Gentleman of Fortune

Interesting thread... so I'll chime in. So far the most money I have spent has been on my Early 18th Century Justaucorp. I am a stickler for detail and it took me forever to find 100% silk grosgrain ($60 per meter). Then the tailors time added $$$ as well, so I don't like to think how much it cost me. Slops I am making/made myself out of 100+ year old hand woven linen that I found at an antique market. Tricorn was about $100 Shoes, were custom made in England and were about $160, though the ones I really want are from Sarah Juniper and would cost over $350. The cheapest firearm I think is the Pendersoli Queen Anne kit that is about $200, but figure on $300-$500+ for most handguns Swords... for a correct early 18th Century sword, you will probably have to have one made. For a great reproduction cutlass, plan on spending around $600 (check out the Early European Double Shell Cutlass). There is a line from the movie Mad Max where Max is getting his car fixed and the mechanic says "speed is just a question of money, how fast do you want to go?" That applies with re-enacting too, "Authenticity is just a question of money, how Authentic do you want to look?" GoF

Are the ones your selling from New Dehli GW? GoF

I have no idea Pat... trial and error might figure it out though! GoF

Yes.... its almost so cool that you would think its a fantasy piece for our period.... but its not! Pirates, Launching grenades. Cool or what! GoF

This is great! I love controversy... It usually leads to an education! (mine) Interesting that most women at "pirate" events are portraying some sort of wench/harlot so maybe they should take note. I think that most re-enactors follow the path of least resistance to getting their kit together, and proper stays/bodice are one hurtle that most women don't want to attempt. I just wish that we had half of the info on sailor's coats as we do for stays. GoF

Are you in Florida Now Josh?

Matchlock Hand Mortar? like this Just a Little more info Here!

I pulled this post out of What pyrates really wore as it was literally getting burried in Clevage! Here goes I hope Patrick Hand doesn't see this Christine.... he won't be able to sleep at night! But as to your question about bodices... From an interesting site with history of corsets we get this So bodice means "pair of bodies" which, by our period (1690-1725) would be known as "Stays". Here is an example of a proper bodice/stays of the period There are more examples and general information at http://www.marariley.net So the bodice/stays of the Golden Age period should be a support garmet (with whalebone) that is kind of a part of the outer clothing. There are some great resources online for this stuff. I would first start with The Stay Maker's site She really does give a good overall idea of what we are dealing with. Another priceless part of her site is the Dressing the 18th century lady Sally Queen goes into greater detail on stays in an article on mid 18th Century Stays. It appears that their have been several pairs of Original 18th Century Stays That have sold on e-bay. This link examines a pair in greater detail. And when you get an itching to make a pair for yourself, you can use this Custom Corset Pattern Generator from http://costume.dm.net/ Lastly, another great resource for costuming and 17th/18th century info is The Salacious Historian's Lair this is WELL worth the visit and if you scroll down there is great info on 1680-1690 womens wear. PS I would think that Patrick Hand could make you a corset... Although I would imagine that he would require several fittings.... laugh.gif

So who is going to this most excellent of Pirate Events?

I hope Patrick Hand doesn't see this Christine.... he won't be able to sleep at night! But as to your question about bodices... From an interesting site with history of corsets we get this So bodice means "pair of bodies" which, by our period (1690-1725) would be known as "Stays". Here is an example of a proper bodice/stays of the period There are more examples and general information at http://www.marariley.net So the bodice/stays of the Golden Age period should be a support garmet (with whalebone) that is kind of a part of the outer clothing. There are some great resources online for this stuff. I would first start with The Stay Maker's site She really does give a good overall idea of what we are dealing with. Another priceless part of her site is the Dressing of an 18th Century Lady. Sally Queen goes into greater detail on stays in an article on mid 18th Century Stays. It appears that their have been several pairs of Original 18th Century Stays That have sold on e-bay. This link examines a pair in greater detail. And when you get an itching to make a pair for yourself, you can use this custom corset pattern generator from http://costume.dm.net/ Lastly, another great resource for costuming and 17th/18th century info is The Salacious Historian's Lair this is WELL worth the visit and if you scroll down there is great info on 1680-1690 womens wear. PS I would think that Patrick Hand could make you a corset... Although I would imagine that he would require several fittings....

I am afraid you are going to have to back that up by posting a picture GoF

late comer to the thread... but i am a fellow red-head. Only dated one red haired lass.... bright carot orange. And when i finally got to see if the "carpet matched the drapes", i was dissapointed to see she had shaved it bare not that thats a bad thing generally, but with a red head its best left natural... have i said too much?

