MadMike

I wouldn't dismiss the book out of hand, since it's an excellent source for period information. Johnson states in some chapters that his information was from eyewitnesses, captive pirates, and others (compare the book to the media today, for example) . The notion that the book was written by Defoe is nonsense. I highly recommend the edition by Manuel Sconhorn, Dover Publications.

TEA Party Special- Price of the Pedersoli Queen Anne pistol has been reduced to $325 (includes shipping to US only, check local laws). Yours, Mike flpyrate@yahoo.com

I'm offering up my Pedersoli Queen Anne pistol, caliber .50. Not liking the stock barrel I browned it. Otherwise it has never been fired since purchasing it from Dixie Gun Works. More pictures here- http://www.geocities.com/flpyrate/flintlocks.html Asking $345 US, will bargain (please check local laws regarding black powder weapons). Yours, &c. Mike flpyrate@yahoo.com

"Boarders Away, Vol II" has a list printed from 1712 for a RN ship showing "Snaphaunce Musquets", "Musquetoons", "Bandaliers", "Cartouch boxes", "Hand Grenadoes", etc. A musket rest was found on the Whydah... Yours, Mike

If you have black powder available, why bother with fooling around with Pyrodex ? Real black powder is also considerably cheaper !! >>>> Cascabel I used Pyrodex years ago when I was low on black powder, will work if needed (with a five grain starter charge as previously mentioned). BP here goes for $19 a pound (not including tax). Yours, Mike

Our local pirate festival is just as bad (Billy Bowlegs). The event is based on a fictional pirate and was originally a boat and ski show designed to bring in tourists in the 1950's. The local business leaders wear silly Mardi Gras outfits with masks and capes, and battle Civil War reenactors. There are several YouTube videos online of the "landing" along with a few drunks fighting it out on a local sandbar (Crab Island). Too much booze and too many folks from nearby dry counties do not mix well. I missed setting up camp last year, hope to have a GAOP camp this June. Anyone interested send me an e-mail at flpyrate@yahoo.com Yours, Mike

I've used Pyrodex in my flintlock, simply pour in a ten grain black powder charge, followed by a measured charge of Pyrodex (followed by ball or wad). The pan obviously has to be primed with black powder. Better stock up on powder and lead while ye can... Yours, Mike

Soap is made from lye, not ashes. Water is poured through ashes to extract the lye, which is then boiled with rendered tallow, lard, etc. to make soap. During the American Revolutionary War soap was part of the men's rations, equivalent to the size of a small bar. Despite this, conditions were such that bathing was a low priority (go on a three day period trek and you'll see what I mean- I had to shower twice to get the stench of the camp fire off me). Yours, Mike

Am selling a new Pedersoli Queen Anne pistol. It has never been fired by anyone since I purchased it from Dixie nearly two years ago. Barrel has been browned, asking $345 including shipping- More details and pictures here- http://www.geocities.com/flpyrate/flintlocks.html Yours, Mike flpyrate@yahoo.com

Most long pistols were usually called "horseman's pistols"; pistols used at sea were termed "sea service pistols". The book "Boarder's Away II" is highly recommended, along with The Rifle Shoppe catalog. I modified a British dragoon pistol from Middlesex by sanding down the stock swells and making the butt more bulbous. Took some work but it was worth it. Great website here (in Danish)- http://www.thm-online.dk/perioder/ Yours, Mike

Carrying a loaded weapon around with steel wool wadding is a disaster waiting to happen. Doglocks were noted from the 1690's to the GOAP era and survived into the Revolutionary War. In fact, they were used by the Swede's and Norwegians in the late 1700's on numerous pattern muskets and pistols (The Rifle Shoppe Catalog details several examples). Yours, Mike

As for Teach- "This Beard was black, which he suffered to grow of an extravagant Length; as to Breadth, it came up to his Eyes; he was accustomed to twist it with Ribbons, in small Tails, afer the Manner our our Ramilies Wiggs, and turn them about his Ears... (Johnson, "Of Captain Teach", p. 84). Another incident between Captain James Mackra and a pirate under Edward England- "... a Fellow with a terrible pair of Whiskers, and a wooden Leg, being stuck round with Pistols, like the Man in the Almanack with Darts, comes swearing and vapouring upon the Quarter-Deck, and asks, in a damning Manner, which was Captain Mackra..." (Johnson, "Of Captain England", p. 121). Yours, Mike

