Gentleman of Fortune

Out of curiousity, does anyone have a link to a site with a period picture (GAoP) of a hat with a cockade? GoF

Ok... here is another observation and I would really appreciate Hurricane's (or is it Cpt Morgan now? ), Hawkyns, Foxe, and Black Johns input here as they have spent A LOT of time in Piratical (and other Living H ) pursuits..... Theory: If there is a progression from someone Interested in Pirates > Participant Fantasy Pirate (renfaireesque) > Pirate Re-enactor (with at least half of kit authentic) > Authentic Living History (trying to get to the mythical spot on) My thinking is that as you move through the ranks/stages above, you get more crotchety. Now I don't mean that everyone makes the progression above, but we all started at some point and have moved along during our "careers". The Fantasy folks who are out there just for a good time seem to have a lot of energy to entertain, "play the pirate part", work the crowd etc. The folks at the other end are (genereally) pooped and don't care about much more than themselves and their immediate group of re-enactors. Not all but an observable amount (at least by me). and another thing.... I am curious to ask Hurricane about his experience in his recent trip to visit actual places important to pirate history (a lot of it by boat it seems). I mean, if you are out on the water in a sailing ship in the freakin Caribbean, it has to be life changing... ? GoF

What I am really curious about is the percentage (or guess at actual number) of Historical Piracy purists there really are out there. I don't mean the ones that talk the talk and then dress in their own pirate fantasy outfit. I mean really dedicated historical re-creationist/experimental anthropologist type. Even in groups that profess to be "authentic," there are those "old time friends" that are great friends that you WANT to have around, but have not necessarily bought into the whole authenticity thing.... Every group of every period has those folks..... (By the way, I am not saying they should be "purged", I just think its a phenomenon.) This really is meant to dovetail into Foxes post. We often “hear” of piracy stitch Nazis, but I rarely run into the ones that condemn everyone else to re-enacting hell. Now personally, for my own kit, I am an ultra stitch Nazi. And I don’t mean to say that my kit is 100% either. I am just trying to go to the edge of what our modern knowledge of what was authentic 300 years ago will allow. Which means, I will only go as far as the limited documented evidence will get me and then use the collaborative modern best guess until more info surfaces. In a way I am glad that the fantasy pirates are out there because the hobby would not sustain itself if the only market was the 100 or so “authentic” pirates that are out there. And, my contention is that eventually, somebody that is REALLY into piracy (or any other period) will search out was is authentic anyway. It might take LOTs of time to happen but I can wait. Ramble over GoF

I usually don't like to post e-bay links but this is interesting if it proves to be actual hemp rope. Sissal, Jute, and Hemp can all look the same from an ebay photo! EDIT: Upon further inspection... I am not sure that I think this is Hemp rope. A lot of folks selling really don't know the difference and the way the ends are fraying makes me think that its sissal/jute. I could be wrong but.... 175 Feet of Hemp Rope

On behalf of Her Magesties Government in Canada.... THANKS Cool links that I have never seen before. And the larger C & Boy pic helps too! The boy has a single button closure on his jacket, and the Captain has multiple buttons but no pocket flap closure on his justaucorps. Whew.... lots of sewing and resewing tonight.... GoF

OK... I will await your post with the results! I am curious though.... as to how much folks would be willing to pay for a spot on reproduction out of cast iron.... complete with turned wooden plug/fuse? I have been hunting down off shore sources, but its the shipping that really kills the products as those things are damn heavy! GoF

Pair Queen Anne Pistols Pair English Queen Anne breech loaading silver mounted flint lock pistols signed "John Nicholls, Oxon". Circa 1740-1750. Worked in Oxford. Silver mounted with grotesque mask butt caps, silver side plates and escutcheons on the butts. Overall length 12 inches with 7 inch 62 cal smooth bore barrels with cannon muzzles. Barrels should but don,t unscrew. Both guns show a lot of use but wood and iron are in good condition. No proof marks. Since Nicholls was a provincial maker they may never have been proofed or the stamps may be hidden under the trigger guard, More pictures are available. GoF

SILVER MTD FL PISTOLS ca. 1680 In overall fine original flintlock condition. The round to round, pin-fastened, iron, .75 caliber, smoothbore, 10 1/2" barrels with double wedding-band partitions. Molded and carved burl walnut fullstocks of typical early form, with slender fluted forestocks, relief carving around the mounts and pronounced bulbous butts. Early, Two Screw, banana-shaped locks with bridle-less powder pans and rounded surfaces. The locks with typical 17th century "Hound's-tooth" border engraving and one with a "W. Fullick-- Sarum" signature, forward of the hammer: William Fullick of Sarum/Salisbury, England, w. 1680-1690 GoF

