Iron Hand

hmmmmm, well back to CW i go. Wonder where they got the skins from? I forgot about glass as a scraper. Gramp used to use glass to strip the boat mast. Its nice because you can bevel the edge to what ever shape you need relatively easily. Just be sure to put some tape across the back side so you don't cut yourself.

They told me they war sandsharks from the Chesapeake....

What cheer all,

I have many library gigs to do this summer and am looking for some great guns, either firing or Quaker guns, for my presentations. Any suggestions? I am talking with one sutler about a Quaker gun, but do not want to over-tax him as he is recovering from cancer treatment. Ideally I am looking for a four to six pounder.

Keep you powder dry,

John Atwood

Arrrrrrrrrr ye lookin for real cannon or quakers? Hern Iron Works makes a sleeved real cannon that I've had great luck with. They are sold as display only...I have not shot munitions out of them, just blank cartridge. They're reasonable and ship out of Idaho. Check out their site.http://www.hernironworks.com/cannons.html. I think you'll find them well used in our community. I have purchased 4 myself with n'er a problem.

Custom Rennaisance era sailors breeches for Ivan Henry based on the period drawing below.

Navy linen with white wool tape embelishments. Adjustable waist and rough carved wodden buttons for the fly. The matching jerkin is in the works.

Look Great Liam..

Thank you for the kind words gentlemen....

End of May, Chris and I will fire up the forges and were making some blades...anyone is invited and this will be our May workshop...

I'll show you how I know to make a Shellguard cutlass in 2 hours start to finish. It will ring long and hit hard and cost you about 7 dollars to make..

If you're more into making a boarding axe, Chris will be helping people shape and pass through an axe head.

Event wise.

May 29th CSUB Bakersfield Pirate treasure hunt and dinner benifiting the society for disabled children.

Enjoy the first annual Pirate Treasure Hunt. There will be fun for all ages. Families with children will enjoy hunting for pirate treasure, visiting the pirate's camp, and playing games from 12p-3pm. Tickets are $7 each, children under 5 are free.

Festivities for adults take place from 6pm-9pm and feature dinner, a live band, dancing, entertainment, and the pirate's auction house silent auction. Ticket cost is $50 per person.

Proceeds benefit programs and services provided by the Society.

Time: Families with children 12pm-3pm / Festivities for Adults 6pm-9pm

Location: CSUB Alumni Park 9001 Stockdale Hwy

Phone: (661) 322-5595

How's bout some more details on the Sword makin' workshop....I be really interested in attendin' that one....

Just a note.....Ne'er tried it but.....A few years back while visiting Colonial Williamsburg, I visited the cabinet maker's shop and was shocked when all the workers were outside nailing sharkskins to work bench planking. I asked them what they were doing, and out came the sea salt. They were drying sharkskins to use as sandpaper for fine finishing in places they couldn't use scrapers. made sense to me. Sharkskin when dried has a rough surface and kinda bubbly. That same summer I watched an Indian girl scraping a writing box with a broken piece of glass. Like stated earlier, if ya mess up, ya can cause alot of damage by takin' off too much wood. I guess that's why woodworkers back in the day were considered craftsmen....

If ya wanna really tacky it up, where youre piece came out, glue it back in. Then take a small dog chew and boil it in water til it opens up to a square. While still wet, wrap around the wrist of the gun real tight. trim punch holes and lace ends together with sinew. Chews are made of rawhide, and if ya since em up snug while wet, they form a rawhide patch that looks gnarley and be period correct. ya could even india ink some sea designs on it and turn it totally renegade pirate. Let's face it if it shoots, tacky is better. You can even use small headed silver tacks to secure the piece. That looks really cool as well. Definately, I suggest makin' it look like its a repair, rather than trying to make it purty...IH

Yeah I sold one of those pistols...Beautiful weapon.....I would suggest using formb'ys to remove the top coat of laquer and then apply mineral oil to the stock. It actually hardens the wood and brings out the grain. On my Virginia rifle I used straight gun oil on the stock after I got my desired stain on..Really made the Curl pop and gave it that backwoods look. Everytime I clean the gun I coat the stock liberally with gun oil and scratches to the stock just disappear....

Mine's a small blockade runner named "Revenge" shortened from Kidd's Revenge in honor of me Great(etc)Gran Dar...Cap'n Kidd....

Matt, I didn't see this hanger on your site....What's the damages on a fine sword as such?

Yarr, me and Liam just got back from a truly primitive rendezvous at Hart Canyon. Ye'd be hard pressed to see anything modern after clearin' the Parking area and cresting the adjacent hill. So far the Iron Brigade are the only pirates to encamp with that bunch of Mountain Men. Last year as I was leavin', one of me dear friends said," I just don't get it...Mountain Men and Pirates....." I says, says I, "aint ye never read about the river boat pirates that brought goods up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers... Ya figure them goods and supplies only came on the backs of animals?' He says, says he," Oh Yeah, now I see the connection." Any how, as Patrick said, Ye get to shoot live rounds at Injuns and such. They have trail walks, shootin gongs, and my favorite...They love to see us shootin' archery. this year there were 3 origional boarding axes sold in camp, a visit by the Dinsay twins and their flip cart, and several appearences of Chester the night soil man, not to mention his capture and escapes. I thought Liam was gonna keelhaul him when he threw him over his shoulder...Thank God Liam didn't hurt him.....These guys are like some of us pirates....Totally period correct to their time period which includes the fur trade era to 1820. Really refreshing after the hollywierd pirates and plastic renees. Kind of a cleansing for us, so's ta speak. Unfortunately We have so much fun keeping period correct we rarely take pictures but I think I got some of Chester and the Dinsay twins, I'll try to forward tonight....

