Tall Paul

At the risk of making myself unpopular, and also of covering the same ground as previous posts. I have to point out that for the majority of the Golden Age of Piracy, baldrics were not worn. The baldric, was the sole method of carrying swords throughout the time of the English Civil War. The first illustrations of sword belts appear during the late 1670's, but they do not become commonplace until the mid 1680's. there is a period overlap, lasting less than 10 years during which both baldrics and sword belts appear, sometimes in the same picture, but by the early 1690's the baldric had fallen out of use. There may have been a slight lag for new fashions and equipment to filter through to the colonies, but given the level of trade and communication across the Atlantic at this time, anyone wearing a baldric by the start of the 18th century would have been considered highly unusual. There are of course exceptions, for example the baldric continued to be worn by the Scots throughout the 18th Century, but unless you intend to portray a Scottish pirate, in full Scottish garb, this is not really relevant. During the era when the baldric was in use, it was always worn over the coat, and in as a result, was sometimes expensively decorated. In the army of the early eighteenth century, all strapping (Sword belts, cartridge pouches, bags, etc, etc,) were worn outside the coat, with the coat buttoned up. To the modern re-enactor, this would seem very hot and uncomfortable, but one must remember that the world was experiencing a climactic low at this time. The river Thames frequently froze over to several inches thickness, and temperatures were much lower than they are today. Civilians usually wore the sword belt under the waistcoat, with the grip protruding from the side vent, and the blade from the back vent. But throughout history, military equipment has had an influence on civilian fashion and vice-versa. So, as Ed's pictures illustrate, the military mode of wearing the sword belt over the coat, was sometimes adopted, although I would not be surprised to discover that the subjects of the portraits posted by Ed who are wearing the sword over the coat all come from a military background. If you look closely at the picture of Jack Rackham dated 1725, you will see that in fact, the strap across Calico Jacks chest, is not a baldric, but is in fact the strap of a cartridge box. I believe that this picture comes from a series of illustrations from the general history of the pirates. (Correct me if I am wrong here Ed) which for the most part, despite the limitations of the medium, appear to be fairly accurate. So far as I am aware, baldrics do not appear anywhere in this series of pictures.

It has to be remembered that this de-tipping of knives takes place in the context of Navy vessels, where the danger of mutiny was always present. allowing sailors to carry anything weapon shaped was considered to be a bad idea. Cutlasses and firearms were kept safely locked away, and were only issued immediately before a conflict. In the chapter on knives in Boarders away, Gilkerson makes several references to knives being used in mutinies and shipboard murders. "He carried a knife, which he was very ready to produce in terrorem. He was in the habit of sticking it in the deck, and looking significantly at such of his messmates as he wished to cow" the above is a quote from a court martial for murder in 1778, and clearly refers to a knife with point intact. the original message in this thread asked "I read that some Captains made their crew break the tip off of their knives. Does anyone know if this was done durring the GAoP ?" since there are a number references to stabbing, and the use of knives in mutinies thoroughout the 18th century, and the account of de-tipping knives dates from the 1812 period, which post dates the Golden age of Pirates by about 100 years, I would say that the answer is probably no. That is not to say that individual Captains throughout the age of sail may not have used this practice in the interests of protecting his ship, or tat knives that had the tips broken off in the course of their use would not have been re-ground as un-pointed knives rather than been thrown away. Paul.

Before that, we have Pirates of the South China Seas coming out in February, and I have hardly made a dent in collecting the Pirates of the Barbary Coast set. It seems to me that Wizzkids are getting a little bit greedy. The first set, Pirates of the Spanish Main was such an unexpected sucess that they had to produce a second edition. Now they are bringing out new sets faster than I can buy the old ones. I still have to finish up collecting the Revolution series. This could blow up in their faces, I for one am considering giving up after Barbary Coast before this particular hobby becomes too much of a money drain. (Although I must admit that the Supernatural Pirates angle is a kinda cool twist to the game format.) Paul

This is what Gilkerson's Boarders Away has to say on this subject. "...the very few early surviving specimens of sailor's sheath Knives have straight blades with squared off or sometimes rounded tips. While there was little or no use for a pointed knife in a sailor's ordiary work, a wide-bladed knife with a flat tip made a useful scraper. Hence, the elimination of a silor's option to stab a shipmate did not particularly hindwe his knife's usefulness. According to a traditional story, aboard some 1812-period warships the knives of all new handsentering the shipe were inspected by theMaster at Arms, and any found with sharp points got their tips broken off. No documentary confirmation of this procedure could be found, but the account seems plausable in light of later formalization of square-tipped knives in most navies."

