Armory
The care, use, maintenance & safety of Black Powder & Edged Weapons.
489 topics in this forum
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- 0 replies
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Here is an upgraded Forecastle Line piece: Let me know what you think.
Last reply by Privateer Armoury, -
- 2 replies
- 1.6k views
Ahoy there, I haven't posted in about five years but I find myself in need of some answers. My sword is an Antiqued Torino rapier by Hanwei. I ordered it through a local store, and I've been very pleased with it, but I'm having some problems with the finish on the hilt. It has started to rub off on the quillon block, where my finger rests on the ricasso, to the point that it is quite noticeable. The "antiqued" finish is pretty much black, so the silver underneath looks odd. I have two questions: 1) Is there an easy way to reapply the finish, or anyplace I can take the sword to be refinished? 2) How can I prevent the finish from rubbing off? (I'm assuming gloves will hel…
Last reply by Matty Bottles, -
- 1 reply
- 2.3k views
I am planning a blunderbuss build and want to do as much of my own work as is possible. I am a blacksmith of late and I want to flare a barrel rather than mill a piece of round stock. I have considered several possibilities, and I think my best starting material would be a hydraulic cylinder. It is meant to withstand high internal pressures, and that is what a black powder gun has. I plan to reinforce the first six inches or so of an 18" barrel with bands and possibly some flat stock wrapped and welded around the breech area. I will have another band about three to four inches from the muzzle to make sure I don't take the bell too far back. What steels do you typically …
Last reply by Commodore Swab, -
- 45 replies
- 13.3k views
I am in the process of building a Spanish blunderbuss and thought I would share some of the steps I am going in the process. Sort of a "here's my project from start to finish" feel free to comment along the way. It all started when I found an original lock and purchased it. When looking at the lock I estimated it to be around 1720's (see thread on helping to ID a flintlock) for various reasons. As I have been unable to find any original examples of Spanish blunderbusses so I am taking a couple of liberties. I have decided on a simple flared design all in steel, the lock is rather plain and I plan on keeping the buss plain as well. As the lock is of French origin in …
Last reply by Commodore Swab, -
- 7 replies
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Ive been thinking about this and its got me wondering. Often you can find original blunderbusses with a yoke made to be mounted as they are too big to fire from the shoulder or small swivel guns. These are pieces small enough for one person to pick up and fire most would have around a 1 inch bore give or take. I can see a swivel with no lock needing a linstock or similar but a flintlock wouldn't. Guns of this size can be handled by 1 or 2 people, how many would of been firing them originally? Would you swab a massive blunderbuss or have charges and a prick? These seem to fit into a void between cannons and small arms. If you brought something like this to an event …
Last reply by rickdog999, -
- 22 replies
- 5k views
Here is a new knife I made as a gift to my sweetheart. It's a fantasy piece, rather than historical. The blade is made from a compressor blade from a jet engine, and has quite a bit of twist to it. The handle is made from Black Palm wood. It's a pretty big knife with, a blade length of about 9 inches. If you look at the pic showing the top view, you can see the twist. I think it looks pretty exotic !!
Last reply by Cascabel, -
- 26 replies
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Here are the beginning pics of my new 'buss....opted for a Cherry stock instead of the black walnut: Cherry block: Stock blank: Will start inletting for barrel and drill ramrod hole tomorrow....
Last reply by rickdog999, -
- 3 replies
- 1.8k views
For those of you interested and who may be attending the Pirate Fest at Fishermans Village I will be attending and offering my services tuning locks.
Last reply by hurricane, -
- 39 replies
- 10.8k views
Is a Queen Anne Pistol correct for 1668 ?
Last reply by bloodydavycash, -
- 3 replies
- 1.8k views
I'm looking for a trigger guard because i am making a non operational flintlock from scratch. It'd be nice to find a cheap and decent looking one. It's for a pistol flintlock.
Last reply by AlexRoberts, -
- 18 replies
- 3.7k views
How do you folks keep your blades looking good? I imagine events around salt water can make a real mess of decent sword, axe, or dagger. What is your process and materials to keep your items from falling apart.
Last reply by Brit.Privateer, -
- 10 replies
- 2.8k views
I had a Cutlass I purchased for very few dubloons. The cost was certainly saved in the pot metal attachments to a pretty good blade. I gave said blade to one Cascabel, Master Armorer to work his trade upon . What I got returned was a thing of beauty. Not only substantial and of noble metal but sculpture. The guard 's edge is formed and tooled to form a Tulip. Quite appropriate for one known as "Dutch"! I have posted photos in my Gallery and will try to figure out how to post some here!
Last reply by Commodore Swab, -
- 13 replies
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Hi, I don't wander into this part of the forum much. How y'all doing? Anyway, we've all seen movies where a person is killed, or almost killed, by a thrown knife. There's at least one pirate movie where this happens, Swashbuckler, where the black pirate is an expert at knife throwing. He's also one of the few knife throwers in movies that's a hero; knife throwing seems to have been something of a bad boy's sport in movies ever since Rupert of Hentzau in The Prisoner of Zenda. However, in all my searches I have been able to find two (2) nonfiction reports of a human being killed by a thrown knife. Ever. The first appears to be legitimate: the New York Times reported…
Last reply by Brit.Privateer, -
- 18 replies
- 4.3k views
I just finished watching Captain Blood for the first time, and I was wondering about something. Would firing hot coals in front of your ball even work? Personally I think the coals would be destroyed from either the force of the blast or the ball itself. I don't think that they would prove to be a good accessory to your regular shot... Anyone care to shed some light on this for me?
