William Brand

"The National Parks Service's position on battle reenactments is based on an ethical position that it is fundamentally disrespectful to those who actually fought and died on a particular piece of ground to pretend to accurately portray their deaths, sacrifices and suffering." 'fundamentally disrespectful'. Ouch. Backhanded slap from the park service about ethics and an implication that we don't take the deaths, sacrifices and suffering of our forebears seriously.

One of our own Mercury crew members is from Arizona and I'm from Utah, so your hobby and location are not all that strange to me. Welcome aboard, lad.

Welcome aboard, Mister Wilson.

Voted again.

Voted.

I am hoping to be to more and more of these.

I can't this year, but it doesn't stop me from reminding people.

The Brigands Grove event is just two weeks out. If you have projects to complete, chances are that you won't sleep til then if you just started.

Sometimes you just need lasagna.

Welcome back, Mister Nash. It's good to see you aboard again.

It achieves both the simplicity and the elegance of the age.

It's a very well made, unique piece.

We need an ice pick and some rum.

AVAILABLE: Mike recently finished this new knife, which is the first knife he has done with darkened, brass scales and only the second knife to come out of his new shop. It is 8 inches overall with brass scales, pins and a lanyard hole. .

What does it remind me of...? I'll ask Long Tom. He might know.

Tuh-dah!

Pete's knife is Mad Pete's knife, so it's not for sale. I was just showing Mike's work. Mike can do custom designs and commissions, so if you like what you see, he can make something similar. I find that it's best to give him a rough idea and then free up the reins. He always adds something unique and he has an eye for materials.

This is a custom piece that Mad Pete commissioned through me in exchange for a map case. I think this is one of Mike's best trade knife/sailor's knife creations. It's a larger piece and it has a 5-5/8 inch blade (from the bolster to the point) and is around 10 inches overall. It has silicone bronze bolsters and Caribbean Ziricote wood for the handle. The pins and tubing are brass.

Excellent. Thank you, Mister Smythe. I have sent you instruction in your message box.

SOLD: The third is an upswept kard with steel fittings and a polished palm wood handle. Asking $60 + shipping

Big Mike is moving some knives from his collection. Mike is a friend of mine and has been making one of a kind knives for years. I've bought some 9 pieces from him myself. He's asked me to post a few from his collection as he just finished his new knife shop and wants to move on to all new creations. SEE NEW ADDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE THREAD. SOLD: The first is a damascus knife about eight and a third inches overall with brass and Malachite fittings and a dark wood which I believe is ebony. SOLD: The second is a curved, double edged blade with a little wear and natural patina and mottling of black and brown on the blade. The handle is made of tulipwood and the piece is 13 and a quarter inches overall.

Evidently there is a 'Utah Pirate Festival'. Not much information about it, but this line gives me pause... "Start your pirate team to help make this event awesome!!" Pirate...team?

Do you perhaps mean 'Support the Boat' by supporting the Colonial Seaport Foundation?

No shortage of good examples. Wow. I like the little details, such as the water cask.

The invitation to attend still stands for any member of the Mercury that wishes to go. Captain Sterling will take you on as pressed men or prisoners and you can tent at the event or spend the night sleeping in the jail. Let me know if any of you are interested, and if you meant to tent, please get your footprints to Captain Sterling.