Armory
The care, use, maintenance & safety of Black Powder & Edged Weapons.
490 topics in this forum
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- 19 replies
- 10.1k views
My wife would like to have a dagger for her costume and we were thinking about getting one that she could attach to her thigh. Anyone have any thoughts as to where to get one?
Last reply by Jib, -
- 5 replies
- 1.6k views
Trying to locate for purchase a round ball mould for a "0.65" caliber weapon. Prefer ball size 0.625 or larger. Drop me a note.
Last reply by bo'sun Carl, -
- 3 replies
- 1.3k views
Cannon school held at Fort De Chartres, Prarie Du Rocher IL on Sept. 11th and 12th. Jim Duval with the Fort said this is a very comprehensive class. At the end of the class you may earn you certification. The price is good....$15 If you want to call Jim Duval and learn more his numbers are 618.859.3603 or 618.284.7230 Fair Winds
Last reply by jendobyns, -
- 16 replies
- 3.3k views
During my too-long break from classes I will be working on some cannon worms that several here were interested in, and the linstock to go with Callenish's set, but I cannot find a good example of one to fashion one from. Any help here would be greatly appreciated, as well as feedback on the worm the Archangel crewe has. What could be done better/different to make it a top-notch reproduction etc. Don't worry about slighting my feelings, I am an admitted amature continually learaning as I go. Bo
Last reply by HarborMaster, -
- 2 replies
- 1.2k views
OK....sold my .45 and ordered another Blunderbuss today from Middlesex, looks like only 15" are coming in, in steel or brass barrel. Since I get them at wholesale, I thought I would put the offer out if anyone was needing anything, I have been a distributor for them for several years..... You think I would learn to hold onto the really cool guns......DOH! Wes
Last reply by HarborMaster, -
- 15 replies
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I have a 1740's hanger with a brass hilt and don't know what type of brass that was used in its construction. Once cleaned of the factory coating it just didn't seem to age any and stayed too bright to suit the subdued appearance I sought. I was experimenting with a liquid gun bluing on a cutlass blade and some of the solution dribbled on its hilt and darkened the brass. I re-cleaned the hanger's hilt and applied the gun bluing to the hilt and the brass began to darken. It's a bit messy but tne results achieved were quite satisfactory and I now have a hanger more suitable for a formast hand than the swabs on the aft deck. Jas. Hook
Last reply by hurricane, -
- 13 replies
- 3k views
Every now and then I see references that say that a blunderbuss was fired from the hip because of the recoil. I am more than a little skeptical, myself for several reasons: 1) At least some blunderbusses had curved shoulder stocks. My wife's cousin was showing me his over the weekend. It was heavily researched and had a curved shoulder piece. This just doesn't work when braced against the hip. You have to tilt it at a slight angle. A flat stock would work much better against the hip. 2) They were known for being used on ships on from coaches. On a ship your hip is going to be too low. On a coach, you are sitting down and your hip is in the wrong place. 3) I think that …
Last reply by Captain Huntsman, -
- 8 replies
- 1.8k views
My 1st cutlass. Perfect for quick boarding-parties, or those things that go bump in the night. Lightweight, welded construction on carbon-steel blade (length 24", plus handle). Very tough leather-wrapped handle and fitted scabbard. Yar.
Last reply by glennnn, -
So what blade beside a sword do you carry? Dirk? Dagger? Main Guache? Stilletto? What sort of "small blade" do you favor?
Last reply by William Brand, -
- 9 replies
- 2.6k views
Any thoughts on converting an reproduction 1860 brass cup hilt cutlass into a more GOP correct piece? Jas. Hook
Last reply by Jas. Hook, -
- 54 replies
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What sort of blade you favor and why? Of course much will depend on what you use it for?
Last reply by Captain McCool, -
Ever seen a Vizcaina?
Last reply by Elena, -
Sword Canes!
by Jib- 20 replies
- 6.1k views
I recall that one of the guys I used do stage combat with had a small sword - sword cane. I know that gentlemen often carried walking sticks. Any idea when someone first put a blade in one?
Last reply by Elena, -
- 35 replies
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Did the pirates in the golden age use piercing daggers more than slashing daggers. If they used the slashing kind were they usually double or single edged? You see I'm torn between three knives I've seen at http://www.jastown.com/ These are the trade knifeand the longhunter under the knife section and the plug bayonet under the tomahawks, and gun accessories section. Have a look at them and pick which one you think is the most authentic that a pirate would carry. Thanks for the help.
