Gentleman of Fortune

Whoaaaa Nelly! Thanks for all the interest... But History Fanatic is numero uno by nary a hair. Thanks to all those interested! (The small ax is still available!) GoF

Again, too many projects, not enough time... Here is another antique ax head (head only, no shaft) This thing is a monster... Not all Boarding Axes were hatchet like affairs, some were robust and had handles of almost 3 feet (Gilkerson Boarders Away Vol1 pg 30-32) This would make a perfect el-grande boarding ax. The head alone weighs just under 5lbs and the length from tip of spike to edge of blade is 13" Handle socket is rectangular and is 1 1/4" X 2". If you have skills with a grinder or with blacksmithing, this would be a perfect project. $45 Shipped PM me... Paypal preferred

The GOF Project closet is bursting at the seems... and the "new project" fund is awfully low... So, I am getting rid of some projects that I am probably not going to get around to any time soon. My lack of productivity is your gain. First up This is an antique ax with pick that I was going to convert to a boarding ax. If you have a grinder, or blacksmithing skills, this would be an easy project. Handle is 16" long, head is 9.5" tip to blade I am going to stick them up here for a few days, then schlock them on E-bay. First Come first served PM' Me if interested... PayPal preferred $32 Shipped

I just re-did my Hat page... just covering some of the basics. If you have a chance to check it out, please let me know if you see any anomalies (spelling, grammar, or context) Thanks http://www.gentlemenoffortune.com/hats.htm GoF

I will give a nod to trying old 100% wool blankets. I find a lot of them in Grey (but lots of other colors as well) and they seem to do pretty well.... You can even "full" them a bit for a little water proofing... A blanket will make you a short jacket with extra left over... its well worth giving it a shot as most blankets can be had for $5 or so. GoF (My sailor jacket was made from a basket weave pinkish/tan blanket)

Iron Jon would look great in this hat..... Bump for I J GoF

I would have to look through my info... but honestly, I think that Foxe posted a picture of one here, at the pub, that was recovered from the wreck of the stirling castle.... wait while I search.... took less time than I thought.... So all credit to FOXE! (Photo courtesy of Ramsgate Maritime Museum) and the thread where you may find more info http://pyracy.com/forums/index.php?showtop...&hl=leather+cap Good luck, and post all results! (if you make one show it!) GoF PS I will go ahead and bump the Hat thread...(its in Twill)

Good Question..... Here is the thing... "Pants" (lets call em' trousers for the sake of this post, otherwise, our British friends will be laughing too hard to actually read what we are writing) Trousers come onto the scene for use in western society around the GAoP time frame. ***To be honest though, I am not sure if they were used prior to the GAoP or just come "back" into fashion during this time*** And the first place we can readily identify trousers is on sailors. IMHO, before the GAoP, we have a combination of Knee Breeches being worn and the end of the use of Petticoat Breeches. Its hard to say whether trousers are elongated breeches without the knee gathers or are modification of the petticoat breeches... as they are different things altogether. But anyway, we start seeing them on sailors during the GAoP first, and Foxe has pointed out that English Sailors were recognized by other nation's sailors because they were wearing the long trousers (implying that nobody else was wearing them at the time). Slops is a tricky word to use, because at the time of the GAoP, "Slops" meant all the sailor's clothing as a whole. Its later in the 18th century that "slops" means the short, baggy things that we associate with sailors. Kass, in a post here or on the PB site (a few years ago) asked the question of when the short slops come on the scene... it was a bit of a rhetorical question as her research was not finding an abundance of proof for them during the GAoP. Someone else here at the pub was able to find a contemporary picture in an obscure Dutch source that had a Dutch Sailor wearing "slops" (the short ones) that was dated to the GAoP, but that is about all that was found. On the other hand, Slop Trousers are found in lots of pictures (the ones I posted above were from Woodes Rogers account (1712) and Johnson's 1726 work. But there are LOTS more. (Check out this page for more info http://www.gentlemenoffortune.com/basic_kit.htm ) So, to finally answer question about what Black Beard is wearing, they are considered "Slop Trousers". I wouldn't think that Black Beard is actually that "Dandied" up in the picture (at least clothes wise).. on the contrary, he seems to be wearing what a typical sailor would be wearing during the time... Slop Trousers, Short Jacket and buckle shoes. The Group of Guys are pillaging a group of Spanish Ladies, as told in Woodes Rogers account A Cruising Voyage Round the World. On the coast of Peru , Rogers raided several rich Spanish colonies, including the city of Guayaquil . His privateers exacted an enormous ransom from the citizens. . Again, the pirates are wearing what we would typically expect historical pirates to be wearing. Slop trousers short jackets, and buckle shoes. While this type of clothing goes against the grain of contemporary re-enactor wisdom, its what we see over and over again depicted in period pictures and in written text (from the ASCs to Sailors wills and probate sales). Hope it helped... GoF

I am updating my web-page and am doing hats... I want to link to all the fine work everyone has done here... so I am bumping it to make it easier to find! GoF

