| Summary |
The purpose of this thesis is to describe and analyze edged weapons used by the American and British royal navies between 1797 and 1815, with an emphasis on the American navy. Artifactual, quantitative, and documentary can be used to show that during this period, edged weapons, specifically swords, were not only used for defensive and offensive purposes, but were also used as symbols of wealth, status, rank, and political affiliation. By analyzing the symbols used to decorate swords, a quantitative study of Anglo-American material culture is possible. Edged weapons, such as axes, pikes, and cutlasses, although seldom decorated, can provide valuable information about the enlisted men by examining their evolution, construction, and use. This information can be determined by examining manufacturing materials, techniques, and assembly methods. Changing military tactics also provide valuable information regarding the changing evolution of naval edged weapons. Documentary evidence, such as ship's manifests, correspondence between contractors or officers and the government, contracts, and memoirs aid in the identification of who and how edged weapons were used onboard a vessel, how well it was armed, and about the men that made them. In this thesis several questions will be continuously looked at, such as what edged weapons can tell us about the lives of the men who used them, about their views and political associations, personal preferences, and which factors, if any, are associated with the changing styles and designs of Anglo-American naval edged weapons between 1797 and 1815. |
