William Brand

Ahoy the Mercury! After the invitation was extended to the crew to, and offers were made to assist some of us with travel and expenses over four months back, Beaufort went dark. I've sent emails and phone calls that I have gone unreturned and our most urgent questions could not be answered, so I've decided not to attend. My thanks to everyone who passed along what information they could find. I still hope to make it some year to this well attended event. It looks like a lot of fun. If you are interested in attending, please sound off and report your tent footprints here. If you have the means, it promises to be an excellent affair. http://www.beaufortpirateinvasion.com/meet-the-pirates

Beautiful setting. The stream makes the whole area into an almost island.

You should get us a gps location so that we can view it from orbit.

One more event I never got to attend, but by picture proxy. Good luck with the new plans! I like the name.

Welcome aboard!

You make knives. That places you in a special category all your own.

It was discussed several times and I do believe that a few members of the crew are considering it. I will probably not be there, but time will tell.

No, I account for those sailors I know that always carry. Most of the events I looked at do not include the ones I frequent, since I only attend two really. At Fort de Chartres you can't throw a rock without hitting someone carrying a knife and anyone not carrying a knife at the Fort Taylor Pirate Invasion is backed up by a sailor carrying three.

No, that one's safe. You can leave that one out unattended.

I'll post period examples as I find them. This is a French clasp knife called a jambette, circa 1700. Hudson Bay Knife 1720s

I've seen him strike the hammer knife a time or two, and Bo'sun Carl is a good example of a man with a knife for all occasions. I've seen sailors carrying English and French trade knives, Weidbesteck knives, belt knives, Eustache knives, Spanish folders, Sheepsfoot knives, razors and hunting knives. I'm less about questioning the type of knife as much as the presence of the knife. Bo carries one that I've vowed to take off his cooling corpse when he dies. As amiable as he is, I'm stealing it if he doesn't die soon.

This thread on bladeforums shows an interesting blade of 1715. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/699415-17th-Century-Awls-%28and-whiskey-and-knives%29

I almost posted that very knife, but I've seen it listed as a late 1800s and early 1700s knife, so I'm not confident about the date to consider it. Most knives I've seen carried about at festivals tend to mirror shorter trade knives or rigging knives of the period. the trade knife styles I've seen reenactors use often have a hole added for a lanyard. Some examples of replicas based on the Coleman Trade Knives... http://www.waynezurl.com/cat/index.php?function=detail&product=369

I've said so before and I'll say it again now. That is a beautiful knife.

My knife was out of reach once (I had left it sheathed to the strap of my haversack), so I asked for a blade and three knifes were presented almost at once, including a French trade knife, a short knife with a blunted tip and a Spanish folder. This has happened on at least five different occasions and I sometimes ask for knife just to see what the crew is carrying at the moment.

William steps up quietly upon his soapbox. I recently surveyed several 'pirate festivals' by perusing pictures and videos from as many as seven different events. The videos were typical of most pirate gatherings, featuring everything from duels to dancing, parades, small arms fire, and not a little drinking. Out of hundreds of photos and nearly thirty minutes of combined video, I found that I was bothered on some level by the complete lack of presentation when it comes to the most basic aspect of piracy. Sailors. Working sailors. Do I see pirates? Yes. Some more obvious than others. Caricatures, certainly. Do I see sailors? Almost never. I bring this up only because of my most common pet peeve about kit. Sailor's knives. I almost never see sailor's knives. I almost never see knives period. I went through hundred of pictures over the last few weeks and saw enough pistols to arm two fair sized ships but not enough knives to man one quarter of a watch at work. I counted 60+ pirates at one event by thumbing through pics of the gathering and found only one pirate carrying the most common tool, weapon and eating utensil known to the common sailor…a knife. What's worse. I've even found 'pirates' reluctant to add one to their kit, NOT because of safety rules or festival restrictions, but because they simply don't see the need. Indeed, one pirate I spoke with argued that a knife is pointless or unnecessary for kit if you're armed with a good cutlass or rapier. I found another man carrying eight pistols and no knife. Eight pistols and a blunderbuss, but no knife. Eight pistols, a blunderbuss and a rapier, but no knife. I'd like to meet the captain that would let a man aboard with eight pistols and no working knife. Knives are a tool and the tool. Knives are defense and offense. A good knife can be the difference between life and death. Ask a friend of mine who once saved his coworker in the Bering Sea through the swift, simple act of cutting a line in an instant. You can also learn a lot about a person from a knife. While encamped at Fort Taylor in November I asked a fellow pirate for his knife, which he gave over proudly. I turned it over in my hand and tested the edge and learned several things about the man. First, I learned that he keeps his tools in working order, demonstrating something about the man's attitude toward work and the value of maintenance. Second, I learned that he was right handed, not only because of the way he handed me the knife, but because of the wear on one side of the blade. Third, he drew it out so quickly when asked that I now know that he carries one on his person most of the time, so it's a genuine working knife and extension of him as a sailor. I also learned that he favors a short knife without a point and free of frills or decoration. The knife told me something about the 'sailor' in the pirate. If I could change only one thing about the hobby I would have every pirate carry a working sailor's knife. Some recommend threads where knives have already been discussed… William steps down from his soapbox to whittle.

Perhaps some Cuban mojito cake?

Today's lunch special is a Tunisian dish of cod in cloves, garlic, cumin and olives served over couscous with parsley and crushed tomatoes. Our resident alcohol aficionado will help you all find the proper drink.

With today being Father's Day our specials are fire and meat. Everything else is a garnish.

If it's possible to have a list of people I haven't met, but I wouldn't mind being stranded on a deserted isle with, Preston would be on that list. Of course without a jeep and a deep stash of assorted, fermented beverages, he might go stark raving mad inside of a week, forcing me to put him down like a wounded animal. Still, it would be one heck of a story no matter the outcome.

John has some shots up on Facebook.

Well, well. The man comes with his own gunnery crew. Welcome aboard, all.

The Greenes and Mister Wages are added. Welcome aboard.

We would be willing, of course, but what of you crew? We tend to harbor and feed the orphans who are without crew or company.