Hands down, the worst pirate movie has to be "Blackbeard" by Hallmark. The 2nd worst would have to be National Geographic's "Blackbeard, Terror at Sea". Talk about taking license with history. POTC 2 and 3- bleh.. "Cutthroat Island" at least captures the essence of a Saturday matinee. Yours, Mike

I recently blacked my doglock musket (hand painting). Thing looks ugly as hell but rust is a real problem where I live (near Gulf of Mexico). Yours, Mike PS- will post pics and link

Smallpox is not transmitted by animals or insects- http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/overv...sease-facts.asp Yours, Mike

Yahoo Movies refers to Conquistadors as "Spanish pigs" Apocalypto "This one movie has given entire Anthropology departments migranes. Sure the Maya did have the odd human sacrifice but not to Kulkulkan, the Sun God, and only high-ranking captives taken in battle were killed. The conquistadors arriving at the end of the film made for unlikely saviors: an estimated 90% of indigenous American population was killed by smallpox from the infected Spanish pigs. " http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/10mosthist...inaccurate.html Yours, Mike

Received a "Dutch Cutlass" from Loyalist a few weeks ago, but am going to upgrade to the Windlass version. The sword is brand new, unsharpened, still has some cosmoline on it, and includes a slab sided scabbard- Overall it's a decently made piece, great for reenactments. Am selling it for $100 (paid near $135), which includes S&H to US and APO only addresses only (18 years of age and older). I prefer a U.S. Postal Service money order. Contact me at flpyrate@yahoo.com Yours, Mike

I recently bought a Loyalist "Dutch Cutlass" but am planning on buying the Windlass version. There's nothing wrong with it, with the exception of the "scabbard". I'll part with it for $100 (US sale only, US Postal Money Order preferred). APO should be OK also. If interested, contact me at flpyrate@yahoo.com Yours, Mike

From Johnson's History of the Pyrates- "I cannot but take Notice of two among the Crowd, of those disfigured from the Blast of Powder just before-mentioned, viz. William Main and Roger Ball. An Officer of the Ship seeing a Silver Call hang at the Wast of the former, said to him, I presume you are Boatswain of this Ship. Then you presume wrong, answered he, for I am Boatswain of the Royal Fortune, Captain Roberts Commander." Yours, Mike

Bartholomew Roberts is noted in "A General History" for carrying two pairs of pistols on a silk sling over his shoulders. I also recommend "Captured by Pirates" by John Richard Stephens. In SAC in the early '80's we carried M-870's and M-12 shotguns during weapons movements (along with flak vest, helmet, M-17 gas mask). Always thought we could use more ammo (wait, that's what the SP's were for- M-16, M-16/M-203, M-60), but I could never convince my boss we could use the 18" bayonets that were pictured in the tech order... Yours, Mike

Let's not forget that pistol and musket loads used various projectiles (ball, buck and ball, slugs, multiple balls). I've read accounts where even moss was used with muskets to keep the ball in the bore. Hell, Pere Labat mentions buccaneers using slugs in their muskets (forerunner of the Minie ball?). In Benerson Little's book "A Sea Rover's Practice", Pere Labat discusses the buccaneer method of loading- pour powder down the barrel followed by a loose ball, and then slam the buttstock on the ground to prime the pan (one had to take care not to let the ball roll out when leveling on target). Apparently a buccaneer could load and fire in ten seconds using this method (or until the bore was fouled). Yours, Mike

Damn ye! All this talk about Queen Anne pistols motivated me to just order one! Yours, Mike

Try "The Collector's Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution". Most of the artifacts are from the F&I and RevWar period, but some will work for GAOP. Other sources are items recovered from the Whydah, Henrietta Marie, etc. As for fire irons or cast iron cookwear, never bothered with them (too heavy). I use Y-forked poles, steel ramrods, or just flat rocks arranged around the coals... Yours, Mike

Try some thin cotton material from Wal Mart, JoAnn's, or your local fabric store (old bed sheet would work also). Make sure it's 100 percent cotton and no synthetic (burn a sample). A spit patch works fine, just make sure it's soaked with spit (by placing it in your mouth, obviously) before you patch the ball and ram it home. Yours, Mike

There are plenty of details on period clothing on the Costumer's Manifesto website. Yours, Mike