A good flintlock Blunderbuss A good flintlock Blunderbuss by W.Watkins with 18" steel barrel flaring to 2 1/4" dia. at the muzzle, brass furniture and original ramrod with worm, unbridled lock and frizzen. circa. 1730. £1750.00 ($3400) GoF

Egad! I think that i have been going down the wrong track a bit on my short jacket construction... not to bad a setback but a lot of needless button hole sewing (for those of you who do em by hand, you will feel my pain!). My interpretation of the shortjacket was that the cuff slit was closed via a pocket like flap. Now while I have seen this in paintings/pictures of GAoP Justaucorps coats, on common sailors coats (and indeed a lot of justaucoprs) there is no additional "pocket" flap, just button holes and buttons on the sleeve itself. I love/hate research! Here is what I am saying... take a look at the sleeves of the guys on the left side

Huuurrrrriiiicaaaaannnnne! I can't get into the buccaneer thing myself, but I am glad that there is interest in it and that people are pursuing it. There is proably even less information on buccaneers than GAoP stuff so the hunt should be interesting. Pat Hand is working on a pretty good kit, he may have takled some of the sticky wickets already and would probably be happy to share with a fellow enthusiast. I have enjoyed reading your posts while I have been here at the pub. I know it must get discouraging after a while seeing the same old retread threads.... I think I have grown a little too. While I have performed on stage (even recently) and enjoy entertaing people, somehow it hasn't crossed over to my re-enacting life. For some reason, I don't feel like "entertaining" the crowd with pirate hijinks. Maybe its becuase, after spending hours hand stitching my underwear, I don't want it to be percieved as some sort of clown costume... But I am glad that there are groups out there who visit old folks homes, schools, and hospitals, and love to make people smile and laugh. And maybe those "entertaining" pirates just might spark someones interest enough to google "pirate clothes", find my site on the web and become an authentic re-enactor... who knows, stranger things have happened. GoF

This is certainly a new take on the Authenticity vs Fantasy theme. I am surprised that Hurricane hassn't arrived to condemn us all to the netherworld There are some groups that strive for authenticity. Pirate Brethren Merricks Privateers (this link is down now though) Fish Broth Society Colchester Historical Enactment Society (UK) Bonaventure (UK) There are probably others, if you know of any list them. The bottom line is that Authenticity is hard and expensive. Most people don't know or care to know what is correct. And they are reluctant to let go of pirate myths that have no historical basis what so ever. Fantasy Pirating is assumed to be more fun because there are no regulations or restrictions. Authentic pirate re-enacting is bound by the latest information available about what happened 300 years ago. You could wear a star wars outfit and call yourself a pirate at a lot of events... who would say anything? What would they say? "My fantasy pirate outfit is more correct then your fantasy pirate outfit????? To make matters worse, there are very few opportunities for "authentic" pirate re-enactors. Most are word of mouth, invite only affairs. There seems to be a pirate, ren or maritime festival somewhere, at least once a month, all year long. These events usually are open to anyone that calls themselves a pirate. There is nothing wrong with folks wanting to have fun mind you. I am taking a live and let live approach myself. I just can't understand why the majority of folks seem to think that fantasy stuff is cooler than what was originally worn by pirates. Authenticity is just a question of money, how authentic do you want to be? GoF

Man I feel bad... nobody said a word until AFTER you bought it and now we are all experts! I was in PA this summer visiting realtives and went to the Kutztown German festival. There was a guy there that "modified" those carts into.... well other things.... This is a bad photo but you will get the idea.

Dude! You won't believe it but I was google'ing "passementerie button" looking for a picture to illustrate a point in another thread and that Gem came up! GoF