I got ta say....I had the honor of puttin' some of Liam's work in my shop for the last week at a primitive rendezvous and the Colonials ate it up. His work is impecable and very affordable. Liam is in me crew, but aside from that, in almost 40years of re-renacting, I don't think I've ever met anybody so interested in authenticity. His prices are very reasonable and his hand stitching is beyond reproach.

I would so have to live in it.....My wife would kick me out....Great price though...

I stumbled across this rental site of interest.

Even if you're not in the market the photos are great.

http://www.privateermedia.com/Boats/boats.htm

Jas. Hook

I'm lovin' the Colonial Schooner....and I got just the deck guns ta mount on her....

Hmmmm.................Captain Morgan......Harsh?????....Now Pussers....That be some harsh sheet.......I notice the Cap'n be well represented on dinner impossible...... I will say Sailor Jerry's is smoother than the Cap'n, but I think the Cap'n ta be fairly smooth.....I gotta try this Kracken stuff just in case....

I agree Lady B......That's a purty spensive gamble to get a bit part....And if ye do get hired..Ye gotta get back to Hawaii for filming and find yerself shelter... When I worked on Last of the Mohicans, they only paid $75 a day, and that was if ye already had yer own uniform....Let me tell ye, North Carolina be a far step more affordable for shelter than Hawaii. I'd love ta go but it's, other than being able ta say ye was in the movie,a losin' propersition if ye just get hired as an extra..Drat.....

Madd Dogge....Loved the gun threats to Cookie......Good showing one and all.....Have ta set me sails for Key West.....Was the food as good as it looked.....IH

I'm interested as well.Please email picture troller1775@sbcglobal.net

Bushmills and lookin' for me pot o gold...

Just a matter of clarification here...A tricourne is a Tricourne(three cornered hat)

A cocked hat is one that is set ascew for a miriad of reasons. The tri-corned military hat was cocked to enable soldiers to shoulder their muskets without knocking off their hats. And that was only during the latter part of the 18th century. That can be accomplished by the way you set up your hat when you're tying down the sides.Officers didn't seem to ordinarily wear cocked hats and I never saw one on a pirate, at least on purpose. Bi-cournes are considered cocked hat's, don't know why...

Now let's see....Hot.....Humid....Tropical Climate. Palm trees, cane breaks....no beaver....no money......Pyrate, second class citizens.....Yep gotta agree, straw hat seems to be more of a true choice than felt.....That is unless the felt hat belonged to someone ya kilt.....Northern waters....Felt seems to be the correct choice.... It's all a matter of geography,taste and economics...Savvy.....

No offense intended......

I read somewhere that some pistol stock were painted black for use at sea. Any truth to that. Am reworking a pistol and too lazy to totally strip and restain stock. But will If I have to. Thanks

Popular explanations of the use of the word "Brown" include that it was a reference to either the colour of the walnut stocks, or to the characteristic brown color that was produced by russeting, an early form of metal treatment. Others argue that mass-produced weapons of the time were coated in brown varnish on metal parts as a rust preventative and on wood as a sealer (or in the case of unscrupulous contractors, to disguise inferior or non-regulation types of wood). However, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) notes that "browning" was only introduced in the early 19th century, well after the term had come into general use.

My favorite is the English Infantry Hanger(I got mine from GoF (thanks)).... they are from some tyme about mid 1700....

made in India....they sell for about $65.00....but the blade shape is right fer period........(well as a hunting hanger)

grab yer file, and ground off the peaned over tang.... take the sucker all apart....refit it into a hunting sword.....

I bought a chunk of antler and fitted that to the tang, I still have to make a good gard for it.,...but , dang they are realy close.

I may not be able to forge a blade, but I can work on the fittings.... an for a "starting Sword"... it works.....

I've seen Patrick's Hanger...He did a beautiful job on it. I carry an officer's 1753 Hanger that has a 3 bar basket and I'm very envious of Patrick's. It's more useable for fighting.

I did see that laddy.......and quit callin' me sir.......Yeah , I'm a Captain, but don't let that out....We might have ta stand back to back ......

Then make me a pair of tickin' slops....I'll send ya me gut size on the pm....

Indeed sir... I'd be happy to help you out... I'm looking forward to seeing you and yours this season.

Liam....I nay canne tell....are them slops made with pucker butts?

I'm thinking of leaving it as is. I like the natural color of it.

The tan really makes the hilt stand out. Where did ye get the sword, looks like and Epee or smallsword.

...if I had a nickle and an abortion for every time I heard that....

Can I stand ye a fine Irish whiskey instead. Glad ya poked yer lovely little head out in the open....It's graced us all....