Old Vs. New weapons, is there any difference in color or material?

[B-Lister]

I'm working on completing my vintage pirates stuff, and it's all about accessorizing now.

so, is there any difference in the cutlasses and pistols?

[Rick]

I'm working on completing my vintage pirates stuff, and it's all about accessorizing now.

so, is there any difference in the cutlasses and pistols?

The pistols have gone from (old) brown to (new) reddish brown. The grays have changed as well, so the cutlasses also aren't the same color anymore. Furthermore, the material of the new cutlasses appears a little 'softer' than the old ones.

[B-Lister]

thanks.

I guess I'm gonna hafta play 'trial and error' on bricklink, I need VINTAGE, not new.

[Dr. Steve]

The pistols have gone from (old) brown to (new) reddish brown. The grays have changed as well, so the cutlasses also aren't the same color anymore. Furthermore, the material of the new cutlasses appears a little 'softer' than the old ones.

I agree the cutlass does seem different (not bad)

The plastic on the pistol apears to be the same

[Rick]

I guess I'm gonna hafta play 'trial and error' on bricklink, I need VINTAGE, not new.

They are listed as seperate colors.

Pistol: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=2562 (old: brown; new: reddish brown)

Cutlass: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=2530 (old: dark gray; new: dark bluish gray)

[B-Lister]

You're a saint, Rick! :D

[funkybrick]

You're a saint, Rick! :D

Rick, I think you are doing quite well with being popular on this forum^^

Oh and back to the topic: Rick is right :D

Edited January 30, 2010 by funkybrick

[SlyOwl]

In the very first wave of pirate sets, the cutlass was made of the hard ABS that the pistol is made of, which gave it a shinier finish than the later, softer versions in both dark and bluey grey. Bricklink doesn't distinguish between the two, but the cutlass here is the old, harder style -

The muskets have also changed: the new ones have a bigger dent in the handle, like so -

In the older ones, the dent is shallower.

[Rick]

In the very first wave of pirate sets, the cutlass was made of the hard ABS that the pistol is made of, which gave it a shinier finish than the later, softer versions in both dark and bluey grey.

Really? I didn't know that. So they made kind of the same change as with the Castle swords. They've gotten softer as well. I have a few 1989 sets, but have never seen a 'hard' cutlass. Was it country-specific?

[B-Lister]

I too, have never seen the 'hard' cutlass, but I do have one of the early, working cannons from the US (actually, it's a modified 'transitional' cannon).

so, yeah....

[Mister Phes]

The new cannons are a more metallic shade of grey...

[SlyOwl]

Got round to taking these photos -

Muskets -

And the cutlasses, with the castle equivalents for reference -

[Ratshot]

Interesting comparisons SlyOwl, I never knew that there were so many musket variations

The plastic on the pistol apears to be the same

I find that the older pistols were somewhat harder.

[Rick]

Any idea when / where the 'hard' cutlasses were used in sets?

[funkybrick]

Any idea when / where the 'hard' cutlasses were used in sets?

I think they were used in the early Pirates sets before 1991 or so... but I am not sure.

[Rick]

I think they were used in the early Pirates sets before 1991 or so... but I am not sure.

I asked because I have quite a few of those (1989 sets) and I never recall a 'hard' cutlass... so it might be confined certain markets.

[funkybrick]

Maybe we are both right and the explanation I gave is correct for those markets you mentioned. Let's see!

Edited February 24, 2010 by funkybrick

[Big Cam]

Wow, I didn't realize the differances were so great.

[Thee Pirate]

I have one of the older hard plastic castle swords, but none of the cutlasses, and I have a fair amount of sets from the first run of pirates. Not sure how I got the castle sword.

[Rick]

Not sure how I got the castle sword.

I have lots of those. All my classic (1980s) castle sets have those. Only when I bought a few KK1 sets did I notice they started making them out of the softer ABS. The hard cutlasses are still a mystery to me though.

[Thee Pirate]

I have lots of those. All my classic (1980s) castle sets have those. Only when I bought a few KK1 sets did I notice they started making them out of the softer ABS. The hard cutlasses are still a mystery to me though.

It's a mystery to me too, I only have 3 or 4 early castle sets, but a bunch of early Pirates sets. I don't know how I don't have hard cutlasses, but I have a hard castle sword.

[Skulls_Eye_Schooner_Sailor]

It's a mystery to me too, I only have 3 or 4 early castle sets, but a bunch of early Pirates sets. I don't know how I don't have hard cutlasses, but I have a hard castle sword.

I actually have one of those hard cutlasses and I have no idea where it came from, either. I decided since it seemed so special, to use it for the figurehead on the Skulls Eye Schooner to hold.

By the way, I am new to these forums although I have checked them out before, to read reviews, and look at the amazing custom sets people build, among other things. Is there anywhere we are supposed to introduce ourselves are do we just start posting?

By the way, you guys use only Lego emoticons? That is too cool!

[SlyOwl]

I think mine came with my SES off eBay - but it came with more men than it should have, so there's no way I can trace the origin of mine (I think I have two).

Is there anywhere we are supposed to introduce ourselves are do we just start posting?

Welcome! Feel free to introduce yourself here, and enjoy the forums!

[the_green_avenger]

I actually have one of those hard cutlasses and I have no idea where it came from, either. I decided since it seemed so special, to use it for the figurehead on the Skulls Eye Schooner to hold.

I thought the SES's figurehead was just a skull...

Adding onto what Slyowl was sawing earlier... I have a rifle (accually a few) from the 2000 rerelease of the BSB and it has an indent in the stock. I wonder if this is true with all the 2000 pirate sets... not sure if you'd consider the 2000 sets, NEW.

[Skulls_Eye_Schooner_Sailor]

I thought the SES's figurehead was just a skull...

Adding onto what Slyowl was sawing earlier... I have a rifle (accually a few) from the 2000 rerelease of the BSB and it has an indent in the stock. I wonder if this is true with all the 2000 pirate sets... not sure if you'd consider the 2000 sets, NEW.

Nope, nope, check it out - http://www.peeron.com/inv/sets/6286-1?showpic=1200

So, you were saying your rifle is like the newer or older sets with your reissue? In any case, I'm sure a lot of the older sets we've bought off Ebay and the like probably didn't have the 89 accessories (if these were the "harder" ones) simply because that stuff gets lost easily, but they were nice enough throw in some weapons, and maybe some extra mini-figures.