gunner Gordon

PAID

them that finds

DARK

Ben Gun

I beg to differ, the bent end of the spike that protrudes into the chamber of the gun will prevent the spike from being blown out by a discharge. The end could be bent by rammer or worm since that end of the spike was 'soft'. To my understanding, the only way to remove a spike was by drilling. Again, the spiking of a gun was to prevent it from being used against you as you retreated from the placement of the gun, be it that you wanted your ship to leave the harbor unmolested by the guns of a fort, or if in the field, not letting the cannon being turned on you if recaptured. Gunners being overrun by the foe, would often spike their own guns, so that grape would not follow them in their retreat from their overrun position. It is a temporary application to prevent the use of the gun in the short term. I have to agree with you in theory, I'm just wowdering about the capability of drilling and not wandering off to the softer metal of the gun. If presented the same problem with their tools I might explore the possibility of knocking off that soft end in the tube and proceeding as suggested. of course if the top end of the spike could be grabbed or heated to destroy the temper ? at any rate none of these would likly put the gun back in action in time top do any good, exactly the purpose you've stated.

You know, a couple of those pictures look familiar, nawww... or?

I believe they adpted the knife pleat in 1794, and the yardege the was 4yrds I believe. of course the size of some of us now means a 6 yrd kilt is still covering the same amount of body. As an aside I once took a regimental kilt, much heavier than what you can normally buy, that was a 29 inch waist, opened all the pleats and repleated it to see the max waist alteration I could ge. It came out that with some creative sewining and redoing all the pleats you could get a 54 inch waist out of it,or one really decent pair of drop front trews. Bob's book shows a Gordon one, from the regimental museum, with 21 small box pleats and 3 yards, 2 inches of material. It dates from 1796. It also has NO taper, is self-fringed on both ends, and looks like it has a button closure. It is made of "hard tartan" and the yellow is silk. (Page 54) Also, there is the barrel pleats in the 1850s in many regiments. Those seem to have fallen out of favor, in preference to the knife pleat. A few of the old regimental knife pleats have the pleats going the "wrong way" around, with the wear implying they were built as barrel pleats which were then altered into knife pleats much later. The VAST majority of surviving 19th century kilts, military or civilian have box pleats. I'll look carefully at Bob's illustrations and note the earliest knife pleat he shows, but I'll do that tonight. I need to be a dad and play with my kids right now! On, and most look to have been straight sewn, no tapers, and many have what looks like suspender buttons (called "braces" in Britain). The above mentioned Gordon kilt has them! Oh, and Bob's book changes my understanding of the 18th century development of the kilt. It is WELL worth the price, for those interested in the subject! the regimental museum in Aberdeen is a wealth of treasure and info ,thanks to the staff and the vision of the last Regimental commander,Sir Peter Graham. but bear in mind tha the Gordon tarten is family as wellas military and most every ariation exists, the silk yellow is most likely private ,the museum turns down no donation and agressively preserves every thing even the unknown for later scholars to ponder, I've spent many a day there and enjoyed every one.

These guns did indeed come in every state described above, but for a reason, the same reason as the different quality of India guns. Every other country that allows these to be imported for sghooting purposes requires them to be proofed and serial numbered, except the US. muzzel loaders under federal law are exempt firearms from the natl. act. The Japaneese (sorry) guns were imported as decoraters as well as shooters. you wikll notice serial # on the guns with properly installed breech plugs, some decoraters were sent with a mixture of good and bad parts but never had the vent drilled. a gun made to firing specs ciost the maker a lot more money and the market wouln't bear it here,also some "dealers" here had the guns made well, but without the vent or proof testing leading to confusion at the country of origin as to their intended use. I have intended shooting versions of the pistol and musket and they work very well indeed. I have had others with decent barrells but couldn't get a spark . My solution, for spark and looks is a rework of vthe stock and a minor handfit of the lock from track of the wolf, can't remember the name but is a goose neck scaled down bess type lock made by L&R that sparks great. the conversion is under a hundred dollars, and yes, I do shoot them live on occasion if they have the propper breech plug.