Just a heads up... the Monmouths that I have in stock, are all XL... if you need a smaller size, I can get one made up in about a week from you askin'. GoF

I won't say exactly what proper is, but if you look at pictures of sailors/pirates from about 1710-1726, they range, as you say, from the bottom of the calf(ish) To ankle length If you got nice muscular calves, go with slops that show them off... If not, just do what your heart tells you... but I think anything below the calf and above the ankle would be easy to defend. GoF

Hey Folks I know a lot of you are in the shoe buying process... I still have a limited supply of period shoe buckles (in silver and in brass) Take a look here: http://www.gentlemenoffortune.com/footwear.htm and some Monmouth Caps, in Natural Brown correct wool http://www.gentlemenoffortune.com/tricorne.htm Contact me through the site if interested. GoF

Well Done! gof

Mike I don't think that $100 was too much... for hand work, its a bargain. And your stuff looks outstanding so somebody got a bargain! GoF

Got Oderless Eye's Book on the 19th. GoF

Michael Which forum? Frontier Folk? Please share.... its a great picture!!!! gof

For some reason, this is really resonating with me... despite the fact that I haven't played in 20 years. wow. GoF

Pew I will keep my weather eye out for it. And let you know immediately if anything turns up. gof

Can't you return the trousers for your money back? I think you have been a victim of bad customer service. I would have thought that a vendor would try to correctly answer your questions. And a simple, "no, we don't have those", is an ok and honest answer. I haven't the time to search myself for what you are looking for, but since it appears to be difficult to find, you may want to find a pattern for the breeches you want, buy the brown linen, and have a tailor make it to your measurements. I am betting that you would get tailor made clothing for less than your investment so far. I would start by finding out what the return process is for the wrong things you have bought. If you have done no more than try them on, you should be able to get your money back. And I wouldn't be so quick to "protect" the vendor by not revealing their name. You could prevent the same mistake happening to someone else, or shame them into having better customer service. gof

Just catching back up to the thread... If the latch comes in equal lengths, then you can do as you choose as far as cutting them down and such. If you go with buckles instead of ties, once you establish the where the buckle is going, you don't really need the "extra" bit. That being said, leather will stretch a bit from waring so you might want to keep that in mine for buckle placement. Here is a picture of a recovered shoe from Le Belle circa 1684 The buckles look to be regular rectangular buckles... I'd like to see pictures of the buckles themselves. Shame they are right lefts. That is because the shoemaker already has access to right left shoe lasts. For the regulars here that recall the "Shoe Project" i tried to get together a few years ago, that was one of the major hurdles... having to incorporate the makers "last cost" into the shoe project. If Loyalist supplier makes straight lasted shoes, then they have to make the straight lasts.... increasing costs. I have almost come to the conclusion though that you can't really have a 100% correct shoe for under $300. Everything under that is an exercise in managing compromises. Not that there is a problem with that.... I'd love to see more photos (especially of the back of the shoe) before I commented further.... it does look interesting though. GoF

I would be careful with the "Period Buckles" thing. I haven't seen any yet that really are for GAoP as most suppliers are targeting F&I and Rev War re-enactors so their styles are larger and later in style. But I have the real deal. I had some made a while back and still have some. Both Brass and Silver finish. They are sized for a 3/4" buckle which is good for 1690ish till the end of GAoP. Check out my site, or PM/E-mail me if interested. Shoes and Buckle Page GoF

Yeaaaaa!!!! I finally got one For those counting... it was mailed Feb 12 and received Feb 20... so really just 8 days. Hmmmm..... Anyway. Its Rogue Mermaids. Who made a really neat sketchbook and makes me feel embarrassed about mine. But hey, I was a newb! Pat Hand Dude. Your stuff looks great. You should investigate doing an online comic with your idea.... no really. GoF

Ha! While I believe that "The Pirate Thing" has reached its current apex, I think that it absolutely makes no sense for a freakin maritime museum to ditch it. It "should" be in their permanent exhibition area anyway. Do they really think that a 1914 Harbor tug packs people in? Does Pixar have a tug boat movie in the works? While I am a WW2 buff myself, I can't see explaining to the wife (let alone the kids) that we are going to see an exhibit about WW2 Pacific Theatre Photography (The War Through Steichen's Eyes). Now, if attendance is waining and nobody is coming to see the exhibit, then I can understand them wanting to make room for something else... That being said, I find it hard to believe that the paying public would rather see: Than pirate stuff.... I can't imagine this convesation happening... DAD: Do you want to go to the San Diego M M son? SON: That would be great! I heard that have some great photographs of historical steam engines that allowed goods to arrive at a predictable time and maximizing efficiency! GoF

*snicker* ....Count de Monet... Now that's funny... Welcome aboard! GoF

Thanks for the Heads up! It had been a while since I checked out her site. I had thought that she was working on some styles in Red Clay..... Or that Foxe was talking to her about doing some. I bought one.... So get em while they are hot. GoF