Sidewinder

What do you think? http://budk.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_BK924 http://budk.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_SB5525

I know this may be a bit later than GAOP, but I got one of these from Middlesex and am well pleased with it. I do Rev War and 1812 and am planning to do Jacobite, so this will work for all those, and isn't that far off for a pirate. It's more a musketoon. http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/MRBB.shtml

Have some Pirate books to sell; 1. Lot of three books of fiction; CAPTAIN BLOOD: HIS ODYSSEY by Rafael Sabatini. 1998 Akadine Press trade paper edition, 427 pages with intro. by George McDonald Fraser of “FLASHMAN” fame and author of script for 1974 movie version of THE THREE MUSKETEERS. Like new condition. TREASURE ISLAND by Robert Louis Stevenson, 1986 Oxford Pocket Classics hardcover ed., also mint. 256 page pocket size reprint of the 1925 ed. CUTLASS EMPIRE by F. Van Wyck Mason, 396 page 1949 hardcover without dust jacket. Novel based on exploits of Capt. Henry Morgan. Asking $12 + Shipping for the lot. 2. HISTORY UNDER THE SEA by Mendel Peterson, about 150 or so pages, including plates of artifacts. This is a 1965 Smithsonian publication about identfication of underwater wrecks of the Pirate era that is long out of print. Has how to identify cannon, anchors, bottles, coins. Recovery and preservation methods, etc.. A wealth of info.. Asking $8.00 for this one, + shipping. Contact at tyeatman77@aol.com if interested

I agree here. I think most folks would want to look reasonably passable. Someone, say a student, might not have a lot of money to throw around. Authentic clothing can be made fairly easily, or bought at a modest price. I've made a good bit of my gear. There were some other swords listed on the same site, not under "Pirate" that might work also. There are several Spanish swords on the web site, too. Myself, I'd prefer to carry the old "Captain Blood Special". Compare some of those swords to this; http://www.a2armory.com/picusw.html If you can afford it and want one, fine. Look at some of the items here as well; http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/ now compare the above cutlass to this; http://www.gggodwin.com/59.htm Hey, if you can afford it, fine....... I think someone is either making a doglock musket now, or has one in the works. Here's something on that; http://www.militaryheritage.com/muskets.htm Argh! Sidewinder

Well, it appears this turned out to be flame bait. There were maybe a couple of swords that I would consider in the lot. I didn't mean to imply that they were all ok, in my eyes. Now, while we are on the subject of "authenticity", do you think "Pirates of the Carribean" was anything in that dept.? Essentially it was a Hollywood pirate flick. Did people really care? Yeah, Disney cried all the way to the bank, and is planning more in the series. Not everyone can afford to buy a "designer" sword at first. Several years back I bought a Walloon Hilt Hanger that was surplused by a Hollywood prop house. It's a stage sword -no edge, but it looks like it saw service in more than a few swashbucklers on the silver screen. I went to an event in Colonial Williamsburg a few years back and had several reenactors offer to buy it for more than I paid [around $100]. I happened to have the money to get this at the time I did, but if I hadn't I would have looked over others, maybe even some on that web site. Replacement scabbards can be made. I've seen some other swords that looked similar selling for a good bit more. A person doesn't need to look like they are over-age trick-or-treaters. Yeah, I can see that. In Civil War you have folks who bring radios and portable TV's into camp too. On the other end of the spectrum You have folks who expend tremendous sums for an item that's not all that different from something as good that costs a good bit less elsewhere. It gets sort of like high school, with folks talking about such and such an item made by so and so; Rodeo Drive meets Sutler's Row. There is a web site selling Rev. War American cartridge boxes for about $150-$200 that are a designer job, and another made somewhere like India or Pakistan that runs around $50 and is about as good. Personally, I'd feel a lot "sadder" if I learned I'd paid $200 for something I could have gotten for $50. The point is to do the best you can with the funds you have at your disposal. I'd rather see someone carrying a good looking fake flintlock vs. a firing percussion gun. As one person has already mentioned, some states have such restritive laws there is almost no alternative. Here is one of the swords: http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/eCommerc...y=8&SKU=DBYK132 If nothing else, it might look nice on the wall. Here is the other: http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/eCommerc...15&SKU=FRC799CB The last one would be helped by cleaning whatever etching that is off the blade and getting a leather scabbard for it - or make one yorself. For some folks who like to "Do-It-Yourself", the price you are paying is worth at least the cost of the blade. Yrs. Piratically, Sidewinder [who still ocassionally breaks into a Robert Newton imitation - Argh!]

Look under the word "pirate" on their search engine. Some really good prices here; http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/eCommerc...ode=Cat&Cat=175

Take a look here: http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/MSBB.shtml

Check out this URL for a new supplier of Pirate garb: http://www.flyingcanoetraders.com/content/...logue.asp?ID=10 Sidewinder

Paisley, Did you get my message about others doing this in the area? Looking for a crew to join.

I am located over in the Langley Park, Md. [silver Spring] and might be able to make something around here. Would like to see who else is doing this in the D.C. Metro area.

Speaking of left over props, I got one of the bayonet scabbards from "Last of the Mohicans", probably from the same shop south of Gettysburg that was selling the French Ctg. boxes . The sword I use is something that I got off ebay that was a theatrical copy of a ca. 1680-1730 Walloon hilt hanger. Western Costume in Hollywood sold off a huge lot of Swashbuckler surplus a few years ago at prices that would make you weep. We're talking Errrol Flynn films, etc.. The hilt is cast off an original sword and the blade is some sort of sprinf steel. It saw plenty of celluloid action, judging from the blade, but I think it has "character". This sword looks like it belongs in "Captain Blood". It probably was. Best, Sidewinder

Try this, Godwin doesn't have them: http://sykesutler.home.att.net/musket2.htm Sidewinder

Check G. Gedney Godwin or Sykes Sutlerery on your search engine. I think both have them. Sidewinder

Percussion guns were of a period later than the pirate era. Get a flintlock. They are much neater to shoot and more period correct. Sidewinder

Here are some sources for reasonably priced Cannon and Cutlasses, and filintlocks: For Cannon try Hern Iron Works. They have the best prices and make the gun tubes Dixie Gun Works sells, but offer a MUCH better price: http://www.hernironworks.com/ Some of the guns used in the filming of MASTER AND COMMANDER, with Russell Crowe, were cast by them. For Cutlasses and some neat period flintlocks try Middlesex Village Trading Co. .Check out their new blunderbuss boarding pistol> They have a Blunderbuss in development now: http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/ Loyalist Arms, in Canada, has some new period muskets. This is just part of what they offer: http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers.com/17...ess&French.html The Swords are here, but I think some of the swords may be later 19th Century styles: http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers.com/na...cal_swords.html Hope this helps. Sidewinder