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Johnathan Atwood

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Posts posted by Johnathan Atwood

    The demise of the rapier as the weapon of choice

    in Captain Twill

    Posted

    Daniel covered a good amount of the history and fine points (if you'll forgive the pun). I'm just going to jump in as a martial arts fencer (as opposed to Olympic), and instructor.

    What we have here is evolution at work.

    The rapiers that first developed in the late 15th century were more similar to medieval style swords than their descendants. They had the thickest blades (usually and inch and a quarter in width), and were equally effective at cutting and thrusting. They had quillons that were thick, and very like earlier crosspieces. Due to the weight of the blade many early fencers gripped their forefinger over the quillon in order to have better control of their weapon, especially while thrusting. As armoured gauntlets were going by the wayside due to the introduction of firearms rings were added to protect the fingers. Eventually a knuckle bow was added, and the hand was better protected. The swept hilt developed from this.

    As various nations, namely Italy, Spain, France, and Germany developed their own styles of rapier fighting they also started developing their own guards. German General Gottfried Heinrich Graf zu Pappenheim developed the style named after him: highly decorated grillwork or shells in the rings of the anneau. His blades remained thick as they were a military sword. In the late 1500s, early 1600s you see the bell shaped guards replacing the swept hilt, and quillons becoming longer. This is true mostly in Spain and France. Sadly, England got to the game late as they actually passed laws against fencing schools in the 13th century where heavier blades were preferred.

    Blades thinned started thinning over time. Early rapiers were thick and mostly used for cutting like their ancestors. Most of the "standard" attacks were countered by moving, or parrying with a dagger. Then, just after 1600 Di Grassi (my hero) wrote his treatise on rapier fencing and pointed out that the thrust is the fastest way to kill the other guy, and that the best strategy to use was one where you killed the other guy first, and didn't get injured yourself. Angelo Viggiani then developing the lunge, followed by Vincentio Saviolo who went even further than Di Grassi in favoring the thrust over the cut.

    Due to rapiers being used for thrusting over cutting they no longer possessed the weight to cut by percussion and began to be on average 40 inches in blade length alone. Because of this fences, when they had to cut, were using the draw cut. In order to do this properly you place your blade on your opponent and push or pull your blade. If you try and "thwack" them, your blade will use most of its energy bouncing off.

    These thinner, thrusting weapons eventually started becoming smaller again as they were used more for dueling by citizenry, and not used in warfare as often. several hundred years of experimentation had made complex swordplay where the lightest, fastest possible weapon usually won. The weapon's component parts–the quillons, cup, knucklebow and pas d'âne–all shrank down to the smallest useful size. The result was the'small sword,' a weapon that eclipsed the rapier completely in the 1700s.

    Period Schooner For Sale!

    in Shipwright

    Posted

    So, in all seriousness, I have been talking with the current owner since Feb. Just took a look at her most recent survey today. I have a good business plan for using her to do educational tours. Looking for potential silent partners to buy shares in her. Message me if you are interested in learning more. I'll update as I go through the process of buying her.


    So, in all seriousness, I have been talking with the current owner since Feb. Just took a look at her most recent survey today. I have a good business plan for using her to do educational tours. Looking for potential silent partners to buy shares in her. Message me if you are interested in learning more. I'll update as I go through the process of buying her.

    Pirate Ship Defiance

    in Shipwright

    Posted

    Jib: Thankee. We are very excited about this project. One of the few years when I am looking more forward to the end of sailing season than the beginning.

    Jake: I haven't seen any sources for Low on a pinky schooner, just sloops. Do you have a good to reference? Low, Lowther, and Harris are some of my personal favorites as I cruise from Narragansett to Cape Anne.

    Pirate Ship Defiance

    in Shipwright

    Posted · Edited by Johnathan Atwood

    That is very strange. I tried the link above and it didn't work, but put in http://pirateshipdefiance.com and was greatly relieved to see that we are still up and running. The difference of a slash, eh?

    Our demensions are 78ft tip to tip, 58ft at the rail, 15ft at the beem. there's a fo'c'stle, crew quarters, galley, and engine room below. Defiance will sleep 13 comfortably. No great guns, but we are planning on some swivels.

    Defiance will actually be the sister ship to the pinky schooner Ardelle (http://schoonerardelle.com), which is owned and operated by Capt. Burnham. However, we're going to have slightly different deck furniture to be truer to period.

    Pirate Ship Defiance

    in Shipwright

    Posted

    Pirates of the New England Coast has commissioned the well known and respected shipwright Harold Burnham to build a pinky schooner. The project has a dual purpose: to help keep the Essex wooden boat building tradition alive, and to create a replica vessel of what many New England pirates actually sailed.

