Monterey Jack

Sorry for the absence, all!

My lady and I are gearing up for Steamcon 2010 since this year is a bit o' a financial mess! What's been happening with leatherwork in the steamy universe? I have an article coming out in October for a SP gunrig you all may like, complete with a how-to and patterns! Now, back to working on the clothes!!!

For anyone interested, the HMCA did come up with a great Boarding Cap mockup based on th 1812 designs from Gilkerson's Boarders Away. I have one and Steve Huff in maryland has the other. I can try to post a pic if interested..

Maker Faire 2009... Held in the San Francisco Bay Area on May 30-31,

http://makerfaire.com/#1

I went to a previous one...unfortunately it was 80% crap...not something I'd pay to get into again....

Found this group and thought they were awesome.

This piece would make great "going into battle" music.

Corvus Corax

Got other groups/songs you like...Abney Park maybe? Post links here.

Corvus doesn't really sound like anything I haven't heard during set-up at a ren-faire, really....I think a steampunk band needs more to put itself in the genre...

I might have to contact you (well when I have some money).... Knowing someone that I can send a copy of a pattern to, and ask... do you have a chunka leather this size, is a great plus......

Anytime, Patrick! I'm working on a leather vest right now; roughly 1890s pattern but tweaked to be steamy,,,I'll send pix!

Nice :) i am slowly getting back into working leather after a wrist injury. Slow slow going with everything else going on. Am very interested in seeing how you take it steamy. SP is one of my fav genres. Has been for many years but around here until recently no one was constuming in it. Now starting to see a lot more at local cons.

Ididn't even know this genre existed til a friend of mine introduced me to Abney Park about the same time customers started coming in in partial costume for my help. I've done period leatherwork for 18 yrs but always wanted to try something Jules Verne-fantastical..just no venue for it..til now! LOL

Master of the World (Vincent Price 1961)

It has the whole Airship Pirate thing down wonderfully!

One of the parts that gets weird..... for Pyrates, we can carry flintlocks (ever notice how the Police are more concerned about the swords we carry?) anyway......Steampunks carrying weapons might freak out the police.... cowboys/gunslingers (out here in the West) or Civil War, Pyrates or most period of reenactment, it isn't that much of a problem...... but a real (even black powder gun (yeah, I know they are also real) might cause some hustles..... just think about it first.....

I think that is why "ray guns" are more popular with the Steampunks..... or "over the top"... obviously not real guns work.....

Hey, at Burning Man, I got stopped with my Dino Rifle, Two car loads of cops, .....I know what to do..... hands up,.... let them check you... (they have real guns...)....It was kinda funny when they pulled back the bolt, and the chunka carved wood carved as the bolt fell out..... but they were serious......

I don't wanna get shot for a toy/prop........

A mod (modification) of a real (even black powder... they are considered toys, but they are still real) might be more hustle than it is worth......

Just something to think about......

/quote]

Absolutely. I've never been hassled for me weapons going to or from an event and I certainly would'nt carry the ammo for the walker. Funny how you don't need a permit for a black powder revolver but its just as deadly as a "real" revolver...

Here in Eugene the only guys who get hassled by the cops are the ones who wear swords and guns in costume on a daily basis with no event to go to. Now THAT makes the cops nervous!

I might have to contact you (well when I have some money).... Knowing someone that I can send a copy of a pattern to, and ask... do you have a chunka leather this size, is a great plus......

Anytime, Patrick! I'm working on a leather vest right now; roughly 1890s pattern but tweaked to be steamy,,,I'll send pix!

Greetings all!

I've worked for Oregon Leather Company in Eugene for 10 years and Tandy for 10 before that. We have a lot of re enactors for all periods coming in and the newest thing is Steampunk. I'm now hooked as well and have a few leather projects in the works reflecting this. I would like to offer help or advice to folks trying to make their leather -related gear. It keeps me in the loop and keeps me thinking!

You can contact me here or PM me anytime; I check mail about twice a week or so. Also at www.oregonleatherco.com

Looking forward to this!