I think its the "Predden" lock. The Rifle Shoppe carries them. Can't wait to get mine. The Kit was about $800. Aparently, its not too difficult a job to put it all together (I bought a kit with a completed lock). I am just a little scared that i might F#$#@ the thing up. I am going to wait until I have it (the kit) in my hands to see just how difficult it Looks. Speaking of kits... here is a mighty fine Queen Anne kit from the UK GoF

I don't know Duchess... I am still not convinced More pictures please!!!!!!!

I am in the process of having a hand mortar built (its a kit from the Rifle Shoppe). But Ben Coogle has one for sale that he hand built. Its $1300 and a beauty! It will fire raquette balls. If you are interested, drop me a line and I will get you the details. more pictures are at my site http://www.gentlemenoffortune.com/weapons.htm

Can you provide a visual aid.... lets say a JPG for this? We'd like to make up our own minds please

Stop! go no further till you check out this site! some of you have seen it before but its invaluable for 18th Century Women's clothing

Hawkyns Yes I stumbled upon the Historical Trekking site in a search for Ben Coogle. He has made several Hand Mortars and apparently, the one in the Rifle Shoppe catalog is based off of one he made from scratch. In my conversations with Mr Coogle, he thinks that there may be some "tricky" parts to building the kit but should not be too hard. The lock is complete (from TRS) but I have no experience in these matters and have time on my side for a change so I don't mind waiting for a professional (as long as its not too expensive). He sent me a couple of pictures of his various handmortar builds and he has a completed one for sale. I am waiting for permission to post it up here along with a price for those interested. Will keep you posted as events warrant GoF

I still don't know what you are saying. Are you saying that building the Hand Mortar kit offered by ( i said in error earlier that it was a Track of the Wolf kits... its actually) The Rifle Shoppe is in violation of ATF regulations? Or that once its built, any modifications to it are illegal. To make sure we are on the same sheet of music, the Hand Mortar in question has a stock and flint lock, with a 2 1/2 inch breech. Like a giant blunderbuss. Its not "modified" to launch... thats what it is. the TRS link I posted is just the barrel, there is a stock and a whole "gun" that it is part of. The gun will reside and be used in the US.... GoF

You kind of lost me Royaliste... what do you mean? GoF

I need someone to build a Rifle Shop flintlock Hand Mortar I looked for a few online but some of the big names charges 1000s of dollars to put guns together. Any suggestions? GoF

There has been some discussion on this board, and others about just how much "weapon training" your average sailor/pirate had during the GAOP. I think, in the end, the consensus has been that it was "not much, if any." While this goes against what you would think for people that might have depended on the sword for their livelyhood, it begs the question that, "if there was no training of weapons for seaman during this time, what would these classes teach?" What is it based off of? Moderen interpretation of what should have been done with these weapons? I would love to see a GAoP boarding axe arms manual if anyone has one! GoF

I guess maybe that is part of my point.... I have no sewing skills, no time, no engergy etc etc. I work on this bloody thing late at night and in the wee hours of the morning when the Warden, my 2 1/2 year old, and 3 month old are asleep. Sorry to vent on a forum like this.... I am just a little frustrated right now. I feel like its an excersize in futility. At the end of the day (or in another month of so), sure I will have a swell jacket, but I doubt that there will be an event to go to or a handful of folks that give a rats ass and could tell the difference. Maybe I should collect baseball cards instead. GoF

So I am sitting here, cutting out the lining for a 1706 pattern sailors jacket ( a short one with mariners cuffs) out of 100 year old hand woven linen that I will hand sew into the closest wool that I can find to Kersey wool (Its some antique wool that I found in a German Flea market), and I am thinking, "what would I pay for something like this?" I mean, we are living in the age of Walmart where everything at a low margin and the only way you make money is by selling THOUSANDS of them. We hate to pay more than $20 for a shirt to go to work in, let alone $100 one to use 5 weekends out of the year. I have probably spent 20 hours alone in researching and developing a pattern from the period pictures we have. I am just at the point where I am sewing the sleeves of the lining together and if I charged myself $5 an hour I would have to get $100 for work to date and I am guessing that I am ¼ the way done. Now I know that the professional tailors/seamstresses on this board are already itching to reply with their own woes but let me say I already know you are not properly compensated for your time either. I am a neophyte with a thread and needle but I am just guessing that by the time I am done, I will have about 60 hours into this thing. My next one will be faster as I already have the pattern but still, hand sewing takes time so lets say jacket number 2 takes 30 hours. $5 x 30 is $150. I spent about $30 on the 100 year old hand woven linen, and another $20 on the wool. Buttons from GGGodwin would add $20 and the linen thread was $5. Which leaves me a bear minimum of $245 to break even. Or you could just go to ebay and get a machine sewn out of faux distressed leather, made to YOUR size for $125! Maybe I am just in a funk right now but geesshhhh!

I thought that these were pretty neat! They are not period, but probably one of the best renditions of period sailors using Admiralty Slops contract clothing GoF