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

Yeah, I've seen my share of near misses over

the years and almost had my ear drum blown out

during a ACW skirmish by an over eager pistol

packing ensign. Seen cartriges made with glue and

staples over the years....some people

just don't get or care that all that stuff that goes

into your barrel comes out again at XXX fps!!

Wild West reenacting, Amer. Fur Trade, ACW,

F&I and Rev War you pretty much get to see it all.

The progressive Rev War list has a great article

on cartridge rolling, I'm sure if you did a search

they'd come up...can't recall the website off hand.

Myself, I'd like to get a pair of english or german

dragoon pistols, and a little queen anne would be

nice also I just need more toys!

Redhand

Hacker Martin may have been one of the original

gun makers that helped bring about the gun making renissiance

in the early to mid 70's. There were a couple of these guys featured

in one of the Foxfire books. Hershal House is also one of the early

gun makers who I believe, apprenticed with one of these guys,

His rifles now command premium prices!

These early craftsmen helped revive custom firelock making,

turning it from a nearly lost art to a cottage industry.

Cheers

Redhand