Francois

I have been in the SCA for 3 years. I originally wanted to fight broad sword with live steel and do a knight persona. When I went to my first SCA practice the fencing caught my attention. I think because the were using real blade and not sticks. the only thing I didn't like was the fact that they wore masks (I do understand why and accept it). Although I don't study from any specific manual I try to learn from those who I know fight period style. It is easer for me to learn by watching than reading it out of a book. My style of fighting is Italian and French. I use a 32" Del Tin rapier mounted on a sweep hilt I also use a 40" Schlager blade mounted on a sweep hilt. I have a Achlem dagger on a Spanish hilt. I also fight case of rapier

I also fight cutlass without any amour as Hawkyns describes. This is the live steel play I was looking for when I first joined the SCA. I use a Baggett cutlass for now. I am fortunate to have meet Hawkyns and be able to practice with him once a week. He has taught me a great deal on sword play and history . The man is a walking encyclopedia.

I just started to play with the LHA (Living History Association). They are a break off of the SCA. We fight rapier almost the same. The difference is we hit harder and can have physical contact including grappling except for the masks it looks more real than the SCA fighting.

The next thing I am about to try is wasters. I have a friend who picked up a set and wants to try them out.

François

You might be a Pirate

If you have a full size deck cannon (6 lb) on a ship carriage in your garage. With 5 lbs of black powder ready to go at any time.

If the jolly roger is hanging outside your house.

If your cutlass is slung on the back of a chair in your living room with your tricorn sitting on the chair.

If you have 20 gallon wooden kegs in your living room.

If your sea service pistols are hanging on the wall in your living room.

If you teach your children to use a deck knife to eat with instead of a fork.

If your son asked santa for a cutlass instead of a baseball bat.

If you changed all your cash on hand to dollar gold coins.

Francois

Not sure yet . We spent too much money for X-Mass and dont have enough yet to meet the gas bill let alone any other expenesses.

Francois

I found a great site with over 500 links. It is a wealth of info from one site. For those of you who have not seen it enjoy. For those of you who want to learn more about piracy this is the perfect site.

http://www.blackfoxdesigns.com/pyrate/links.html

Francois

Perkeo,

Like Dorian said no worries, its a whole different game we play with live steel. Myself and a few others do Rev War re-enactments as Privateer or Pirates along with guns, cannons, black powder, and sometimes schooners at full sail. Its a blast. We have our set of safety parameters. Taking in consideration we fight without armour.

Anyway

I will take you up on the offer for a drink down at the Bog. If we cant find you just come visit us at the cannons on the hill. Looking forward to crossing blades at sometime in the future.

François

Yes Dorian now I recall. Get yar blade ready. Plus Id like to meet ya on the field for pick-ups. That is mostly what I would rather do is pick-ups. I'm not much of a mêlée fighter. I would rather fight 1 on 1 or 2 on 1.

BTW. I found some brass and made a bunch of vent-picks like the one you had. I was toying with the idea of having a fleur de lei on the top side.

François

Ahoy Dorian,

Which hangers are you talking about. I dont recall. I will bring my cutlass next year. There is no reason we cant go off site and fight cutlass for a while. Looking forward to crossing blades at Pennsic.

Hurricane

We too fight full contact cutlass when we do the later stuff. With the SCA we fight rapire. Although I have seen some period cutlass blades from the mid 1500's the SCA will not pemit it (their rules not mine). Thats why I do stuff outside of the SCA. If you want to know more about the SCA go to the SCA.org. You will find out all the facts you need to know what they do and dont do.

Francois

No its not that I have a problem with it. You should know better then that. It would be kinda like being dressed as a Yankee walking into a World War one battle. As it is, a lot of the SCA people that do the early stuff still don't like use fencers. Although I was told fencing dates back as early as the 1400's in Italy. So we fall well with in there parameters. Black powder as you know dates back to the early Chinese and that also falls under 1600 including early flintlocks.