The name PiraesRUs has resurfaced on ebay. see this link. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PIRATES-OF-THE-CARIB...1QQcmdZViewItem I am not sure that this is the origional Pirates R Us, but they have joined TrippleCTreasures, who have been selling Pirate "STUFF" for some time, often implying, bit never outright claiming, a connection with Pirates of the Carribean. So far, they do not claim to be selling POTC props, but they claim that their treasure chests, are made by the supplier for the next film. On their website, http://www.piratesrus.net/ They describe these as exact copies of the props used in the film, enlarge the pictue on this page a(By clicking on it) and tell me what you think. http://www.piratesrus.biz/displayProductDo...2&categoryId=10 in the weapons section, they are selling two familiar looking swords as the Jack Sparrow Cutlass, and the Will Turner sword. Needless to say, they bear no resemblance to any sword used in the film. So far, I see no evidence that this is the return of the old Pirates-R-Us, but it may be wise to watch this space.

The subject of period illustrations is indeed a thorny one, and the context of the picture is important. for example, the pictures of blackbeard are illustrating the description in general history. (In the context of this thread, the fact that he carried six pistols. of three images, each shows a different confiuration. In the first, he has four pistols attached to his baldric, and another two, (Larger?) pistols hung from a sash on his right hip. On the second, he is carrying all six pistols on an increadably broad baldric, (I imagine that that much weight on one strap would have dragged the whole lot down until his sword was half way up his back. and in the third, he has six pistols attached to the strap of his cartrige box. However if you compare the second and third picture, the pose, the cut and drape of the coat, the shape of the sword, the position of the scabbard. one is clearly copied from the other. (Looking at the details, I would say that the third is copied from the second. there are many things wrong with both of these pictures. for example, the sword does not conform to any known typography of that or any other historical period, the backswept crossguard would make it almost unusable in combat. Finally, in the last incarnation, the baldric has been removed, yet the scabbard remains in place. Unless the sword was worn under the coat, and is therefor totally unaccessable, there would need to be a belt to suspend it from, regardless of the cartrige box. One needs to look at the quality of detail, and the context of an individual illustration to judge its merit, but I would not hold much faith in this particular picture of blackbeard. Now look at this (earlyer) picture of Henry Every. In this case he is carrying his pistols in a broad belt, with the bellybox attached at the front, without the benefit of a neck strap. (Also look at the pose, and the body proportions, position of head. I wander what the later illustraitors used as a template for their picture of blackbeard.) Of the three pictures, I would take the portrait of Every to be the most reliable. Finally, refering to the first picture of Teach, look at the pair of pistols hanging from the sash. The same configuration appears in this picture of Henry Morgan. The disadvantage of belt hooks is that they only really work on the left hip, which can get very crowded with a sword and pistols. I have done a few experiments hanging pistols by their belt hook from a sash on the right hip, and it works surprisingly well, they can be pushed back behind the hip, out of the way. and although they are slightly clunky, this can be reduced by placing the pistols one on each side of the knot. Two does seem to be the maximum number for this method of support though. I did have a few more points, but I am running out of time, so they will have to wait. Tall Paul

Have you Joined the UKPirateBrotherhood Yahoo group yet? Someone has just posted a request for show dates, so if you are quick, you should be able to ride his coat tails, and catch the dates as they come in, There are several big events in the pipeline for next year, but so far, I think that the only confirmed date is the South West Pirate Festival (SWPF) And No.... .....You sign books during the day, and then drink the rum in the evening when its all over. "Tall Paul" Adams

Just a thought, and obviously I cant make promises on behalf of other people, but it occours to me that if you asked nicely, you could organise a book signing at one or more of the pirate festivals that are taking place in the UK next year (Perhaps you could offer a tricorn wearers discount) with the correct associated publicity it could help to promote both your book and the event. On the down side, you would have to help out with the day to day Piratin', and you would be expected to get drunk and rowdy in the pub during the evening.

It was always my perception theat the ribbon method was there to provide a method of quickly discarding the pistol after it had been fired. That the pistols were origionally carried on the belt or in holsters. Since stopping to replace a pistol mid battle, was probably a good way to get yourself killed, A pirate woud simply drop one pistol and draw the next. Pictures of Blackbeard, who reputedly carried a multitide of pistols, show them inserted into broad leather loops attached to the strap of his cartrige pouch. I know from experience, that carrying more than three pistols the size of Loyalist arms Doglocks is very cumbersom, so I am inclined to think that if Teach carried six pistols, they were probably smaller, Queen Anne type. I have several pictures of 18th Century hunters which show them wearing a cartrge box suspended around their neck and apparently held in place with a waistbelt, in the same manner as one of the pictures of blackbeard, Personally, I am not sure that I would be happy about having a box of black powder cartriges suspended in front of my groin, but there you go.

Hello Dred Pirate Diedra, Welcome to the UKPirateBrotherhood. I posted a message for you, suggesting that you contact the DeWerne Household, since thy are in the same area as you. But I have just noticed that your group membership is set up to recieve only Special Notices, so you will not recieve any news from the group, since no one ever uses special notices on yahoo groups. The brotherhood is not a very buisy group, unless a show is about to take place, but the best way to avoid excessive email clutter is to set up to recieve a daily digest. Just thought that I would let you know. Beat wishes, Tall Paul

In the thick of a skirmish I have been known to cry out.... "OW!OW!OW!OW!YEBASTAD! TAKE THAT!" Or words to that effect.