Bear in mind the spike is only stuck to the amount of energy it took to put it there. Drilling a new vent and firing the gun would give you two vents ultimatly. fuse and heavily wadded proof charge though time consuming will fix the problem with no real tools or skill.

end of season cleaning involes a trip to the carwash, hot soap cycle, then blowdry on the way home then swab with watersoluble oil( the type used for radiators to lube old time water pumps) the water drys and leaves the oil. The car wash works good on swab heads too. If the guns are stayinr on board, the same process but use a rechagable water type fire ext. filled with boiling water and set up with a high pressure car wash sprayer.

my refernce was to military kilts, I believe the great kilt , for example, as hand pleated on the ground ,laid upon and belted would naturally produce the fold over form of a knife pleat, but not on purpose or style.

PACK

lose

both, and everything inbetween. I have 4 full sized bronze swivels for my POTC jolly boat that were made off an original French casting pattern out of Canada, on the other hand I have two live 105 how. also. I guess the interest is more where to get mo' powder eh? seriously i'm intrigued by bronze guns and was enthralled with the photos here last week that other members were building. I briefly had the oportunity to purchase the live fire guns off the Rose when I worked as a consultant /gun examiner for Master and Commander, alass sharper "pirates" than me beat me to it. I have numerous other repro and original guns from several time periods and enjoy them all.

There is another book that talks about the royal navy's purpose built sloops to combat the pirates in their own waters, heavily constructed and very well armed, they also experimented with long retractable drop keels in order to chase into even shallower waters.

I believe they adpted the knife pleat in 1794, and the yardege the was 4yrds I believe. of course the size of some of us now means a 6 yrd kilt is still covering the same amount of body. As an aside I once took a regimental kilt, much heavier than what you can normally buy, that was a 29 inch waist, opened all the pleats and repleated it to see the max waist alteration I could ge. It came out that with some creative sewining and redoing all the pleats you could get a 54 inch waist out of it,or one really decent pair of drop front trews.

Regimentally speaking, the Gordon Highlanders, as formed in 1794, were the first to officially use the knife pleat for duty, at the tall ships festaval and start of the race in 1997 I was invited aboard the training ship Sylla (sp) to get a better look at the fleet of everything imaginable that was there. This not being much help after climbing over numerous other boats , I climbed aloft to get a better view. An erratic but constant clicking noise attracted my attention to the deck of the boat "next door" where a group of ladies alldressed up were having tea, only now they were at the railing quietly taking photos of my kilt aloft. You have but to do the work of a sailor or a gunner and you will see why the lack of reference to wearing the kilt on board, they might have brought them with however.

aye yes, ye never know.......

Much later time frame, but the gun carraiges on the HMS Surprise are painted a yellowish gray. Interesting aside, the metal parts of non bearing surfaces were covered with the tar slurry that was used to cover the served and parcelled standing rigging. gun tubes, even pistols covered in that gunk for preservation. 100% authenticity would be depressing I think, prabably lead to great advancements in technology.

yadda

Living near the coast, a large number of ship's signal flags and country flags are sold in salvage stores. Yes modern, but traditionan. They are almost all made of wool bunting and pieced together to display the design. The use of signal flags and port's of call flags would probably have supplied the base to make other flags. A quick view of letter signal flags suggests the form of red and/or black based flags. two sided military flags show a widespread embrodery to the body of the flag with a matching embrodered piece sewn on from the opposite side. just a few thoughts.

the resulting "whump" of powder residue lands the clensing duo thru the oft shattered pub window into their chairs just in time to reorder ......

I think I better join ye , scoot o'r and gimme a piece o'that junk wad ye be scatchin the bore with, whars that Gentle man Scotty when ye needim, looks like e got 'is drink and left, I bet Bosun and Silkie's broder wa help us tho.what's all this small change at the breech here. Light a match Oderlesseye,wot ha' we got here?

A fine thing I find 'er now. I sail off a couple o' days, leaves ye all sittin peacefull like ,do me Captain's biddin and now come back 'er ta find Oderless eye under the table , Bosun and Scotty flingin hash ,and Silkie no where in sight. at this rate I'm goin ta be firin all the guns meself !I guess I'll go find me belayin' pin and see aboot some new drinkin partners, Scotty, Bosun, pull up some more chairs any one care ta join us?

About this time ,or a little later you start seeing British artillery on land with woodwork painted gray, sometimes with a bluish tinge to it.