Pirates have been romanticized in Hollywood movies and popular culture to the point that their images softened somewhat over time. That’s why the recent trend of high-seas hijackings off the Somalian coast was so jarring to the Western world. Films such as “Pirates of the Caribbean” portray these seafaring bandits as little more than colorful characters in search of a little plunder.
Historians and hobbyists know the truth, however. Pirates have always been vigilantes – indiscriminant criminals who had no qualms about breaking international law just to get rich. With that said, pirate replicas such as guns, sword hangers and hats only serve to prove that the pirates of old were a fascinating bunch. Part of their appeal lies in the fact that they could conquer and pillage mighty naval vessels with little more than some extensive nautical knowledge and a few rudimentary weapons.
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