In the early 1700s, the cutlass, a short and curved sword, became a standard weapon for sailors in the British Navy and other naval forces. Its design was particularly effective in close-quarters combat during boarding actions, which were common in the Caribbean and Atlantic theaters of war. Notably, battles near Jamaica showcased the cutlass's utility, as naval engagements often involved hand-to-hand fighting aboard ships.

Cutlasses evoke pirate and naval adventure in Romantic poetry and ballads, influencing Stevenson and others in shaping popular literary images of maritime conflict.