Yes now that is the question too... I personally think that sail cloth would be just about the best thing to make slops from as old sail cloth would have been plentiful as would the sailors time so the two go together to make slops.... The sticky wicket is that we need a special "kind" of sail cloth which isn't made anymore. Specifically "Great care has to be exercised in the manufacture of canvas for the British Admiralty. The yarns must be made wholly from long flax, well and evenly spun, and properly twisted. They must also be free from blacks, and be twice boiled in order to remove all injurious matter. From the ,grey state to the cleaned state the yarns must lose 10% of weight, and no deleterious substance whatever must be used in any stage. The mill washing and first boiling reduce the weight about 8%, while about 2% is removed during the second boiling. Finally, the yarn is thoroughly ~washed to remove all traces of alkali. The successive processes which the yarn is subjected to remove all impurities, and leave the yarn in the best condition for weaving. Canvas is made in sixteen different qualities: the heaviest is No. oooo,then follow Nos. 000, 00, 0, I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, II and 12. Of these sixteen varieties Nos. I to 8 are mostly in use. Nos. 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7 are used for royal navy canvas, and Nos. 4 and 6 for the merchant navy. The canvas for the Admiralty is 24 in. wide, and the pieces, termed bolts, should be as nearly as practicable 40 yds. of legal measure in length, and to be completely manufacturedparticular attention being given. to the weaving; the selvages to be evenly and well manufactured, the thrum to be left on each end of the bOlt, and to be made as nearly as possible in the proportion of weights given below." So says the British Admiralty Even our heaviest modern linen would not be considered "heavy" by Navy standards. Not only that, since traditional sails mildew, they are not being made anymore. I have heard that someone a while back had some made to order, and I think that he had a # 10 made.... Anyway, Hemp canvas would be cool too. IF you go to my site, under sources, there should be some links to hemp, linen, fustian etc... Good luck GoF

Don't let em fool you Red Wake... Black John is THE MAN!!!! GoF PS John... I remember that MTA, I think I was doing German Para or something, but I rember asking Scott S "Who the hell is that, they look freakin good!" I started putting my Pirate stuff together (or trying to find out what pirate stuff was) right after that! GoF

John... I was meaning to ask you if that was what you were talking about. I googled goat cart and got something that a goat would pull.... I have one of the carts you are talking about... they are kind of "all over the place" here in Europe. I have heard them called "potato carts" here (and in the UK) though. Mine is an ancient beast that has had the recent (not by me) addition of road reflector discs put on the back for greater visability by drivers when you pull it down the road! Do you mind me asking how much you paid? GoF

My two cents... I know just about a thimble full of information regarding the GAoP. Really. There is so much to know about the 1690-1720 period that you could spend a lifetime studying it and still not know half of it. I am continually hunting down refrences and resources and I don't mind sharing what I have found here, via my Website (shameless plug #433) and to anyone who will listen. I think that from what I have discovered, reality is WAAAYYY more interesting and exciting than the fantasy anyway. I mean, who could have thunk up two chicks dressing up as guys and becoming pirates, getting stuck on the same ship, fighting off pirate hunters etc etc.... ???? The things that I gripe about are the things that some how make it into pirate lore without being questioned and are taken for Gospel with no proof what so ever. The only thing too OVERBOARD is two people dressing like fantasy pirates and then trying to say they are some how better then the next fantasy pirate.... I am rambling now so I will stop.... GoF

you link lovers out there will enjoy this! http://1704.deerfield.history.museum/home.do go to artifacts gof

Egad... that is a question. I am kind of a freak about things and very particular. Slops are probably one of the easiest items to make. Maybe you could sweet talk a tailor/seamstress (mom, wife, girlfriend, buddy, dad, brother etc) into making one for you. I would search for linen/hemp/fustian. Most commercially available slops are going to be cotton machine stitched. If that is ok with you go for it. You can PM me for folks who will make them in their spare time. But time IS money. GoF

#BQ861 - 17th Century Northern European Horseman's Backsword - $2645.00 Straight fullered SE blade, etched with bird and male portrait designs and not-quite discernable script. For a similar inscription, see Leslie Southwick's "Price Guide to Antique Edged Weapons," item #233, p. 91. Leather and wire bound grip appears to be original. Many swords of this type saw use in America during and before the Revolution.* Condition VG; a few small nicks to blade, slight twist at ricasso, good dull grey finish. Overall 40 1/2", blade 34 5/8". *See: "Swords & Blades of the American Revolution" by Neumann page 81, #58S.

#EBH5 -- English Horseman's Basket-hilted Backsword, ca. 1650 -- $4500.00 A good English horseman's sword, ca. mid-17th century. Blade with two long fullers, stamped in the fullers FERARA, and a third short fuller at forte. Ricasso stamped with a mark as shown. Original leather grip wrapped with twisted iron wire. The basket comprised of nine bars in groups of three bars, swollen at the midpoints, stemming from the quillons and united at the pommel end, joined by small saltires. Saltires showing chiseled decor, now faint. Blade edge irregular, still very sharp. Blade 35 5/8", overall 41". GC; moderately pitted with heavy pitting and some surface scale to parts of the basket. Nice dark rust patina overall. A good example of an attractive pattern of sword. For a similar example, see Neumann, p. 144, item #247.S.* *Neumann, George C. "Swords & Blades of the American Revolution." Texarkana, TX: 1991.

