Joe Pyrat

Welcome aboard mate.

How about If a Pirate I Must Be...: The True Story of Black Bart, King of the Caribbean Pirates by Richard Sanders?

I've seen True Caribbean Pirates and I believe it was called The Great Ships; The Pirate Ships found them entertaining and informative. Being somewhat a fan of Roberts, I noticed a couple of mistakes related to him in True Caribbean Pirates, but otherwise I found it enjoyable. National Geographic has one out called Blackbeard; Terror at Sea which is very well done for a documentary, but kind of skips over the whole grounding of the Queen Anne's Revenge thing. One minute he's on the QAR and the next on the sloop Adventure with no explanation. Of course there are time limitations on such projects, but that's kind of a biggie if you ask me. Still I enjoy watching it quite a bit.

Haven't seen the green flash yet, but I have seen the Northern Lights quite a few times. In fact, the first time I went sailing on my first boat was on the Oahe Reservoir near Pierre South Dakota. I had a minor issue with water coming in through the swing keel locking bolt hole and after I got it fixed I noticed a lot of light on the horizon. I initially thought it was from Pierre but was surprised at how bright it was. When I killed the spreader light I was amazed to see the Northern Lights shooting skyward from the northern horizon. Wow, what a show. Spouse and I spent an hour just gazing at them in wonder. What a way to start sailing. I am looking forward to my first green flash. I'll have to break out a bottle of rum and drink a toast to old Neptune and all them scruvy old seadogs who went before me.

Loyalist Arms in Nova Scotia. According to Blair, shipping the lock seperately avoids issues with customs agents who are unfamiliar with the law relating to muzzleloading firearms.

I'll have to cast me vote for the ship firing on the fort as well.

Well, nothing at the moment, but since you mentioned it... Let me think, Pyrat XO, Cockspur, Pyrat Pistol, or Appleton VX????? Arrrr. Pyrat XO. I like Pyrat XO a lot.

Just received the doglock for my blunderbuss (they ship the lock separately) and after reading your post Graydog I did some experimenting. I can see where this might be an issue. If I pull the dog all the way back it stays, but once the lock is installed I think it's going to be loose. Can't wait for the barrel and stock to arrive. Since this is Friday it will, most likely, not be until Monday.

Been through the Wind River country a time or two. Only rendezvous I did out that way was Fort Bridger back in mid to late '80s.

Capt. Bo, I did my fur trading up in South Dakota with the trappers out of Rapid City. It's been a few years ago, well, maybe a more than a few now that I think of it, and I didn't have the beard back in them days. Had my Hawken made by a gent named Gary Whipple, a muzzleloading gunsmith who runs Ol' Ephraim's Outpost just outside of Rapid City. Mad L, if you make it to PiP next year we can see about depleting the rum supply on Bone Island. There's a great little rum bar there known as the Rum Barrel. In fact, it might be interesting to have a Pyracy Pub get-together at at the Barrel. What think ye mateys? If ye be intersted I can do the legwork once I get down that way in a few months. Why is these islands called the "Dry Tortugas"? 'Cause them bloody pyrates drank all the damn rum, that's why! :angry:

The history of words and sayings is a fascinating. Between wind and water - The few feet around the waterline of a sailing vessel that are alternately exposed to water and air. A favorite target of naval gunners intent on sinking a ship as water would rush in as the ship rolled, but not where you wanted to shoot if you wanted to make prize of her. Bring your arse to an anchor - Sit down Rosewater sailor - An incompetent officer Athwart or athwart ship - anything running across the ship at 90 degrees to the keel. Round Robin or Robbin - Originally a French practice modified by English seamen where a petition is submitted to the officers and the crew signs their names in a circle so no ringleader can be singled out. Ringleader - see above

Mad L, it be to bad most of ye seem to be on the left coast. I got about 8 bottles of rum aboard and would greatly enjoy having some company emptying them. I be planning on making port on Bone Island for PIP in '09 so if any of ye make it we can see how much of the worlds rum supply we can consume.

