redhand

Cap'n William-

sorry it took so long to get back to ye mate,

the 21st century was infringing on my 18th century!

As far as load go, and I assume you meant live rounds.

In my 2nd model Bess I use a regulation paper cartridge

(18th century British army regulation) Made with the correct

amount of powder and round ball...which off the top of my head

is either 110 grains or 120 grains of powder and a roundball....

I use the smaller of the 72 cal roundball available, and use the

paper cartridge for patching. That's if I'm shooting from a cartridge

box. If I'm shooting from my bag, then I don't even bother to patch.

In my 62 fowler & pistol I also use the smaller of the round ball

available for it (sorry, I can't remember what the gage of the ball is???)

in the fowler I use around 55-60 grains of 2F powder and i either patch

with some light cotten flannel or 100% silk, now there is a controversy

about silk, some say it leaves residue in your barrel, but I've never had any problem with that, I think it comes from people not using 100% silk.

I use the same round ball in my pistol as my fowler but back the charge

off to about 50 grains. You should also shoot your firelocks with different

charges to determine which works best for you, as each will respond differently. I usually adjust the charges by bumping them up by 5 grains each time until I find the correct charge.

As far as recoil goes, the fowler to me is no different than shooting

a 22 rifle, a little more recoil than that prehaps, but I think you

see what I'm getting at, just as long as you hold it snug against

your shoulder. The Bess is another matter, at 55-65 grains it's

no big deal, but bumping her up to a military charge is pretty

spectacular, after 15-20 rounds you'll know you've been out shooting,

my good friend and I had purple bruises on our shoulders after

but it wasn't that painful. I'd LOOOOVE to put together the traditional

Britisg load of buck and ball with 120 grains and see what happens

to a target.....ever catch the Boston Massacre episode on the Discovery channel where they fired live rounds at a defenseless casaba melon &

beef roast? WOW!!

Hope this helps

Cheers!

Redhand

Happy Birthday Sage!!

Hey Royaliste, Happy Birthday to you also!!

My birthday is actually on monday, but we're

celebrating this weekend with what else...a pirate party!

Cheers mates!

Redhand

Cap'n william-

One of my friends has a nice English fowler

from TVM, well made, nice lines, and shoots great.

I also have Caywood "Wilson" trade gun, which

is a fine firelock. Although their firelocks

have become a bit pricey lately, their quality

is still there. As Cascabel said, just about

anything from Pendersoli is trust worthy.

Cheers

Redhand

Luigi-

Is that fear I see in yer voice?

Redhand

Cascabel-

yes I'm very familier with the "kits", Jim Chambers

style kits and such. These kits are definately for someone

with familiarity in putting together period long armes as well

as pistols. I would never attempt to put one of these together,

partly because of a distinct lack of experience in inletting

and etc, as well as no patience on my part-LOL!!

ever got the chance to work on a Kit Ravenshear "kit"

while he was producing them?

Cheers

Redhand

Ahoy Cascabel-

Ever put together a long land pattern British Musket?

I've been looking at getting one of those for a while,

but was also looking at early Pennsylvania or

Virginia rifles. Your prices sound fair for the amount of

work that goes into one. Do you usually do custom work

or work from kits?

Cheers!

Redhand

Huzzah!! Margot on DVD,

Will definately search for that and either version of

Scaramouche, silent or the Stewart Granger verion

are worth owning.

Cheers

Redhand

Hey Flint-

Were there at CW last weekend during their Under the Red Coat,

when they do CW under British occupation? That rocks!

My friends got to go and do it last year (we all do Rev War living history)

My buddy said it was THE best living history experience he's ever had.

I'd love to get back there for that sometime. I didn't go because they

portray British Marines and I do Virginia Continental, otherwise

that would have been great fun.

Sounds like you had a great time!

Cheers!

Redhand

Hey Bilge Monkey wasn't the Captain someone of note,

historically speaking??

I've read very little about this, but do recall hearing about it.

very interesting!

Redhand

duCour-

I don't believe Queen Margot is available on DVD yet,

it's available on VHS for around $15 bucks.

That's got some great fight scenes in it.

I'd like to get a copy of Scaramouche (with Stewart Granger)

Turner classics ran the 1929 b/w silent version not to long ago

and that was pretty cool, although I only got to watch a few minutes of it.

What's the Vampire movie you mentioned???

Redhand

Flea!

How can you say that Benchley's "The Island" was the worst

pirate movie ever made? It's probably has one of the BEST examples

of what a pirate raid on a sloop looked like. I suggest re-watching it,

also the hair styles were pretty cool, sure the story line was pretty

funky, and why'd they still be wearing or even HAVE 18th century

clothes left is beyond me?? but over all the basic potrayal of

the pirates is probably the truest ever filmed (as far as lifestyle,

and etc) Personally I can think of lots of crappy pirate movies I'd

rate before the Island ...Errol Flynn & Abbott & Costello names come immediately to mind...I know, I know...I've tread on St. Errol's name.

Not all his movies were great.

I'm prepared for the chain & round shot.

Hey, there's always Yellowbeard!

Redhand

Arrr, my inner pirate says I was "Dredd Pirate Kidd"

Not the tradityional swash buckler, but a pirate at heart non the less!

Redhand

Bawdy shots Try aski' fer that next time

yer in yer local pub! sounds like more fun

than plain 'ol body shots

'scuse while I ship off fer cosco, an pick me up

several casks o rum. Got a couple parties I',m

hostin' in July.