All of the above, (apart from, perhaps, the last one) none of these are mutually exclusive, and some of the best educators I have ever met have also been entertainers. Why can't I highlight more than one dammit.

NEW BRITISH PIRATE SOCIETIES Since I started this thread, Two new UK Pirate enactment societies have surficed. (Not counting Pirate factions within groups like LACE WARS) These are Sea Wolfes (Their spelling not mine) & Fort Amherst Pirates (See Thread Above) This brings the total number to 15, of which at least half are now confirmed. If anyone has details of the rest, could they please post them in the UKPirateBrotherhood Group http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/ukpiratebrotherhood/ Many thanks, Tall Paul

Ahoy Caseshot, Did you come to a very wet show that C.H.E.S. put on on Colchester earlyer this year? If so, I would like to meet up with you (And possibly the Sheppey guys,) and discuss the Possibility of organising a Pirate event maybe at this end of next year. Maybe we can talk about it at the SeaSheppey event. Also, At the risk of becoming obsessive about it, Have you joined the UKPirateBrotherhood Yahoo Egroup yet? We have started a database with contact details of the various british pirate re-enactment societies. So far, we have entries for Eight of the Fifteen or so (At the latest count) British Groups.

Ahoy there, Another brit in the Piracy Pub! Where do you hail from? You seem to have your finger on the Piraty Pulse on Great Britan. You even remember SCUM. (Are they still going?) Have you joined the UKPirateBrotherhood Yahoo group yet? if you have, perhaps you could fill in some of the gaps in the survey that is running at the moment to get the details of all the british pirate groups listed.

That'll be why they have only 8 flags registered. None of which appear in this thread. What makes it "Official"?

Green Teeth?? That'll be scurvy then, Or eatin' too much spinich as befits a sailor man.

Sea Thieves may well have done a job in Bristol, however Lace Wars definately did the job that C.H.E.S. were initially offered. I am not 100% sure that it was in Bristol though. All I can rememer is that it was that sort of area (East side of the West Country) There was never any paperwork, so I cannot check.

They did a show in the south west (Bristol I think), There was A small article about it in Skirmish Magazine. C.H.E.S. were initially approached for the same event, but lost out to Lace Wars, (No hard feelings, we were already booked anyway) However I was able to learn from the client that the event was done by a faction of lace wars based in or near to Peterborough. Anyone know who they may be? I would like to add them to the list. I also believe that there are elements within one of the big English Civil War societies (SK or ECWS) who also do a Pirate show every year.

HEY!!! I Just noticed, I am no longer a Bilge rat! (Not that Deck Swabber is much of an improvement) How many messages must I send before I become someting else?

Bad Timing I Guess.............. :) I think that the sucess of the Pirates of the Caribbean Film had something to do with it, (Although C.H.E.S. became Pirates before the film was made) Also, The fact that there is now a multi society event for pirates, The South West Pirate Festival, means that different groups are starting to communicate, (Re-enactment politics can be a terrible thing) Several of the newer crews are societies who do different hisorical periods, and who have decided to take to piracy as a second string to their bows.

I Tried, I really did, (Not knowing many American politicians didn't help) but the best I could come up with was Mr Bushdick canarieswoolf Sorry.

At IFOS (The International Festival Of the Sea) a while back, I was talking to one of the crew of the Phoenix from square sail (A company that provides ships for Film and TV). Apparently we have another seagoing reality show to look forward to. Press Gang. In which a bunch of celebrities (the legal department warned off the producers from kidnapping real members of the public, which was the original format for the show) are "Press Ganged" aboard a ship and then have to carry out various nautical tasks or face elimination by being thrown overboard. Production had been delayed by legal action from the producers of a very similar program in Ireland which ended prematurely when they managed to accidentally sink the ship.

Somewhere I have a picture of armed men aboard a 12th Century longship. Amongst all the spears is one that has a normal spearhead, but then it also has a pair of hooks, side by side (Not adjacent like a wing spear) In my opinion this can only be a boathook. Certainly the earliest representation of one that I know about. Unless of course you know different. Ed.

I was going to suggest using magicians flash cotton. it is chemically identical to flash paper, but it has a texture similar to cotton wool, which would make it offer a better plug than flash paper. It burns instantly and leaves no residue beyond a small oily smear. On the down side, it is HIGHLY volatile, in a hot dry climate there is a very small chance that it could spontaneously ignite, setting off the charge. You could spray it with a little water before putting it in the barrel, the heat of the charge would dry it out enough for it to ignite before it left the barrel. (I would try a few test shots first) I am sure that I recently read an article about filming in America, that stated that after a number of infamous and fatal accidents on film sets (The Crow for example) it is now illegal to set up a film shot where a gun is pointing directly at another person, and that camera angles and reverse shots should be used instead. But then again, if they are filming outside the USA.................. Incidentally, did you know that the reason that the props assistant was loading the guns on the Crow the day that Brandon Lee died, instead of the armourer, was that the armourer had been sent home early to save money!!