François

I am a pirate that attends Pennsic and Im a member of the SCA. There are many of us that do the SCA thing and do different periods of piracy. You will find many of us pirates are fencers as I am. I also am part of the cannon crew. One thing you must understand. The SCA cut off date is 1600. If your garb is over 1600 or Rev war period or the same as The Pirates of the Caribbean it will be wrong. You can do Elizabethan or still wear slops. I would suggest you do some research as what to wear. Such as NO tri corn hats or NO captains coats from a later period and so on.

François

Hey Mates,

Sorry for not making it last night . Had to do some family stuff.

How did things go? Do tell.

Francois

Hey Mates

We still on for tonight? Its still up in the air for us. I wont know till the last minute if we are going.

Francois

OOOOOh Food 2 warm henies and a hot tub very tempting. Is the hot tub filled with something more than water

Francois

Ahhhh so many choices for one pirate to make. I'm so great my crew be wanting me in there company in so many different places at such colorful events. What should one do? Think, Think, Think.

François

Not sure if me and Antoine will be there mates. Being so close to the holidays and so much stuff to get done I cant commit to that date yet. Ill let ya know when the date gets close

François

So whos going next Friday? Me and Antoine will be there. Merry we are sorry you cant be there, but understand. We will drink a round for you in celabration to Scupper.

Francois

I found the SCA after doing the ren fair Thing. I wanted to fight rapier without the choreographing and fake repatition. I developed a French persona in the Elizabethan period. Only because I always liked the French Musketeer. I was very fortunate to hook up with a great group that allow everybody to play out there own thing and they accept you for who you are. I have heard many people complain about the SCA and have run into some people I dont care for, for one reason or another but I wont let that stop me from enjoying myself. Although I don't like the way the fencing is done in the SCA. Most people fight to always win and not for fun. There isn't much in the way of period style fighting which kinda sucks also. This lead me to getting to know Hawkins better who introduced me to Piracy black powder and real period fighting, without the SCA restrictions. Thank god he lives 40min away. We fight without amour and as if our life depended on winning with our safety parameters and no choreography. So the out come is realistic and different evreytime. Anyway I've meet a lot of great people in my area who are in SCA. I play for the fun of rapier fighting and getting in garb. In closeing hanging out with Hawkins, and being a crew member on his cannon crew I have learnd a lot and found that I'm a Pirate at heart.

Hey Scupper,

Any chance we can move it to Friday the 19th. Sunday is no good for me since I start work at 3:00am on Monday and my son has school on Monday. I'm not sure but Hawkins and Gwen might not be able to make it on Sunday either. I was talking to Gwen tonight she said they have stuff going on Sunday. Let us know.

François

BTW Im gettig the new hits cut this week. Hopfully by the time we get together next I will have them done.

Hey Merrydeath,

Good to see your sail to your home port was a safe one. Were the winds to your back and the seas smooth? Nice pics. I'm going to have to post some to redeem meself. First from coastie I'm on my knees then from you I'm getting, well lets just say I photograph well. We hope to see ya make sail too our waters soon. You make a good addition to our crew. Me lass said she was sorry she missed ya and didn't get a chance to meet you hopefully next trip.

François

Hey Coastie,

Nice pics. Any of me still on my feet before I get killed. It was a good day. As our Captain so put it "A day of ships, swords cannons, and black powder its a good day". BTW how do you post the photos on the gallery.

Francois

See ya mates tonight

Francois

Hey Mates,

Friday they 22nd is good for me.

Francois

Hawkyns,

The 22nd is ok with me. We could still raise a tankerd to me 40th year and come up with many other reasons to empty out bottles of rum and beer. Plus I'd rather ye be there to enjoy the night anyway. Just remember we have the battle at Groton on the 23rd.

Francois

.

I was going to go but not in the rain. Cant go Sunday my son has a football game.

Francois

Sure mate book it for me 40th B-day. I need to check with me Lady and youngins. It be a fun night If I could take them all and make it a Pirate B-day celabration. Will be in touch.

Francois

Scupper give use a call keep use in the loop Ill keep the date open.

Francois