Last reply by Jas. Hook, -
- 38 replies
- 12.9k views
I've been thinking of making a sailor's sheath knife based on historical patterns, and was wondering if any of you might know of any extant originals to use as reference? I'm looking for a plain, utilitarian single edged knife that would have been used for chores and whittling and such aboard ship, not a double edged dagger or anything like that. I've Googled it, and have come up with pretty much nothing. I've found plenty roach bellied trade knives and their like, but that's not exactly what I'm looking for. I would like the knife to be appropriate for the 17th or 18th centuries. Have any knives ever been turned up archaelogically which were specifically seaman's knive…
Last reply by William Brand, -
- 14 replies
- 4.5k views
Ok it looks like I will be taking flintlocks to the next level and working with wheel locks. I am getting a wheel lock for my birthday (pile of parts) and am going to build it into a piece. Its a smaller lock sutible for a pistol and I'm just looking for ideas . . .
Last reply by Ivan Henry aka Moose, -
- 2 replies
- 1.3k views
Got some nice chunks of walnut from a buddy, 2 are thick enough for blanks, and the other a bit thin, so it might end up as a bench. 2 I rubbed out to see grain and they are nice! rough walnut slab, 4 inches thick (at thickest) and for size, its in the back of my F-150 More new toys on the horizon!!! Carl, I'll be cutting your blank this week.....
Last reply by bo'sun Carl, -
- 10 replies
- 3.5k views
I was just wondering what problems most people have with their flintlocks, I can't think of how many times Ive heard things like "it Only misfired a couple times" If you have a problem not mentioned please post what the problem is.
Last reply by michaelsbagley, -
- 4 replies
- 1.9k views
I believe I remembered someone on the Pub discussing how to tune a Pedersoli Queene Anne correctly. I just aquired one that is need of some repair. I noticed the Hammer was not forcing the Frizzen open completely and the Flint was not lining up with the pan at the touch hole. After finding a roughly appropriate size flint, the sear spring mysteriously broke. I ordered a new sear spring today from Track of the Wolf, but would appreciate any guidence on making this gun spot on as far as ease of trigger pull and spring life. I heard they had mainspring issues as well.Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Last reply by hurricane, -
- 9 replies
- 2.3k views
From time to time I like to find out where the arms and armour market is and what people are buying. There are three parts to the survey: 1. Answer the Topic Poll. 2. Post what you are planning on buying or looking for in the next 6 months. It doesn't need to be from me as other makers will be seeing this topic. 3. (here is the fun part) A. Go to the Privateer Armoury Available Page. B. PM me what pieces you like and what you would buy them for Today. (shipping the the contenental US is $50, international is around $75-100) C. If the price works for me then I will contact you and you can purchase the piece for what you offered. So, what it…
Last reply by wes1761, -
- 7 replies
- 2.3k views
I fired up my forge today finally after...way too long... and made a couple of strikers for a feller on the frontier folk site. He wanted this design (this is as close as I could come) because it has a screwdriver (turnscrew) on one end. I had to temper that end differently than the striker section and I haven't done this for awhile. They both came out OK for my first attempt, they both take a file to work the turnscrew edge, both turned my lock screws without breaking off or bending, and they both throw a good shower of sparks. Only time and use will tell if my dual-temper procedure worked or not. o-far so-good. Bo *forgot that when you move photos into ano…
Last reply by William Brand, -
- 3 replies
- 1.7k views
I'm working on bringing my impression back to a 1670-80 date. One of the reasons is that I prefer the matchlock to the flintlock, and the match fits much better into the early timeframe. I've also been fascinated by the escopeta for a bunch of years. Is there any documentation for a matchlock escopeta or are they all miquelets and flints? I've got a lock and barrel, just need to make a stock, but I don't want a fantasy piece. So documentation before I start cutting wood. Hawkyns
Last reply by Hawkyns, -
- 4 replies
- 1.7k views
http://wyldewares.com/pistol4.aspx, I was thinking of getting one or somethinglike it but have not any idea who makes them. Does Lenoard Day have a something like this?
Last reply by Ivan Henry aka Moose, -
- 7 replies
- 2.7k views
looking for a cannon linstock? godwin has em for $94.00, does anyone know of anyone else?
Last reply by MarkG, -
- 10 replies
- 2.8k views
I have a large original lock that I believe to be Spanish from roughly the 1720's. It is a french style lock however has the large round ring (like a spanishmiquelet) on top of the cock with no provision for a screw driver. The frizzen is nearly verticle when closed and the frizzen is bridled (which is why I figure more late 1720's). The frizzen also has verticle groves cut in it that are mostly worn off. On the outside is a makers mark consisting of a crowned R, the crown having 5 points. On the inside is a sideways V inside a box next to a "P". Overall shape of the lock is quite curved instead of flat. I will try to get some pictures up asap. Is there anybody wh…
Last reply by Commodore Swab,
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