Johnathan Atwood

Daniel covered a good amount of the history and fine points (if you'll forgive the pun). I'm just going to jump in as a martial arts fencer (as opposed to Olympic), and instructor. What we have here is evolution at work. The rapiers that first developed in the late 15th century were more similar to medieval style swords than their descendants. They had the thickest blades (usually and inch and a quarter in width), and were equally effective at cutting and thrusting. They had quillons that were thick, and very like earlier crosspieces. Due to the weight of the blade many early fencers gripped their forefinger over the quillon in order to have better control of their weapon, especially while thrusting. As armoured gauntlets were going by the wayside due to the introduction of firearms rings were added to protect the fingers. Eventually a knuckle bow was added, and the hand was better protected. The swept hilt developed from this. As various nations, namely Italy, Spain, France, and Germany developed their own styles of rapier fighting they also started developing their own guards. German General Gottfried Heinrich Graf zu Pappenheim developed the style named after him: highly decorated grillwork or shells in the rings of the anneau. His blades remained thick as they were a military sword. In the late 1500s, early 1600s you see the bell shaped guards replacing the swept hilt, and quillons becoming longer. This is true mostly in Spain and France. Sadly, England got to the game late as they actually passed laws against fencing schools in the 13th century where heavier blades were preferred. Blades thinned started thinning over time. Early rapiers were thick and mostly used for cutting like their ancestors. Most of the "standard" attacks were countered by moving, or parrying with a dagger. Then, just after 1600 Di Grassi (my hero) wrote his treatise on rapier fencing and pointed out that the thrust is the fastest way to kill the other guy, and that the best strategy to use was one where you killed the other guy first, and didn't get injured yourself. Angelo Viggiani then developing the lunge, followed by Vincentio Saviolo who went even further than Di Grassi in favoring the thrust over the cut. Due to rapiers being used for thrusting over cutting they no longer possessed the weight to cut by percussion and began to be on average 40 inches in blade length alone. Because of this fences, when they had to cut, were using the draw cut. In order to do this properly you place your blade on your opponent and push or pull your blade. If you try and "thwack" them, your blade will use most of its energy bouncing off. These thinner, thrusting weapons eventually started becoming smaller again as they were used more for dueling by citizenry, and not used in warfare as often. several hundred years of experimentation had made complex swordplay where the lightest, fastest possible weapon usually won. The weapon's component parts–the quillons, cup, knucklebow and pas d'âne–all shrank down to the smallest useful size. The result was the'small sword,' a weapon that eclipsed the rapier completely in the 1700s.

Just as an update, I went to see her a few weeks back, and she is in good, not great condition. Currently shopping banks, as I have 20% of my startup.

So, in all seriousness, I have been talking with the current owner since Feb. Just took a look at her most recent survey today. I have a good business plan for using her to do educational tours. Looking for potential silent partners to buy shares in her. Message me if you are interested in learning more. I'll update as I go through the process of buying her. So, in all seriousness, I have been talking with the current owner since Feb. Just took a look at her most recent survey today. I have a good business plan for using her to do educational tours. Looking for potential silent partners to buy shares in her. Message me if you are interested in learning more. I'll update as I go through the process of buying her.

William, that is a great thread. Thank you. I am pasting the link that you had shared on it so that it may be found more easily by others: http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k59621&pageid=icb.page253584 . With that said, anyone else know any other great sources? (oddly enough the pirate re-enactor is greedy)

I am looking for a few period correct working songs that can be cited. I know there are a few great sources for songs, such as Henry Playford's "Wit and Mirth", but does anyone have some GAoP sources for ones used to work the vessels? Many thanks!

Pixel Pirate, are you looking for a crew? We are always recruiting.

Thankee gents! Much obliged!

I am looking for some period accurate moulds for .735 round balls and a pouring ladle that can be used in an encampment. Suggestions?

Our project to build a pirate ship is LIVE! Once Pirate Ship Defiance is built she will be used to educate children and adults about pirate and privateer life during the Golden Age of Piracy! Please click to pledge, and share with your friends! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/484178458/building-pirate-ship-defiance

Commodore, That sounds like a very fun project! Please post pics as you progress.