    As of now we have the oak for the ribs, keel, and hull cut, and the oak for the deck furniture is aready in plank form. We are raising funds all summer long, and true construction will begin this Fall. We estimate she'll launch in March 2014, and be ready for service by May!

    Please follow us through our website at http://pirateshipdefiance.com/, and on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PirateShipDefiance.

    Most of te help we need s monetary, and pledges are accepted through paypal. We will also accept elbow grease this Fall.

    fair winds and a following sea!

    Adventure for all Roving Souls in New England

    in Find a Crew or Introduce One

    Posted

    The Rhode Island Pirate Players are looking for some new crew. We are an active group that has been educating about what life was really like for pirates and privateers during the GAoP for the past 7 years.

    2013 is already shaping up to be another great year, and as we expand we are looking for new mates to play with. We are open to all, from old salts who have been roving for years, to new sailors looking to get their feet wet.

    www.ripirateplayers.org

    Rare Crimson Jolly Roger Restored

    in Captain Twill

    Posted

    It may be real, but it's 70 years or so past the GAoP.

    If you're seeking info on authentic flags, Swashbuckler 1700 has what is probably the most concise resource - Foxe's website. If you want to go digging, you can find several topics around here on the subject including:

    It may be real, but it's 70 years or so past the GAoP.

    If you're seeking info on authentic flags, Swashbuckler 1700 has what is probably the most concise resource - Foxe's website. If you want to go digging, you can find several topics around here on the subject including:

    The Jolly Roger

    Flags and the Death's Head "Memento Mori"

    The Jolly Roger in popular literature - Another most interesting thread

    History of the Jolly Roger - A history featuring lots of Templar nonsense

    Flags: Black vs. RED - Discussion of the 'jolie rouge' terminology

    Pyrate Mythory - Foxe talking about his new pirate flags page. :lol:

    Captain Kidd's Flag - Or not

    Union Jack (OK, this has nothing to do with pirate flags, but it's interesting anyhow.)

    Flags for POTC - Striving to make an historical-like flag for the Disney movies

    BLACK!! - Some bits of "How to" for those interested in making a PC flag

    The red flag can really be fake there is many details that don't seem right..

    I am no expert on flags, so what looks wrong?

    Rare Crimson Jolly Roger Restored

    in Captain Twill

    Posted

    Saw an interesting article about a recovered 200+ red pirate flag. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2074868/Rare-red-Jolly-Roger-pirate-flag-captured-battle-north-Africa-230-years-ago-goes-display-time.html

    I have come across so many thoughts on the subject of pirate flags, including theories on the "known" pirate flags being fakes from the 19th century.

    Most of the pirate flags I have read about in primary sources just say pirate flag or black flag.

    Wondering what the thoughts on the pub were.

    Wanted: Shoes!

    in Thieves Market

    Posted

    If you can get to an event where Flying Canoe Traders is, mostly northeast , that would be my suggestion. I have a pair of their shoes with leather soles and rubber heels. Works great on a wet deck. I say get to the event because Louie doesn't mail order shoes, he actually fits them for you, then has you walk around for an hour to make sure they are comfortable. One of the best events to get him at is the Fort Frederick Market Fair, in Big Pool, MD. It is the 18th C Mall of America, with about a hundred sutlers of authentic (heavily juried) kit.

    Hawkyns

    Thank you very much for this bit of input. I'll see if I can catch them at an event. My crew and I have a few things from them, and they have held up well for several seasons.

    Cheers,

    John Atwood

    Wanted: Shoes!

    in Thieves Market

    Posted

    I appreciate the advice folks. I have one pair of straight last shoes that need to be re-soled. I'll see about getting rubber ones put on.

    But nobody knows of a place to just get shoes with rubber soles to begin with? There's new hands on board who I don't want to have to tell to buy a $100 pair of shoes, plus the price of buckles, then ask them to go out and get them re-soled for another $50.

    Wanted: Shoes!

    in Thieves Market

    Posted

    Ahoy mates!

    I work on a 72' brigantine doing pirate living history. I have a pair of straight last shoes, but never get to use them on board as they have leather soles, and I like to not slide while working on deck or aloft. Call me Mr. Picky if you like, but thud is bad, splash is bad, and thud splash is real bad.

    Is anyone out there selling straight last shoes with a rubber sole? If so, I am willing to give them a try and if they work well the whole crew will probably grab some.

    I'm not looking for boots. Thank you in advance for thinking of it, but I just need a good shoe.

    Best,

    Mr. Atwood

    Quartermaster, Formidable

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