Monterey Jack

If there's anything we can help you with regarding boardig actions and hand-to-hand maritime work, drop us a note the the HMCA website! Happy to help! www.HistoricalMaritimeCombat.com

Darkwood can do sharps or theatrically sound. They all hold up really well. Of course if you intend to beat the crap out of a sharp he's not going to be responsible for mishandling the weapon; so its all relative I guess.

The great thing about Scotty is you can send it back for "cleanup and unless its something really outside your order specs he won't charge you for it. Mine is a clamshell hybrid of two different historical cutlasses from about 1690. He even added in the faux ivory handle with a matching dirk; antique blued steel and all. I use it as my Instructors piece when teaching the HMCA classes.

Dro a note to Scotty at Darkwood Armory. he can do anything with the same quality Old Dominion can do without the wait and probably moderately less expensive: www.darkwoodarmory.com

Thanks fer the welcome, Bo; good to be back. For starters do we know they didn't bleed into the wool for certain? Also, if it was traditionally tanned Morroccan goat, the dye jobs were not always fully penetrating (still aren't) so they might have been color safe then, too. I'd have to look at Morroccan dyes of the period to tell you which they might have used.

Black is always the popular color, but if you look closely at museum pcs you'll see they are a really dark brown up til the mid 1700s. IMO you could get by with black in a 1745 setting, but less in an earlier period. Early tanning methods being smoke-tanned, bark-tanned and brain-tanned. You'd likely end up with a light to medium brown color leather. Now, those leathers are fairly expensive (trust me, aftger nearly 20 yrs i the business I know...) but.... Buying vegetable (bark) tanned leather or "commercially" brain tanned leather and oiling it with mink oil or neatsfoot oil will age the stuff incredibly. Don't overdo it, as lighter weight leather will stretch and become unusable. Colors, other than browns are basically out of the question til the mid 1800s, when chromium dioxide dying was created. Hope this helps,

Does anyone have a link to a site where I can find the lyrics to the new song they all sing in the movie? My web searches have come up zip. Thank'ee!

No kiddin' Bess! Oregon ain't all that warm most days and the set is a little hot fer these climes too! Still, it does tend to turn heads at movie premiers!

Thought I'd pass this along, cuz, well..... its mine and I think someone can get more use out of it than me right now. If the link doesn't work just type in Pirate Coat / waistcoat on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/Pirate-Coat-Waistcoat-...1QQcmdZViewItem

The machete as a maritime weapon is not far off the mark. Patrick has done some great things with his to make them conform to period. Until the Spanish showed up, the central and south American tribes were still using wood. Once they got ahold of Spanish steel they re-formed the blades to make them suitable to their purpose. Then the Spaniards took the machetes home and started making them themselves to supply the plantation owners. The big diff in fight style between machete and cutlass is that since you have virtually no hand guard your motions with the machete will be draw-cuts as you make side-stepping motions, sweeping from one side to the other. The swinging is also entirely done from the wrist because of the weight of the blade; not the shoulder or elbow. The HMCA is working on a presentation for machete based on information thru Raven Martial Arts and Maestro James Loriega. Anyone who is interested can contact me thru the HMCA site: www.HistoricalMaritimeCombat.com

I had the honor of having dinner with him one evening out in Berkeley, Calif. We spent over 90 minutes discussing fencing theory and finally took it outside to a parking lot where he had epee's in the trunk of his car. If That doesn't get the attention of the local police, nothing will.... A real scholar and gentleman.....

I am pleased to announce the addition of Instructor / Choreographer F. Braun McAsh to the list for this year's event! Best known for the fight choreography on Highlander the TV series, Braun will be handling the Boarding Pike portion of this years worshop. We are also in negotiations for a larger salle in which to hold the event a short drive outside San Jose. More details as they solidify, but it means we won't have to limit attemdence! Look forward to seeing you there!

Bob is a great guy; we get together for an ale of two every year at ISMAC. I really enjoy his teaching style. For some great single-stick or backsword work you need to find a class (or hold one) with Maestro Paul MacDonald from Scotland. The man is a good friend and really knows his stuff!