Rum, Tikis an Pirates.. Woo-Hoo!

has the makins fer a fine time......

Hmmmm, bawdy shots...that could come in handy!!

(evil grin) after all it will be MY birthday!

Redhand

For those that are interested, there is a great

article in one of the "Books of Buckskinning" number 2

I think, On scrimshawing horns, as well as constructing

powder horns. Tandy used to carry them, or you can order

them through Muzzleloader Magazine. They have lots

of good info in them.

Redhand

OK again I say...

A Warm Tart?

A Hot Toddy??

Gee, it's just not as funny the second time around...

well, back to the 'ol drawing board...wait that's where I sit everyday!

bawdump-bump

Redhand

Here's one I completely forgot about,

nothing piratical but a great historical piece.

QUEEN MARGOT starring Issabelle Adjani

and Vincent Perez. Set in 16th century France

durring the infamous St. Barthowmews day massacre.

GREAT & VICIOUS sword fights. In french with english

subtitles, a great movies. i think it retails for around $15.

worth having in your collection!

Redhand

Capt William & All-

I'm familiar with Track of the Wolf , they a re a

supplier of quality muzzle loading parts as well as

carrying a good selection of custom & semi custom firelocks.

I haven't bought anything from them, but I recognize

many of the gun makers names. I myself would love to have

a blunderbuss or carrige gun at some point, I love getting out

and live firing my weapons as much as possible. I also enjoy

the older styled weapons, I wish that somebody would make

some that were a little more reasonably priced for the mass market.

Custom guns are a different story, sorta like buying a piece

of artwork! How many of you guys get out and live fire your firelocks

besides Cascabel & myself?

Redhand

I've got four, but I use them almost all the time,

one is a buffalo horn that I've had since I was about 15.

One is a nice flat style priming horn and the other two are nice

examples of late golden age period horns, one of which is

a smaller day horn. A couple friends made all 4.

At some point I'd like to have one or two that have some

nice scrim work, more as collectible pieces than ones

that see "field" use.

Redhand

Aye!

I've got several, including a 2nd model british musket

(a brown bess to ye lubbers) in 72 calibre, I also have a

"Wilson" style chief's grade fowler in 62 calibre made by

Caywood. and a 62 cal pistol with a serpent plate and

a northstar lock. I shoot them all, including using shot.

I usually reserve roundball exclusively for the pistol

however. My son also has a 50 calibre "Early Reading"

rifle that was used in he colonial period from the early

1760's to the mid 19th century. All are fine firelocks.

I'm also interested in obtaining a rifle for myself

and a long land pattern musket one of these days,

as well as few more pistols....it never ends-LOL!!

Redhand

Barnegat-

Try the US Marine museum, or typing in Colonel Charles Waterhouse,

he's the official US MArine artist. I believe he did a couple paintings

featuring Decauter. He (Waterhouse) probably can tell you

something about Decauter, or point you in the right direction

of some info you could access on the internet, or inter-library loan.

Redhand

Hey What's the Steven Crane story about?

I've never read that before. This stuff is pretty interesting to me also,

partly because of the "ghost story" stuff and the mix of history.

I've read and watched some really interesting shows & books

on the subject. Totally fascinating.

I've heard the stories about the wreckers before.

Redhand

Capt Luigi-

Sendin' ya many happy returns of the day,

and raisin' a glass to yer health!

Happy Birthday Mate!

-Redhand

Salamander-

I think Capt Will was speaking specifically about the "Bowie",

rather than just a "big" knife.

The bowie being a specific style of knife patterned after the

the knife that Col. James Bowie carried on his person. I believe

this knife's distinctive & unique trademark is it's additional cutting

edge located on the top potion of the blade.

Large bladed kniveshave been around for a long time.

However, long bladed knives have long since become synonymous

with the "American Frontiersmen". Made popular by their use on the colonial frontier, especially by the militia & long hunters inhabiting the Kentucky/Virginia areas, and were labled "long knives" by the indians

from their habit of carrying long bladed knives.

Redhand

Ahoy Mates!

This weekend at a local sale put on by our community Library

and Historical society I was able to purchase a 1927 edition

of our local newspaper, which displayed two beautifully yellowing

illustrated black and white movie house ads featuring

the coming arttractions; that being Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

starring in THE BLACK PIRATE. They're great little ads and both feature

a nice B/W illustration of a pirate ship w/ a jolly rodger on the sail,

the larger ad shows an illustrated caricature of fairbanks' head.

I was also able to pick up a 1st edition copy of a Rapheal Sabitini

novel-unfortunately it was one about an Italian outlaw, and

not Scaramouche or Capt. Blood. Total cost for both novel

and newspaper, a whopping $1.50!

Sometimes ya just get lucky! I'll try & post a pic of the BP ad.

Redhand

Yeah, I do a war of 1812 Shawnee impression,

but i don't think that'll help you any!

Try the Pirates & Privateers book by Osprey,

Angus McBride illustrated them (along with the entire

pirate book line) and his plates are usually pretty acurate,

as well as just nicley done art pieces! Also try getting your hands

on some back issues of the Company of Military Historian journals,

they also have a series of books out (no longer in print), but

you should be able to locate or have them keep an eye out

for one at your local used book store.

-Redhand