PoD

That is awesome. Did you have that made or do they sell them somewhere?

I am thinking more along the lines of it being a badly drawn tricorn now than a bicorne (as I didnt realise they werent around then). The shading seems odd if it isnt shaped into at least a small point.

That date must be wrong, I'd guess at 1829. There were two papers called The Spectator, the first ran in 1711-1712 and 1714, the second was founded in 1828. I'm also 99% certain that the United Service Gazette was not published as early as 1729. There was no Royal Navy uniform regulation until 1748, and it did include epaulettes until the end of the 18th century. You aren't wrong. Google books had it listed as the 1729 edition but the front page (which stupidly I didnt check) has the date 1850 on it.

There is a paragraph in the 1729 edition of the spectator that seemed to say that the hats the navy were using were long out of date: "We hear from good authority, that it is the intention of the Admiralty to revise the present regulation for the uniform of the Royal Navy, with the view of reducing the costly expenditure of the junior officers. It is said that epaulettes are to be altogether abolished, and it is a question whether the antiquated cocked-hat will be retained for use on board ship.— United Service Gazette. . "

Well speaking for myself, what I was seeing was a basic wide brimmed circular hat pinned up at the front and back. Maybe the artist was just rubbish at perspective and they are tricorns The hat shown in this picture above looks to me a lot like the one that was featured in the Captain Kidd exhibit:

Would they maybe what was refered to as a cocked hat then? Or are we saying that is another word for Tricorns?

Will at Kings Forge and Muzzleloading can make new stocks for your pistols or muskets

I'd always assumed that these were wearing Bicorne hats. The "English admiral at sea" especially as he even has the smaller brim at the front and the larger brim at the back that was specifically the way that the English made Bicorne hats.

I used these pictures when I was researching the Firepots I made. They provided the missing information on how the thing was thrown and what held the wooden top in place.

I just won one of the tables on ebay for £20 ($35). It hasnt got a drawer in it but I am sure I can make one and fit it in.

I never noticed that before but yes it could well be the same table. I have seen chairs similar to that too. They are known as Queen Anne style chairs and you can come across modern reproductions quite easily. Looking closely at the picture of the chair under the dog it seems to have a cane work or rattan style seat rather than the cushioned leather or fabric seats that are more common. This one from a later period has a similar seat configuration: You can actually buy modern folding versions of the Queen Anne chairs : http://furniturefort.com/Chairs/Queen-Anne-Folding-Chair.php

They come up on ebay now and then for next to nothing but they are always collection only and always way to far away to collect. I missed one in Liverpool last year because I was saving for a boat which I didnt win in the end either.

Another great example of early ships furniture is the officers chest found aboard the 1676 wreck of the Swedish ship Kronan http://www.kalmarlan...art_art-s1/1649 The first picture seems to show one of the large hinged door panels that would have closed to hold all the drawers in place when in transit. (I used to own a similar tool makers cabinet but much larger).

Don't forget that the ships tables had a single drawer in it too. A lot of the modern ones don't come with that option. The originals were made of Oak and had a Deal(?) wood top

In the book "The Restoration Warship" by Richard Endsor there is a picture of a gateleg style oval table like the one pictured below that was recovered from the wreck of the Stirling Castle that sank in 1703. It belonged to the Gunner and was one of a number that were issued to the officers and high ranking members of the crew. There is a 1690 contract with Henry Ward from the Navy that mentions tables such as these being supplied to the boat yards in Chatham, UK (Interestingly the same guy also made 20 Hencoops).

Thanks William. I've been wanting to reproduce one of these for a while and now being involved in a large pirate display at the Royal Armouries next year I had the excuse to get some made up. I'd love to actually get one made up for real and see just how effective they were. I might try and convince the Armouries to film a live test for the display.

Firepots were ceramic pots that were filled with oil or gun powder and topped with a wooden fuse. Around the outside of the pot were loops or “ears” that slow match was tied to. The pot was thrown onto enemy ships or fortifications using a lanyard (also tied to the ears or onto the rim of the pot). On impact with a hard surface the pot could crack spilling out the contents that was then ignited by the slow match. If the pot failed to smash then the fuse in the top would ignite the contents. Some firepots even contained a Grenadoe that would be lit when the pots contents ignited This is an inert replica of the firepots found aboard the La Belle shipwreck which sank in 1686. The Original: My Replica: I comissioned the pots to be recreated to the exact dimensions of the La Belle artifacts by a friend that specialises in recreating historically accurate ceramics. The rope is hemp and the ears hold actual slow match. The stopper is wood and holds a removable wooden fuse filled with fake black powder. The top is held on by a circle of calico canvas finished to look like it has been tarred. http://www.lettersofmarque.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13&products_id=204

Just found a great book while looking through Google books: Nauticum astrologicum: or, The astrological seaman: directing merchants, mariners, captains of ships, ensurers, &c. how (by God's blessing) they may escape divers dangers which commonly happen in the ocean. Unto which is added a diary of the weather for XXI years together, exactly observed in London, with sundry observations thereon by John Gadbury (1710) http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=y4JZAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

ha ha they are on the to-do list so I will post about them once they are made

We are now doing Traverse Boards and Chip Logs for the Discerning Navigator: http://www.lettersofmarque.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=11

alas Mr Welsh has now taken the kings pardon and retired from piracy to become a humble Blacksmith at Little Woodham historical village (http://www.littlewoodham.org.uk/).

I'm selling this antique Queen Anne Priming horn from my own collection. Perfect for early to mid 1700s reenactment. This is an original Queen Anne style priming flask from the early 18th century. This would have been used mainly with pistols and carried in the pocket of a waistcoat. There is a slight crack in the screw on cap and there is some wear to the bottom of the horn but other than that this is a fine example of these rare and collectable powder flasks. It is approx 3" wide and 6" tall. $179.27 (these are on some websites for over $400) http://www.lettersofmarque.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=197

you just have to be careful when using that book as a reference as it's been known to expand on the truth somewhat so cross reference anything if you can.