Nothing wrong with that: I spent 12 years doing stage combat, and slowly worked into historic weapons play. Now I can switch off as needed within the parameters of the HMCA and have about four teenage girls I'm teaching combat cutlass / knife tactics to. can't wait til my daughter is old enough start kicking maritime butt!

Singlestick is great for that. I competed at ISMAC two years ago and did fairly well up til a guy connected with my fencing mask as about 60mph with the ash stick. Completely spun me around on the strip and when I got up the bleachers were empty. The hit had SO disoriented me I was facing the wrong way and didn't even know it. The guy suffered horribly after that.....

Yep; we talk about twice a week; you can access his email thru the HMCA site or contact me off-list and I'll get it for ye! The guy is just amazing with tomahwk, knife and boarding axe; makes Mel Gibson's "Patriot" look like Richard Simmons.....

I think I met him once last year... seemed a decent fellow. It is unfortunate that he's in Maryland, that the Pirate Brethren is in Maryland, and we've never really crossed swords... errrr... I mean paths. I don't know about you personally, but Jag has met with the Brethren; he sent us some photos of a festival he was invited to by them. Had a fantastic time as I recall!

I have to say...the HMCA site is fantastic. I would love to discuss the possibility of your doing something in Boston in the future. In addition to my SAFD background, I've tried to augment my own knowledge by working with the Higgins Armoury Museum's Sword Guild. It did allow me to meet Patri Pugliese, the single greatest source of period manuals I've yet found. Thanks for the compliments! Always good to know we're getting good PR! Steve Huff (aka "Jag") is in Maryland and would be your primary contact to set something up, but we would all be happy to work with you anytime. Patri is not only a great source but a gentleman as well. I had the good fortune to meet with him in the bay area back in my days with the SAFD as well. Jared Kirby is also a wealth of info text-wise. I'd be happy to put you in touch with him.

Sounds like ye all need to sign up with Rum Runners! here's the link! See ye there! Feel free to post any rum-related topic ye see fit! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Rum-Runners/ Here's to ye!!!

Glad the link is of use! I actually am one of those instructors, and if Ican help in any way please feel free to contact me here or thru the HMCA site. I agree with Hawkyns that getting eveyone to agree is a pipr dream, but that's not a bad thing. We all approach the art the best way we see fit as it pertains to our specific interest. The HMCA teaches maritime combat as a serious western martial art, and everything taught in the seminars is designed to disable or kill as quickly as possible. We canb taylor it to re enactors easily enough and our biggest draw has been Tales of the Seven Seas under Poison Quill. We are also instructing annually at ISMAC in Michigan; the link is below for those intersted. The nest seminar will be in Santa Clara California in May and info can be had thru the HMCA site. Look forward to seeing you there! Gareth Thomas, AKA Monterey Jack www.artofcombat.org www.HistoricalMaritimeCombat.com

Glad to help, Jack!!

Very few sources exist for true cutlass drills, the most popular being Angelo's; but even those (as most cutlass drills are) was based on sabre and highland broadsword. There are a number of texts dealing with sabre and singlestick of the 1800s on the web. Those are a great source for drills, but NOT for combat. Keep in mind there is a difference. Cutlass is not a proper weapon and its methods are not restricted to what you can do in drills or is a fencing salle. In short, its actually a hell of a lot of fun! Check this site for more info: www.HistoricalMaritimeCombat.com

The earlier form of Single-stick, called Cudgel was a popular pastime in the 1700s, but noramally land-based and predominantly Irish; the object being to beat your opponent about the head (the only legal target) until an inch of blood was seen to run. Singlestick, as the gentlemanly substitute for sabre practiced by retired officers and prize-fighter, came more into vogue in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Registration is now open via Paypal or direct mail for the workshop. You can access Paypal through the HMCA site. Last year we literally ran out of room with over 35 students in the salle, so attendence will be limited a little more this year. If interested register as soon as possible to ensure a spot! www.HistoricalMaritimeCombat.com

Correction: DEMAS is located at www.davenriche.com The Salle is located in Santa Clara, Calif. Sorry for the confusion.....