta love good ole Jean Lafitte!).

4th November 2024, 02:19 PM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,161	Hey, I think I figured out what we are looking at in that museum chart. Post # 4, Figure 148, the 'sailor's sword', is hinged. This was probably a sketch of a very large navaja 'knife', controversially believed to be carried by sailors and thus misidentified as a sailor's sword. I've had whole threads I've started and argued about concerning sailors carrying jack knives, but I won't digress right now (I just bought my first navaja and will post it soon with all the arguments pro and nay for sea use!. Of course, it could be something else...

4th November 2024, 08:44 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,285	You have an amazing eye Capn! I hadnt noticed that! Indeed a navaja is quite possible though I had not seen them with the clipped blade. However the name I believe means razor, which was a folding blade item. These kept getting larger until they became the size of dirks and even larger. With the ratchet lock on the blade, they went from pocket knife to short sword/dirk instantly. Colloquially known as 'carracha' for the click of the ratchet lock, they were the 'baratero weapon', sailors knife fighting weapon. Part of New Orleans French Quarter, the lair of pirate Jean Lafitte was known as Barateria.

5th November 2024, 01:12 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,161	Thank you for this information, Jim. I know we had a very long and contested thread I started back in 2012 concerning folding knives at sea. As I recall, we were split down the middle. I, for one, still believe smaller folding knives did see service perhaps on merchant ships and undoubtedly privateer/pirate vessels. I plan on posting my new 'little folder' soon. I just think there is way too much references and incidences involving such items, including 'baratero' weapons (gotta love good ole Jean Lafitte!).