Graydog, neat in a large glass it be mate. Very interesting books, I hadn't heard of them before; just ordered the pair. Can't wait until they get here.

Thank ye mates, it be a pleasure to share me rum with all of ye.

This may actually be off topic in a way, but my studying of the use of swords by pirates indicates that there were few "masters of the sword". In fact the whole idea behind the cutlass was that it was an hacking weapon designed for someone who had not been trained in swordsmanship, since back in the day only the nobility was trained in actual sword craft. The pirates first line of defense was his firearm so swords were the last thing employed. Also most boardings, at least based on my readings, didn't require any fighting, they simply intimidated the other crew into surrendering. In my experience with real combats, they are usually short violent things which end rather quickly, very similar to MADL's example with regard to his son and the drunken pirate. It therefore seems to me you have two options in these simulated combats, you can make it real (short and violent) or you can do a stage combat, like those from the old Errol Flynn movies or more recently PotC's several extended sword fights. Since what you are really doing, it seems anyway, is entertaining, the latter examples would seem more appropriate, and a choreographed fight would seem to be the answer, much as those in the movies. If you are doing a demonstration of what period fighting would have been like, short and to the point would seem more appropriate, possibly ending in something more akin to Indiana Jones shooting the guy with the sword in the first Indi movie. A third option would seem to be available which I have not noticed mentioned here. SCA holds non-staged combats all the time using rattan swords. Their rules state that when the dead man thinks he's dead he's dead. The katana was also taught using bamboo or rattan swords and combats there were at full speed and not choreographed. Of course we do not have the advantage of armor so this might not work for pirates, not to mention the rattan swords definitely detract from the historical look of the combat. Anyway, that's my two doubloons worth...

Cap'n Bo, when you mentioned this it made me think of Oklahoma City. Methane gas is a byproduct of manure degradation, and it is flammable. Keep fire and other ignition sources such as electrical tools away from manure. Refernece: http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d001601-d0017...16/d001616.html Just attended cannon training at Charles Towne Landing. They use the National Park Service guidelines regarding black Powder and do not use Pyrodex so take this with a grain of salt. They dispose of black powder by mixing it with sand and water, dirt if sand is not available. Put the dirt or sand in a non-sparking tub add the powder and water. I forget what the ratio was exactly, but 5:1 should suffice. Mix it up then sprinkle it around on the ground. If you want the exact description of this method, let me know and I'll give them a call and get it precisely.

The welcomes are greatly appreciated mates, thank ye kindly. Cap'n Jim, I'm departing Charleston in March and plan on trying to get a mooring in Boot Key Harbor. Don't know if I'll sail to Key West or buy a beater and drive for PIP, but I'm definitely going to be thar. Cap'n Sterling, I will pass the word to CJ. Lady B, helps me remember the important things...

Aye, I know that swab... L to R, Drew, CJ, and yours truly... Gents I be at your service and standin' by...

This may be of interest. I just bought a copy of Building 18th Century Naval Artillery which describes how bo build a naval carriage in detail.

Ahoy mates, I be new in port and wanted to say my 'ellos. I live on a boat and am cruisnig south along the Intracoastal Waterway, currently in port at Charles Towne (Charleston) South Carolina. I've been shooting black powder since 1976 and have recently become certified as gun crew at the Charles Towne Landing Historical Site, which looks like the beginning of a new addiction and is of great concern to my better half. My original foray into reenacting and muzzle loading was related to the Rocky Mountain fur trade, but I've always been interested in pirates and the history related to the latter part of the Golden Age, roughly 1670 - 1725. I am now in the process of acquiring my rig and trying to remain as historically accurate as I can, but still having fun with it. As a sailor, I am very interested in anything having to do with sailing ships and the age of fighting sail. I also love doing research and would be interested in any advice as to how and where to find obscure historical information. With that I'll take my leave ye,

Don't think I'd buy anything as complex as a gun from someone who can't operate a spell checker. Just a thought...