Yes, I know they are pricey, but this will help give an idea of what we should be looking for for GAoP VERY GOOD COLONIAL PERIOD ENGLISH HANGER, ca. 1680-1720 n overall very good+ condition with smooth lightly toned surfaces to the unmarked, lightly cleaned, 23", single edged, clip-point back-blade: retains 65%+ of its polish with some scattered discoloration and fine pitting. Brass hilt with an oval shell guard embossed with a raised Death Heads angel. The integral knuckle bow, quilon and pommel-cap with an embossed floral design. The curved, possibly replaced, deer antler grip. An overall very good+ near fine example of an Early Colonial Period Infantry Hanger. Overall length, 28". For a similar example please see below and, G. C. Neumann's "Swords & Blades of the American Revolution", pg. 63 figure 6.S.. Price: $1,875.00

FINE & EARLY COLONIAL PERIOD DUTCH/GERMAN "LONG" HOLSTER PISTOL, ca. 1715 In overall fine untouched original flintlock condition. Unsigned, round, iron, pin-fastened, .69 caliber, 14 1/2", smoothbore barrel with integrally raised sighting ridge and side-panels and a fine baluster-turned breech. Walnut fullstock of classic form with raised and incised carving around the barrel tang, hardware and the lockplate mortise: of martial style with clean austere lines and limited embellishment. Early type, banana shaped, flat lockplate with faceted beveled edges and a stepped tail: bridle-less powder and grooved frizzen-face. Full iron mounts: openwork and lightly engraved sideplate with a leaf and scroll motif, "Dutch-type" trigger-guard with a fluted bow and a stepped bulbous finial, two baluster ramrod pipes and the long stirrup butt-cap with faceted pommel and finial. In overall fine+ untouched condition. The barrel retains and untouched, lightly toned, gunmetal gray, age patina with some isolated patches of fine pitting. The furniture with a matching patina and some light wear to the sideplate engraving: barely noticeable period rivet repair at the rear of the trigger-guard. Fine stock with sharp contours and carving, some very minor handling marks, 85% finish and a small repaired chip at the left base of the butt-cap. Fine lock with all original components, smooth surfaces and strong mechanics. Retains its original horn-tipped wooden ramrod. An early, fine and original length Dutch/German "Long" Holster Pistol, ca. 1715. For similar examples, please see G. C. Neumann's: Battle Weapons of the American Revolution". Overall length 22". Price: $3,500.00

AN EARLY COLONIAL PERIOD DUTCH "LONG" HOLSTER PISTOL, ca. 1700: In overall very fine untouched original flintlock condition and of high quality manufacture. Unsigned, round, iron, pin-fastened, .66 caliber, 14", smoothbore barrel with integrally raised sighting ridge and a scroll and floral engraved breech: scattered pitting. Walnut fullstock with fine quality raised carving around the barrel tang, hardware and the lockplate mortise: a large raised lobe at the tail-pipe. Flat, faceted, banana type lock with a stepped tail, bridle-less powder and etched and engraved surfaces with scrolls and human figures: re-faced frizzen. Gilt bronze/brass mounts: openwork engraved floral sideplate, "Dutch-type" trigger-guard with a fluted bow and an embossed fern finial, two faceted baluster ramrod pipes, an engraved wrist escutcheon with a depiction of a Dutch merchant and a stirrup type butt-cap with a bulbous pommel and engraved floral scrolls. Retains 15% of its original gold-gilding with sharp engraving and an untouched patina. In overall very fine condition. The barrel has a smooth and untouched age patina with scattered pitting overall: wear to the scroll engraving at the breech. Very fine stock with sharp contours and carving, some minor handling marks/hairlines and 85% finish. Very fine lock with all original components, smooth surfaces, fine mechanics and sharp engraving with some light wear and scattered fine pitting. Retains its original wooden ramrod with a replaced ivory tip. An early and original length Dutch "Long" Holster Pistol, ca. 1700. For similar examples, please see Arne Hoffe: "Dutch Firearms". Overall length 21 1/2". Price: $3,750.00