Last reply by Elena, -
- 24 replies
- 3.9k views
There may be a better place for this so feel free to move it. (and remove that line when you do!) Lady Brower posted her "small wepons" and I thought it would be interesting to see what other items we women use in hand to hand. I know there are a few of you who have chosen some interesting weapons! On the other hand maybe you are looking for an idea. If you know what you want but can't find it maybe someone else can. So go ahead ladies ...show off your "weapon" of choice! EDIT/Clarification: I am speaking of/to those who strive for historical accuracy. A woman of the late 1600's early 1700's would not sport a brace of pistols or have a cutlass dangling at her hi…
Last reply by Elena, -
- 23 replies
- 4.1k views
Last reply by CharityRackham, -
- 10 replies
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Just wondering what technique is used to brown the lock mechanisms on firelocks. Is there more than one way or one really good one?
Last reply by wes1761, -
- 3 replies
- 1.1k views
Here is the description of how a young man killed himself while working with a black powder gun. Be glad this poor guy wasn't a member of your group...or, maybe it would have helped if he was, and he'd have learned proper safety, and still be alive. From the Darwin Award list...Where people take themselves out of the gene pool by doing something incredibly stupid. A cigarette lighter may have triggered a fatal explosion in Dunkirk, IN. A Jay Countryman, using a cigarette lighter to check the barrel of a muzzle loader, was killed Monday night when the weapon discharged in his face, sheriffs' investigators said. Gregory David Pryor, 19, died in his parents' …
Last reply by Capn Bob, -
- 3 replies
- 854 views
Started on this awhile ago, its a swivel gunne that a buddy of mine wanted a naval carriage for, Carriage is oak, steel rod axles hidden under a fake axle that I grooved out to hide the steel. Have yet to forge the trunnion straps, but hope to get to it this week yet. Pic is poopy, I took it with my phone:
Last reply by Jas. Hook, -
- 34 replies
- 5.6k views
I recently aquired a rusty but working pistol that I decided was a perfect donor to have some fun with. I figured you all would like to join me on this journey. I forgot to take pictures of the butcap before I polished it but judging the rest of the gun I think you can imagine how rusty it was...in other words...it was perrrrrfect. here is the cap removed. Here you can see how they brazed the pieces of the cap together. After I did some polishing... Here she is engraved. I still plan on doing some more engraving but this was an hours worth and my fingers cramped. To be continued...
Last reply by 1stMate Matt, -
- 15 replies
- 2.5k views
It appears that from the picture that a home made cannon failed, taking it's most of it's crew with it. News Article
Last reply by Cascabel, -
- 18 replies
- 2.9k views
This is a recent custom that is available through Legacy Forge at the Scarborough Ren Fest in Texas. The blade is 29 layers and clamshell/thumbring is 13 layers I think. The handle is antler. The hilt is iron. The buttcap is wrought iron and the pommel nut is also iron. All the pieces were hand forged to shape. We are already making the next in this series. The damascus clamshell has quickly become a favorite. For more pictures please visit http://baltimoreknife.com/frenchhanger.htm
Last reply by 1stMate Matt, -
- 0 replies
- 753 views
Has anyone got any good references to Golden Age or Piracy daggers? Books, websites or photographs? I am making a few different ones for my reenactment group and I'd like to see what was around. At the moment I have references to Plug Bayonets, Hunting daggers and a couple of Main Gauches but i'd like to make a bigger range. Anyone suggest any good places to look?
Last reply by PoD, -
Remember when the Mythbusters did a pirate episode and they investigated the "myth" that splinters caused more deaths than cannonballs? After firing holes through a number of pig carcasses in a row and shooting holes in a reconstructed ship's side, they pronounced this a myth. This always bothered me (almost as much as the eyepatch myth they popularized). Period accounts all say that splinters were a major threat and that people did die from them. They must have done something wrong - but what? I found the answer on the HMS Victory - Nelson's flagship at Traffalgar. According to a display there, making splinters is an art form. The faster you shoot your cannonball the f…
Last reply by gunner Gordon, -
- 7 replies
- 1.5k views
I am hoping someone here can help me to identify a sword I recently came into possession of. There are alot of damage marks to the sides , edge, and back however there are also some possible ID markings. I dont know much about swords and am hoping to find out what it is? I will post pics as soon as I can take them.
Last reply by Silver,