Nighthawk

Nighthawk -

Most satisfactory!

I think Mr. Rhombo is honored by your rememberance through your skill and crsftsmanship.

"We are never gone... untill we are forgotten."

Jas. Hook

Why thank you! I wore them to the Colorado Renaissance Festival this weekend and actually had some of the leather vendors wanting to buy them from me! They were a real standout. I wandered in and out of those shops that in years past, I could have spent hundreds of dollars in. This year, I went in and thought "Wow! I can make my own, and do it better! Thank you, Rick!"

I recently lost a very dear friend by the name of Rick Rhombo. He was teaching me leather work. A few days before he passed, he and I were working on the leather cover for my flask, and he showed me this roll of leather that he had gotten. He told me that to his eyes, it looked liked dragon scales, and that he thought it would be really cool to make a pair of dragon scale bracers from it. Well, I thought it was a cool idea, but too much in the realm of fantasy for my taste. I put that leather out of my mind until a few days later, when I got the call that he had died. After that, all I could think of was that leather and those bracers that he had wanted. So I talked to his sister, who was handling the estate, and she was more than willing to give me the leather that I needed, so long as I used it for the bracers, and kept them for myself instead of selling them or whatever. Needless to say, I jumped at that. So here are the results:

The knife sheath. Those are Ricks initials- RFR- in Norse runes. He was after all a Viking reenactor! This is the left arm bracer, designed for a right hand draw.

I decided that a dragon on the right arm would balance out the knife on the left.

This is the patch knife that I made "for a friend." I posted a picture gallery of this knife on my FaceBook page a few weeks ago. Rick was the friend I mentioned in that gallery. His sister was kind enough to give the knife back.

Here they are on my arms.

The thread I use to tie the bracers comes from a project that my friend apparently abandoned. Among the many (and I mean MANY!) things that his sister gave me was a box of remnants. It looks like Rick was making a pair of moccasins and gave up on them. The threads came from those mocs. The chain mail that the bracers are sitting was made b Rick. He was teaching my son to make chain mail. His sister again kindly let my boy take that section of mail. What do you all think- a fitting memorial?

Interestingly enough, I found this forum doing a search for bladric buckles and patterns. It won't be until the first of the year, but man, I want two of those! They look sweet!! Do you have any designs for 1.5 inch belts? That's the width for my son's archery baldric.

Hello, all! I am an historical reenactor with the Renaissance Scots Living History Society out of Denver, Colorado. www.RenScots.org- check us out! Or befriend us on FaceBook. We just posted a few videos on YouTube of fight demonstrations- there are some full speed fights, and some slowed down for demonstration purposes. Thought you all would be interested!

a few links for those interested in sailing and boat history in Scotland This was posted by my friend Alan H on another forum. I thought you all might find it interesting! I know I sure did.

the Sail Caledonia small boat RAID.

http://www.sailcaledonia.org/

"Fifies"...the last working dipping luggers. This is "Reaper"

http://www.scotfishmuseum.org/reaper/

Commun Birlinn...the sail and oar article is pretty interesting.

http://galgael.org/birlinn/

William Fife III, probably Scotlands best known yacht designer.

http://www.butesonsa...o.uk/fife.shtml

Those are nice! How much do they go for? I may be interested.

These went for $125 a piece

How is price determined? I have a few ideas in mind that are Celtic knotwork in nature.

Those are nice! How much do they go for? I may be interested.

Well, it might not be as traditional, but the method I use starts the same... But has one more step. Once coated, put the item in an oven on it's lowest heat setting for 10 to 20 minutes (time varies by thickness of pitch, heat setting of oven, and other random factors, you just gotta feel it out).. Anyways, the pitch melts into the leather, and the fused pitch/leather is both firm, hard and water proof, but not brittle. Sometimes, I may add an additional coating of pitch inside after doing the first melt into the leather if I think the item needs it.

Give that a try and let me know if it works better for you (if you have any of the Townsend pitch left to try it with).

Thanks for that information! I had a friend teaching me, and I was planning on making a mug, using Townsend's pitch, but my friend can no longer help me, so I appreciate you posting the details on the method you use.

Beautiful work. It's cool to see a young person interested as well. We have a Powder Monkey aboard of the "Meka"II named "Slowmatch". He's a sponge for knowledge of this history, ship handling and marlinespike seamanship. Not video games! I just finished a first attempt at a knotwork with soft leater incorporated. I'm pleased for a first attempt but I see the mistakes I wish to avoid on "model #1".

Man, I tell you, I must be my own worst critic. I see all the flaws and faults that I want to avoid in the next incarnation, as well, but everyone else keeps telling me how great my stuff looks. I'd love to see what you did- maybe steal some ideas! I'm watching King Arthur with my son right now and am getting some great ideas for a new set of bracers. Your Slowmatch sounds a lot like my Ravan... Great nickname for him, by the way!

Some of my leather work:

This is a sheath I made for my sons tomahawk:

I currently am working on a quiver, bow sheath and archers baldric for my son. If there's any interest, I'll be posting pictures of those as well as they come together.

I know this is a pyrate forum, but I found it doing some do-it-yourself research for some leather work (in particular, my nephew is making a pirate costume and I'm helping him with things like belt, baldric, and bracers.) I figure that if I'm going to be using your do it yourself forum, I may as well contribute a little! So without further yammering from me...

My sgain dubhs, or black knife. It is either worn in the top of the Highlanders boot, sock, or hidden.

My son and my dirk, or Scottish short sword:

Given the fact I am in truth a mountain man, I had never heard of a serving mallet before I read this thread. Not only is your work beautiful, but for me, informative as well. I use a mallet, but it's made from rawhide and not wood. I had to do a little research to understand the function! Do you use it for a prop or do you have a traditionally rigged boat that would make it a necessity?

Welcome, Nighthawk. Hope t' see ye here at th' Pub often.

~Lady B

Thanks! I have a cat with a black eyepatch that I had to name Lady Barbossa! Ain't she cute?

As a Scottish Highland reenactor of the late Renaissance and early Jacobite era, I really like the sleeveless one! It would make a great Jacobean waistcoat. I'm a leather worker and knife maker myself and can't sew worth a damn, so anyone who can sew amazes me.

Wild mountain Highlander, signing on board. This is a rather interesting chat board! Much different from the others that I frequent! So- my interest on pyracy is minimal. However, I have a nephew who is putting together a pirate outfit. I'm helping him with that, which is how I found this board. I was looking for pictures of sword baldrics. There are some excellent artisans here! I may have to post some pictures of my own work. Anyways, I'm signed on, so I thought I should say... AAARRGGGHH!! THERE'S A FIRE ON ME POOP DECK!! (Bet you've never heard that one before!! )

Aye, right. This is the place to be introducin' mesel'. So lads, here we are:

No, I'm not a pirate. I thought maybe this forum could use a Highlander. Truth is, I found this site looking for a pattern for a sword baldric. Your workbench section and the people in it are doing some magnificent work!