Here is our first "teaser" video. Our Kickstarter campaign starts on the 15th of July! Follow us on Facebook.com!

This is the first, rough and ready video. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WqZGbXeMaZg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Visit our website at www.pirateshipdefiance.com Please follow us on Facebook. We'll be starting a Twitter account soon. Kickstarter campaign starts on July 15th, 2013!

Thankee Foxe!

Jib: Thankee. We are very excited about this project. One of the few years when I am looking more forward to the end of sailing season than the beginning. Jake: I haven't seen any sources for Low on a pinky schooner, just sloops. Do you have a good to reference? Low, Lowther, and Harris are some of my personal favorites as I cruise from Narragansett to Cape Anne.

That is very strange. I tried the link above and it didn't work, but put in http://pirateshipdefiance.com and was greatly relieved to see that we are still up and running. The difference of a slash, eh? Our demensions are 78ft tip to tip, 58ft at the rail, 15ft at the beem. there's a fo'c'stle, crew quarters, galley, and engine room below. Defiance will sleep 13 comfortably. No great guns, but we are planning on some swivels. Defiance will actually be the sister ship to the pinky schooner Ardelle (http://schoonerardelle.com), which is owned and operated by Capt. Burnham. However, we're going to have slightly different deck furniture to be truer to period.

Pirates of the New England Coast has commissioned the well known and respected shipwright Harold Burnham to build a pinky schooner. The project has a dual purpose: to help keep the Essex wooden boat building tradition alive, and to create a replica vessel of what many New England pirates actually sailed. As of now we have the oak for the ribs, keel, and hull cut, and the oak for the deck furniture is aready in plank form. We are raising funds all summer long, and true construction will begin this Fall. We estimate she'll launch in March 2014, and be ready for service by May! Please follow us through our website at http://pirateshipdefiance.com/, and on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PirateShipDefiance. Most of te help we need s monetary, and pledges are accepted through paypal. We will also accept elbow grease this Fall. fair winds and a following sea!

Just curious as to what flags a privateer during the GAoP would be allowed to fly? Could an English private man of war fly the Union Jack? What if they were from the colonies?

The Rhode Island Pirate Players are looking for some new crew. We are an active group that has been educating about what life was really like for pirates and privateers during the GAoP for the past 7 years. 2013 is already shaping up to be another great year, and as we expand we are looking for new mates to play with. We are open to all, from old salts who have been roving for years, to new sailors looking to get their feet wet. www.ripirateplayers.org

I sail on Formidable, a 72' brigantine out of Rockport MA. Our season is May through October so far. Hoping to go south this winter! Always dressed in GAoP kit!

The red flag can really be fake there is many details that don't seem right.. I am no expert on flags, so what looks wrong?

Thank you gentlemen. I appreciate it.

Saw an interesting article about a recovered 200+ red pirate flag. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2074868/Rare-red-Jolly-Roger-pirate-flag-captured-battle-north-Africa-230-years-ago-goes-display-time.html I have come across so many thoughts on the subject of pirate flags, including theories on the "known" pirate flags being fakes from the 19th century. Most of the pirate flags I have read about in primary sources just say pirate flag or black flag. Wondering what the thoughts on the pub were.

Thank you very much for this bit of input. I'll see if I can catch them at an event. My crew and I have a few things from them, and they have held up well for several seasons. Cheers, John Atwood

I appreciate the advice folks. I have one pair of straight last shoes that need to be re-soled. I'll see about getting rubber ones put on. But nobody knows of a place to just get shoes with rubber soles to begin with? There's new hands on board who I don't want to have to tell to buy a $100 pair of shoes, plus the price of buckles, then ask them to go out and get them re-soled for another $50.

Ahoy mates! I work on a 72' brigantine doing pirate living history. I have a pair of straight last shoes, but never get to use them on board as they have leather soles, and I like to not slide while working on deck or aloft. Call me Mr. Picky if you like, but thud is bad, splash is bad, and thud splash is real bad. Is anyone out there selling straight last shoes with a rubber sole? If so, I am willing to give them a try and if they work well the whole crew will probably grab some. I'm not looking for boots. Thank you in advance for thinking of it, but I just need a good shoe. Best, Mr. Atwood Quartermaster, Formidable