redhand

TOTW is a little quicker too I think than the rifle shoppe, as far as turn around. Here's a link to Jim Chambers firelocks, his are mostly rifles, but there's a few fowlers and a nice early militia/Commitee of safety style musket, plus he has many locks and parts available...including a "how to" video http://www.flintlocks.com Redhand

Kass- Don't forget those Highwaymen! There are several book that deal with the lives of those scoundrels, many of which were gentlemen who had fallen on hard times, or were looking for a bit of adventure....much like land-locked pirates, mostly late 1600 to early mid 1700's. One of the books I have on the subject is "Stand & Deliver" which I picked up at a used book shop, is a interesting biography of many of the well known, and some not so well known highwaymen, ie: Plunkett & MacKlean, Dick Turpin and others. Mostly they wound up doing the Tyburn jig! I'll check my library for some other titles. Cheers Redhand

Aye same here! Been an artist all me life...been drawin' since I was a lad. I make my living as both a designer and illustrator. Plus I also paint historical and western art paintings. Draw, draw, draw!!! That's the key to improving yourself. Good drawing is the keystone to a great painting! The best advice I've ever gotten was given by my father, who told me loooong ago "You can't cover a bad drawing with a good painting!" That and remembering to listen and take advice from yer peers, you're never to old ta learn a new trick or two! If yer interested you can see my work at www.prechtelfineart.com and at www.longrifle.ws/artisans/artisanid.asp?ID=405 Cheers Redhand

Nice work indeed mate! Cheers! -Redhand

They also had a lovely piece of ordinance that was designed to set the opposing ships rigging and masts on fire, it was a piece of shot with an iron spike driven through it and the whole thing was wrapped in linen or the like and soaked in coal oil or tar/pitch. When fired from the guns it would strike the mast and set everything around it ablaze...that was the theory any way. I'm not sure how well it worked. Redhand

Hey anybody know if Disney is going to release Dr. Syn as the complete series, or the butchered version? I was really hoping they'd release it as one of their Disney Treasures dvds in those cool tins! BTW-Hammer studios released a version of that in the mid to late 50's starring Peter Cushing and Dr. Syn. -Redhand

Jen- I concure with Gary & War Tooth, as the the Germanic origins, especially Prussia. The squirrel "marks" sounded familier. We have a couple of these in our home and they date from the late 1870 period to the 1890s. which is probably where your blade falls in...mid to late 1890's. Nice piece anyway. Cheers Redhand

We were speakin about this on another thread, and I happened to mention the movie "The Island" written by Peter Benchly about modern day pirates in the carabbean, who were decended from the original french, english, spanish & dutch pirates. In the movie they spoke a kind of pidgeon language that utilized all of the afore mentioned languages. Now realizing that this is hollywood and I have no idea where Benchly got his information from this other than pure speculation (which is a no-no in historical documentation). However there are at least two native based trade languages here in the U.S., Chinook, based on the chinookian language and english, french, spanish & russian here in the Pac. NW, and Mobilian based from the mobialian language and several other native languages, including spanish & english. To me it seems like there may have been a chance such a "trade" language could have evolved, especially aboard ships with multi-cultural crews. Would certainly be interesting to research and or write a thesis on. Cheers Redhand

You're quite welcome Jack, and actually a friend and i are heading out this weekend to do a little shooting and communing with Ma nature! Cheers & Good luck Redhand

Try colonial williamsburg online, bradly company of the fox, or sykes suttlery they may have a guide on their site, or could answer an email reguarding this subject. some of the cravats, like the ruffled ones had a hook & eye in the back for fastening. and military neck stocks usually had something similar. If I'm wearing my cravat I usually wind mine around my neck until I can get it tied into some decent looking bow in the front Cheers Redhand

Jack- Both Karl Koster & David Schmid plus many other can give you excellent advice on that subject, especially since they both live in Minn...closer to your area climate wise. If you're planning on trying this hobby out. I'll give you some free advice.... Get with some people who know what they're doing and have experience doing it (Hawkyns' mess board suggestions are good ones) Listen to what they have to say they won't BS you and will give you excellant advice. Try before you buy....again listen to the opinions of the experienced. ask if you could go along on a trek/scout whatever they're calling it, most people will be glad to host you at a trek or whichever. also check out any local living history events that might be close to you. These are expensive hobbies ask as many questions as you can think, and dont be afraid to ask either myself or Hawkyns as we're both veterans of this hobby for many years, as well as several other people on this board. Cheers mate Redhand

Look around on some of the other threads... in "Capt Twill" maybe, there is a couple of them discussing book titles that are good reads and full of good research material. Cheers Redhand

Well I think we've pretty much covered this topic before as to why exactly ANY pirate would want/try to bury "treasure" is preposterous. Basically it would be like tryingto find a needle in the old haystack, or leaving it somewhere where there woul;d be even the slightest chance of someone else finding it. I more or less surmised from his angry outburst that he wasn't a legitimate historian, after all most all professional historians are quite used to being challenged, and are taught how to deal and defend their ideas, research & etc. Have you ever seen the movie "The Island"? In it the pirates speak a type of pidgeon enlish/french spanish & nautical slang which I thought was pretty interesting idea from an anthrological standpoint. There were several native american "trade" languages based on this self same principal.... The Chinook trade language of the Pac. NW and the Mobialian trade language of the SE. Each had it's roots based in the original tribal languge, but then over time added words from, in the case of the Chinookian trade language... english, french, spanish, and even russian. It's not that inconceivable that there might have been a language based on the same idea in use in the caribbean. Redhand