Moved this over from the other thread;

I still got my 1858 Remington, 1851 Colt navy, a repro Colt SA Peacemaker in 44-40, and a 1863 Remington Zouave with Redfield peep site and hooded front for sniper action, but I wanna do something really out there with the paintball gun. It was top-o-the-line in it's day when I bought it,(1994) but a dinosaur now. (Tippman Pro-Lite semi-auto.) It's been out of service so long, I'm sure the o-ring seals will need replaced. Gotta dig it outta the shed sometime. Thinking about sliding a brass or copper pipe over the barrel, making a brass heat sheild, add some brass plate here and there. Oughta fit in with this eh? Patrick..er.. Silas; I have a long brass tube rifle scope that is outta whack, can't find anyone to fix it, but would look good on top of that 'ellifino gun you built. Want it?

I'm gettin all my garb out today and see how it all fits together.

Bo

Well dammit Bo now ye got me hooked! LOL...I'm putting the finishing touches on a steamy rig for my 1847 Colt walker; matches the one on my other hip for the Bowie! I'll get pix to ya soon!

I'm pretty excited to start my own home brewing. There is a place here in town that is a home brewing shop, I have yet to go inside it yet but I'm sure I'll be like a kid in a candy store. The idea of handing a friend a beer and telling them that you made it will be rewarding.

All encouragement to ye lad! It's an adventure ye'll nay regret!

Aye! I'll second that!!! The process itself is fun and addictive...but once yer friends find out you'd better be prepard to go public!

Please, allow me then to offer the following link for the interim. Not Elizabethan, but from 1736.

The London and Country Brewer

Great info! Thanks!!

The Paul Chen is pretty, but in my estimation, its a bit light. It only weighs 2 pounds, whereas when I look through catalogues like the Wallace Collection, I find original weights for similar sword coming in at around 2lbs12oz, 2lbs8oz, and similar. Likewise, when I look at later variants of the cavalry sword, like the 1796 British Heavy Cavalry Sword (Sharpe's sword) being in the 3 pound range. 17th century basket hilts like the Irish hilt weigh as much as 4lbs2oz. Schiavonas weigh in at anywhere from 2lbs3oz up to 3lbs5oz. I'm much happier with my Armour Class mortuary which weighs in at a solid 3lbs.

Hawkyns

The blades vary, actually to a small degree, and frankly I prefer one that caters to the lighter side and is still accurate. I don't really see where 8-12 ounces makes any difference. In Trained hands it shouldn't be an issue. On the other hand, 3 lbs or a bit more may come to hand for some. Keep in mind the "cavalry" sword is not a mort sword, and the weights you list are all within an acceptable range. Periosd specs varied according to the blade maker as well and the maker of all the furniture. The swords were rarely ever made entirely by one manufacturer. I would say , IMO that if you like the thing, and it conforms to decent specs (NO mort sword should weight in at 4lbs!) and holds up under the use you intend..buy it.

Here be pictures of mine... a good, sturdy blade to be sure.

And folks are always right taken with it.

That's a Chen isn't it? Don't see the face on the guard though....

Well Montery,

I have stumbled across the book "The English Housewife" which has a pretty in depth chapter about brewing in it. Now this writing is a little past Elizabethan as it was originally published in 1615 (Elizabeth dies in 1603 if memory serves me well), but I am guessing that would be more than close enough for you?

Perfect! Thank you! Obviously we can't operate a weekend brewery on site at faire, but to create a facsimile where folks could observe a mock-up of the process would rock. Any links are greatly appreciated!

The pommel of the sword was often carved into the likeness of a head. Frequently, this was taken as a memorial to His Martyred Majesty, Charles Stuart. This, however seems to be yet another piece of Victorian re-written history. The name does not seem to appear until the 19th century, and the swords certainly predate His Majesty's death in 1649.

Hawkyns

Never seen a Mort sword (even in the musuems) with the head on the pommel...I always understood it to be the face engraved in the hilt itself, which as you say was supposed to represent Charles I....never really looked like him, though...

In addition, Paul Chen makes a great one for backsword practice and stage work. I own one of his; its light even with an intimidating blade....fast and comes to hand really well. Maestro Paul MacDonald has allowed them in his backsword classes and they can take a hell of a beating...though I don't reccommend it.

the group I am with runs a pub at the local ren-faire...its not for patrons, just a spot to do our pirate fights, gambling and showing off...

