Flintlock Replica Weapons for Reenactments and Collectors

A Flintlock replica is more than just a copy of a flintlock weapon: it is the reproduction of a weapon that existed sometime in history, and appears just as the original did when new. Too many replicas do not fit that definition, but if you look carefully online you will be able to find true replicas of pieces that can be viewed in museums, or that have been known to exist.

Flintlock pistols are especially sought after by those that either take part in reenactments, or that collect replica weapons of various kinds. However, before discussing that let’s have a look at how flintlock pistols work. It is the firing mechanism that is referred by the term flintlock. The cock, or hammer, was fitted with a tightly held blade of flint and then drawn back to the half-back position, known as half-cock.

You might have heard this term before – it is common in the UK in particular for an action that is carried out without thought and with no chance of success. That is because a hammer at half-cock is in a safety position, and cannot be fired if the trigger is pulled. With the hammer safely at half-cock, the black powder was loaded into the gun, normally down the barrel via the muzzle (muzzle loading) and then the ball, twisted in a screwed up piece of paper or cloth.



The Historical Weapons Store allows everyday collectors to experience pirate collectibles with high quality and reasonably priced items. A replica pirate cutlass, collectible pirate costumes and much more can be found at Historical Weapons Store. Also learn more about the history of pirates within our Articles Directory.

Flintlock Replica Weapons for Reenactments and Collectors

A Flintlock replica is more than just a copy of a flintlock weapon: it is the reproduction of a weapon that existed sometime in history, and appears just as the original did when new. Too many replicas do not fit that definition, but if you look carefully online you will be able to find true replicas of pieces that can be viewed in museums, or that have been known to exist.

Flintlock pistols are especially sought after by those that either take part in reenactments, or that collect replica weapons of various kinds. However, before discussing that let’s have a look at how flintlock pistols work. It is the firing mechanism that is referred by the term flintlock. The cock, or hammer, was fitted with a tightly held blade of flint and then drawn back to the half-back position, known as half-cock.

The Historical Weapons Store allows everyday collectors to experience pirate collectibles with high quality and reasonably priced items. A replica pirate cutlass, collectible pirate costumes and much more can be found at Historical Weapons Store. Also learn more about the history of pirates within our Articles Directory.

Pirate Clothing and Replica Weapons

Can you name those Pirates?



Famous pirates include Henry Morgan, known to have shackled a woman to a stove and roasted her for refusing to reveal the whereabouts of her jewelry, and L’Ollonaise, whose favorite pastime was tying a cord around a someones head across the eyes, and tightening it until their eyes popped out. Pirates were not like Johnny Depp, the swashbuckling hero of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. One punishment that is myth is ‘walking the plank’. This practice was invented by novelists and there are no actual records of these activities ever happening. You will most likely never find planks among the pirate collectibles available online or in any store.





You will find a wide variety of pirate clothing, weapons, accessories and interesting articles, at Historical Weapons Store, the premier location for any swashbuckling hero!

Who Were the Real Pirates?

Real pirates were of all nationalities, though the most common were Spanish, Portuguese and English. The Corsairs came from France, and the Barbary pirates were generally Turkish. The North African coast also provided their fair share. They are popularly associated more with the Caribbean that anywhere else, though there were no boundaries.

They tended not to fire on ships with cannon for two reasons. One was that balls were not easy to come by for a pirate, and they used them sparingly. The other, and most important, is that they did not want to damage the ships they were attacking. They wanted to take them undamaged so that they could either re-use them or sell them. They would follow a ship until they decided to attack, and then approach it with a friendly flag. A pirate ship would have a stock of flags of all nationalities. Once they were close enough they would drop the flag and raise their own pirate flag – not always a skull and crossbones! They would fire a shot across the bows of their victim, force them to cede and then board them.

They could fight if forced to, and a pirate’s life was not a long one. It was common for them to punish their own that failed to fight properly, disobeyed their captain or even played bad music!

To learn more about real pirates, purchase pirate collectibles or read more unique articles, visit the Historical Weapons Store.

Pirate Collectibles Now In Vogue

So what exactly is a pirate collectible, and where can we buy them?

There are not many authentic pirate collectibles available to the public, and there is no real definition of what makes an item specifically related to pirates as such. Pirate weapons and clothing were those of the day, and frequently acquired from the ships that they took. Nothing was wasted, and pirates tried not to sink ships but to capture them, and to keep and sell everything aboard them. The swords are popular, but if you opt to get one you should also have the hanger. 18th and 19th Century pirates, the two centuries in which pirates were most active, did not use scabbards for their swords and cutlasses, but hangers. These were belts with ‘frogs’, or openings, between layers of belt through which the sword was hung.

Scabbards, swords and pirate cutlasses can be found at Historical Weapons Store. Also learn more about the history of pirates within our Articles Directory.

Pirate Collectibles, Costumes and a Replica Cutlass

Thanks to Johnny Depp and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, pirate collectibles are back in fashion. Very much so in fact. Just check out the internet and you will find out how many pirate replicas are available. Much like Wild West outlaws, pirates are represented as dashing buccaneers; Robin Hoods of the sea. However, like the outlaws of the Wild West, they were nothing of the sort, but it doesn’t seem to matter. The popular view holds sway.

Pirates were bloodthirsty killers whose sole motivation was to gain at the expense of others on the sea. Stories of ‘marooning’ and burying people up their necks are not fable, but fact. These things did happen and all in the name of profit. No doubt there were those who were forced into this way of living, but all told, there can be no glorifying of their activities.

Yet we adore them! We love and accept characters such as Captain Jack Sparrow as being typical pirates, with their concern for the damsel in distress, much as knights of old are portrayed in the same way. We are also displaying this by snapping up pirate collectibles wherever we can get them. So what is available, and what exactly is a pirate collectible?
How about a pirate cutlass? It is unlikely that you will come across a genuine cutlass used by a known pirate anywhere but in a museum. However, it is possible to acquire a replica cutlass that is true in every detail to the original.

A replica pirate cutlass, collectible pirate costumes and much more can be found at Historical Weapons Store. Also learn more about the history of pirates within our Articles Directory.