Uhhh, I would suggest NOT trying to board a plane with ANY blackpowder, as it's officially regarded as an explosive!! They frown on that at the airport Cheers Redhand

OK ya'll....I'll disagree with most everything you have said concerning those blasted chapaues!! Sounds to me like you haven't worn one long enough!....first as Rumba said they fly off in a strong wind, they'll let yet neck sunburn as well as yer face, when it rains, it pours.....right down both side a yer back! yer ears 'r cold in the wind, course ye can unhook the hooks 'n eys but then the blamed thing flops around like giant elephant ears . Sooooo They, like the ACW Kepi, serve no practical use other than FASHION! BTW- I still wear me old black one all the time sweat stains, dirt, black powder grime and all! Cheers Redhand

I think we were discussing this issue (accents) on another thread actually. Since sailors came from many regions of england, and also Ireland, scottland, the colonies & etc. I believe that it probable that over time all these accents were more likely combined into one, not to mention certain regional accents die out, the Irish are a good example of this, with I believe less than five of the original regional accents surviving. BTW-Hawkins, you won't make many friends here mate by verbally attacking someone who either asks a simple question or simply doesn't agree with your thesis. Just some food for thought. Cheers Redhand

I'd have to lump Cut throat island in with POTC as far as they were both highly entertaining, regardless of what either Harlin or Bruckheimer were trying to acomplish...as to whether anyones acting mucles were flexed in either...not much! I doubt it takes a lot of effort to parady Kieth Richards for 90+ minutes, but it was entertaining. If ya want a good rousing pirate yarn that's akin ta the old Errol Flynn Tyrone Power movies then these are for you. Yellowbeard is what it is, a Pythonesque parody of pirate films, if ya like Monty Python, then you'll like Yellowbeard. If ya be lookin for films of a more historical nature then Charleton Heston's "Treasure Island" and the Hornblower series are it, as well as Master & Commander, all these show good examples of what an 18th-19th century seaman should look like. Also take a look at Micheal Caine in Peter Benchly's "The Island" for all it's plot flaws it's probably closest to showing what pirates werre REALLY like, and has the BEST version of film of what a pirate attack probably looked like!...a small ship attack, not some giant ship to ship broadside brawl. Just my 2 pence on the subject Cheers mates! Redhand

Capt. will- Not with their sea service pistols, but I've had a couple friends who've had good luck with their other firelocks. Hope that helped a little Cheers Redhand

Danger- sorry mate, I've got a friend that has the same initials and postes here from time to time, sorry about the mix-up Cheers Redhand

Happy Birthday Master Hawkyns!! Here to ya mate.... Cheers Redhand

Dave- Like Quill said, check out the book, under the black flag also pick up Pirate Hunter, the true story of Capt Kidd, that is supposed to be good (I've got it, but haven't had a chance to read it yet) I'll check my library tonite and see what else I've got that'll suit yer requirements, mostly I'm guessing that just about any book on the 17th & 18th century navy will be a good source....Also just picked up a new book titled "The Floating Brothel" about the exportation of the female convicts from England to Austrailia in the 1780s, great book (just started it) but tells how each woman was picked up and for what crime, even tells how they did it. A lot of times it tells what they, as well as their victims were wearing, social habits and etc. by Sian Rees, here's the web address for amazon's discription of it..... http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...=glance&s=books Cheers Redhand

I'll play Devil's advocate here and disagree with Deacon... I'd say as a begginer that I would try and lay hands on a firelock pistol of some type. Either a queen anne, or a nice english/german/dutch or french pistol in 62 cal if you can muster the coin. I have a 62 cal trade pistol and enjoy firing it as much as I enjoy shooting my fusil. I used to have a 72 cal horse pistol but I found it a bit much to shoot, tho fun. I also have 5 ot 6 ACW era colts and a LeMatt, all of which I've lived fired, but for my money a firelock is the most fun, and least complicated. all you have to do is train yourself not to flinch at the flash, which can be done while sitting around inside (without benefit of powder of course ) You can also sit outside and do it by simply pouring some powder in the pan and that way you become used the the sound of the lock, the sparks and the flash. Good luck too ya mate! Redhand

Hawkyns- A friend an I who do Rev War living history/reenacting have been shooting our King's armes at the prescribed powder loads, but unfortunately not with buck & ball loads... though I want to try that out!! :) Those 120 grain loads with live rounds really pack a whallop on the target .... not to mention yer shoulder after about 25 or 30 rounds! Redhand

Just remember the best safety mechanism on a gun is between yer ears...use it! If yer a first time BP user, get with someone local who's experienced or jump on this here board, those of us with years of experience are always glad to help someone new to the hobby! Cheers mate Redhand

well Mate as far as historical accuracy goes... they more'n likely used their shirt tails like most common and middling sorts, more than likely the gentry are the ones who had and wore any type of under garment, which by the way looked like a pair of thin linen or cotten breeches with drawstring ties at the knees and maybe at the waist also (??) Tryin' ta remember what they look like off the top of my head. (Jefferson has one or two pair attributed to him at Monticello I believe) The open useage of these garments are open for debate, as far as common folk are concerned... which a sailor would surely fall into. If the thought of slippin' yer shirttail 'tween yer legs is somewhat troublesome, then ya may want ta look inta some light wool flannel, or use some wool breeches. Try finding a finer quality of wool, or use cotton drawers (under garments) then wool breeches, then a nice pair of linen slops over the tops of that.... now ya be a proper sailor! Cheers Mate Redhand