Any clue as to brewing equipment of the period?

I have a great brochure out of england for distilling rum at home, but it requires an immersion heater to heat the mash of about 120 degrees. No one has one that doesn't operate on 220, so I'd have to unhook my dishwasher to use it....plus its seems to be unavailable. All I can find are aquarium immersion hearters that go highter that 90 and they all look at me like I want to boil my fish....

any thoughts?

I've ben brewing for about 8 years now, though I only do 10 gallons a year as oposed to the 30 I used to brew. Summer ales and porters are my favorites. I give my pastor a case every year for the holidays! LOL.

The only horror story I have is when I tried to make ginger beer and added too much sugar. It turned into ginger champagne and finally into ginger grenades! I still remember trying to move the box of undetonated bottles out of the house under a towel at 3am! Sounded like fireworks going off!!!

I have heard from three different sources now that there will be a Pirates #4... likewise I have heard that nothing is solid, so is there anyone who can shed a bit o' light on this?

As one who is not a member of any of the afore mentioned mentioned crews; my assumption of the last series of posts wold be that an 'ego button' has been pushed, those who do not 'play well together' have no intention of doing so.

That is not an unreasonable assumption. Groups who are open, friendly and enjoy sharing their expertise will usually at least try to work with another group of like-minded individuals. The problems only arise whern you have one group out of the two who are egocentric or expect to play "their way"... OR a professional group turns down a dangerous group and the dangerous one starts rumours tha the other group are stuck up and don't wanna play. I've been on that end, and its easier to take the bad PR than it is to play with unsafe fighters.

Then there is the insurance issue. I have had to turn away teams of fighters who walk in expecting to be able to fight because the venue would only insure my team. We got called all kinds of names when all we were doing was covering everyone's butts.

apologies for the various typos; for more info you can hit the following sites:

www.artofcombat.org

or

www.HistoricalMaritimeCombat.com

okay..my take on this and then I need to weigh anchor for a bit....

Stage Combat: There are two major schools teaching theatrical work...the SAFD Society of American Fight Directors (and the British branch which I can;t recall..BFDC??...and Art of Combat. The SAFD teaches very flamboyant and wonderful fight styles..but not historically accurate. I have yet to talk to an SAFD instructor who can quote from any historical text.

Art of Combat teaches theatrically safe combat styles based on historical forms and goes to great pains to be sure their work is historically sound. The same is true of the HMCA. While we do not generally teach stage work (we work with we certainly can if the need arises...we have certified stage combat directors (thru Art of Combat) who can work to help create very believable fights, while keeping them safe for the audience and the actors. Generally we teach wht would work in a true life or death fight aboard ship....that being said.....

NO ONE FIGHTS HISTORICALLY ACCURATE . I can't tell you what a freaking thorn this is in my side. Historically correct fighting means people DIE. All any of us can hope to do is replicate it to the best of our abilities. Anyone who says they fight "live" steel, unchoreographed, or "for Real" is deluding themselves. None of us do that anymore. I have seen several who have tried,,and have come away with lacerated thighs, lungs, ripped armpits, powder burns to the eyes.... I have fouight two bouts in my life with sharps and was lucky to have lived thru it...Please stop saying you do it the way it was done. If you did...you'd have bodies left behind and insurance costs thru the roof....

One particular style cannot be achieved because (as true with the fight schools of old) every group of teachers has their own method. Groups meeting to fight need to do so well in advance of the event to figure out if their styles are compatible.

That being said, we can all get along fine so long as we don't presume to impose our style on another group. Those who fight and end up wounding one another will disappear from the circuit. Those whose style are historic, safe, entertaining and professional will continue to entertain and inform...which is as it should be.

I have three different sized navajas I carry, from a tiny boot knife to a hip knife and finally a nice big navaja designed to be carried in a folded sash the way the gypsies did. Other than that, for a fixed blade I use a Case Bowie...I just don't call it a Bowie since its out of period....the style however predates the guy it was finally named after by a century or more so its all good....

For using the navaja properly I suggest any book by Maestro James Loriega. I have had the honor to train under him over the years and have come to trust his techniques as sound and just damn fun to be able to use in a fight.....