julius27

One o' the things I wondered at first was how Jack was normal at the jail if'n he be cursed at the island. I saw the bloody film three times afore it clicked in me 'ead that he stole a piece from the chest at the island. I also wondered momentarily why Barbosa and the lads didn't just go back and get ol' bootstrap offa the bottom. Then it occured to me that they probly didn't leave a bouy where they dumped the poor blighter. No, Carlotte, yer not the only one that don't see the light right off.

Sorry 'bout that, mates. The pitures didn't take. Mebe somebody could give me the heads up on how ta do it proper.

If'n I got it figgered out right how ta do this, here be some pitures o' some right fine headgear. D:\Pirates\Hats\Fancy Pirate Hat.jpg This be a foine piece I picked up at the Minnesota Faire at a shop called The Tall Toad. As I recall, it was $195, but I could be mistaken. D:\Pirates\Hats\Plain Pirate Hat.jpg Now this be one o' the tricorns me boss at the Kansas City Faire be makin'. It's made from top grain leather and sheds water wonderfully. It belongs to me wife an' it ain't been dressed up, yet. He also has fancy chigago screws to put in 'em. D:\Pirates\Hats\Red Pirate Hat.jpg This be me most worn pirate hat. It's also out of our shop at Faire and this one is made from split grain (suede) that's a bit heavier that what one would find at Jo Anne's or some such place. I've added quite a bit to the original hat including the wide band, feather fan, and skull and crossbones pin. D:\Pirates\Hats\Crown of Angmar.jpg This last has nothing whatever to do with pirates, but I'm sure that someone has read the work of J. R. R. Tolkien. It is my own interpretation of the crown worn by the Witch King of Angmar. It's made entirely of 7-8 oz vegetable tanned cowhide. Turned out quite well, I think.

Me shop (I be a manager, not the owner) at the Kansas City Renaissance Fesival carries several styles of leather hats. The one called the Cavelier has a brim the size of a cowboy hat. The one called the D'Artagnan has a much bigger brim and we have recently marketed it done up in a tricorn (cocked hat) as well. He don't keep his website up to date on styles and such, but if'n yer goin' to a faire where he's at, the price is better than Excalibur for equal quality. He just don't dress 'em up quite as much. I got mine put up on the left with several coloured osterige plumes, a wider hatband, a sterling scull and crossbones, and a feather fan. I got me some strange looks from the gentlemen (ahem) I was with at the time I bought the fan, but they all wanted to borrow it later in the day. He (me boss) starts the season in Arizona in February. He also does Michigan, Bristol, and North Carolina. It seems the list should be longer, but that's all I can think of other than me own faire. Anyways, here be the web addy to his site. http://www.sheepskinplus.com/sheepskinacce...aissance%20Garb If'n ye want ta order somethin', I suggest e-mailin' him rather than just working from the site. That way, ye can get the exact look yer after.

The Pillaged Village and Underhill Pavillions both have very nice looking period tents, but I think in both cases you'll find 'em a bit on the pricey side. Personally, I prefer camping in a dome tent. It ain't period, but it's easy to put up and take down while having a decent amount of room in the larger ones. Gettin' into garb on yer back is only fun if'n ye got help.

I've got me a pipe from Blue the Pipemaker, and yes, they are smokable. They are actually made from gas plumbing (brass tubing and fittings) covered in clay. I talked with him at length when I bought mine at the Florida Renaissance Faire and his inspiration was the works of J. R. R. Tolkien who, as you can tell from his writing, was an avid pipe smoker himself. As to the question of capped pipes, I have one that is short stemmed with a wooden bowl. It has a metal hinged affair with a collar and is one of my favorites. I think I aquired this little tidbit at a discount smoke shop near my home for a mere $8. As to the question of how dangerous a live ember from a pipe bowl would be on board a wooden sailing vessel, remember that the wood was preserved by soaking in oil, the hull waterproofed with tar, the hold would have many flamable products in it (including tobacco, prime export of the colonies), not to mention whale oil for the lanterns and lamps. I imagine fumes belowdecks on such a vessel! Such is my opinion based on what few facts that I know. A fire certainly wouldn't spread far (at least not beyond the edge of the decks!).

One should keep in mind that most Confederate troops were militia (at least early on) and even those that were regulars often had to arm themselves. This means that pretty much anything correct to the period (or earlier, as many weapons were hand-me-downs) will also be correct to a Confederate soldier or sailor. Remember that only about half of the Confederate Army even wore uniforms! I don't mean to sound over the top on the subject, but I fancy myself a student of the "War of Northern Aggression" and get rather enthusiastic on the subject.