Monterey Jack

Well, throw some dates at me (the calendar kind) of where ye'll be and when camp-wise. Might just surprise ya sometime in 2007!

I need to spend some time in your camp! The only thing I'm involved in right now are historically based fight demos using cutlass, sabre, hawk, knife and boarding axe. While it always draws a crowd and we love to talk about it, the environment around are camp needs a lot of work.

Just a reminder that there are only two days left til the class fees go up. Registering before April 1 will save you a bit o' cash! Register at www.davenriche.com See you there!

I'm holdin out fer the one with the Rum Crunchies in it m'self!!

Hell, just leak news that Bin Laden is hiding under it; that'll get it outta there.

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Navy construction crews have unearthed a rare Spanish ship that was buried for centuries under sand on Pensacola's Naval Air Station, archaeologist confirmed Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT The vessel could date to the mid-1500s, when the first Spanish settlement in what is now the United States was founded here, the archaeologists said. But the exposed portion looks more like ships from a later period because of its iron bolts, said Elizabeth Benchley, director of the Archaeology Institute at the University of West Florida. "There are Spanish shipwrecks in Pensacola Bay," Benchley said. "We have worked on two — one from 1559 and another from 1705. But no one has found one buried on land. This was quite a surprise to everybody." Construction crews came upon the ship this month while rebuilding the base's swim rescue school, destroyed during Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The exposed keel of the ship juts upward from the sandy bottom of the pit and gives some guess of the vessel's form. Archaeologists estimated the rest of the ship is buried by about 75 feet of sand. During initial work to determine the ship's origin, archaeologists found ceramic tiles, ropes and pieces of olive jars. The settlement was founded in 1559; its exact location is a mystery. The Spanish did not return until more than a century later in 1698 at Presidio Santa Maria de Galve, now the naval station. The French captured and burned the settlement in 1719 but handed Pensacola back to Spain three years later. Hurricanes forced the Spanish to repeatedly rebuild. The Navy plans to enclose the uncovered portion of the ship, mark the site and move construction over to accommodate archaeological work, officials said. "We don't have plans to excavate the entire ship," Benchley said. "It's going to be very expensive because it's so deeply buried and we would have to have grant money," she said.

I just switched out the brain-tanned deer for a better, lighter sheepskin that matches more closely the rest of the coat. Although I'll be bringing it along on piratical and buccaneerin venues, its unlikely that it'll ever see actual sea-service. However I plan to do a lot with the colonial folk here in the Pacific Northwest and it'll come in handy in the forest on those chilly eves.

Monterey Jack at yer service, Lass; the Big Cheese o'the 7 seas as it were.... Welcome, sez I!

This buff leather takes oil really well and gives it a great antique look. The thing won't be lined and should weigh in at about 5 pounds. Still not sure whether to make the pockets functional and if so, whether or not to use more leather when broadcloth would be lighter overall.

I like yer thinkin' Capt! the leather justaucorps is under construction as we speak; by the time I get it done maybe I will have figured out how to post a picture of it here!

You're absolutely right IMO about less clothing rather than more. I doubt any Traditional Buccaneer would be wearing this puppy out in the logwood forests of Central America in July. It wasn't where I intended to go costume-wise but its too good not to have...and since I have the materials at hand.... I suppose, though (and this is a broaaaaaad stretch of re enactment philosophy) that since the buccs were known to have traveled from the Caribbean as far north as Nova Scotia this thing might come in handy for buccs in the Northern climes. I know Plunkett and Macleane is a far fetch from reality, and I'm still debating the brocade. Your comment about staying as close to the original as possible makes good sense, not only from a re-sell standpoint, but if I show up at an event where historical is the rule rather than the exception I'll be just dandy....or...wait...not dandy...no brocade....hell, you get the idea. The braintan deer on the lapels and cuffs is, unfortunately, the commercial BT stuff, half the cost and a really rich look. I did read a bit in Dampier about them hunting deer on one of the islands, so I figure mixing cow and deer hide on one coat won't be out of the question. Not sure if I'll make the sleeves detachable, but I might do so with the huge cuffs in case I want to change appearances.

Well, shoot........ Just looked at the shots of Plunkett and Macleane again and I may have to add the brocade. Damn. Anyone know of a source for good brocade of the period? I'm way out of my element when it comes to this.

This is great, guys; thanks! GoF, that first one you posted gives a great example of what the turnback cuffs look like when unrolled; just what I needed. I keep seeing huge cuffs that are closed, and then some that are split. I believe its the split ones I'll go for. Has anyone seemt eh movie Plunkett and Macleane? that's what got me going on the justacorps. Theirs are just seriously nasty though.....being highwaymen and all. Mine will be of lightweight cowhide in a buff color with the "roughout" look. The cuffs and lapels will be the aged /braintanned deerhide. Haven't decided on brass or pewter for the buttons, though. I think brass would look better; probably 1" or larger. I've built two buff coats before, so this should be a breeze. I'll try and figure out how to get pix of it up here when its done; roughly a month from now. I doubt mine will have any of the fancy trim and certainly won't be representative of any degree of status, but I'm certainly looking forward to showing up at a few muzzleloading events in it! Nice to know it has some degree of historical backing; I like top be able to have something for the textbookies out there. Thanks again!

Okay, I'm probably going to make it anyway, cuz I want one and I only work in leather, but what are the historical justifications for a light, buff leather justacorps? I started out making a simple civilian early 1700s coat, but saw the pattern offered by Reconstructing History, with the enormous cuffs.....and I may just go that way. I've made three full-length theatrical pirate coats already6 out of leather, but I'm thinking of going more "proper" with the construction of this one. Thoughts?

Always wondered what happened to Charlie Brown. :)

Registration is now open for ISMAC and most class descriptions are now online! As you have come to expect from this workshop, we never stop improving (although it gets harder every year!), so we have a couple more additions to let you know about. On Thursday night, please join us for a semi-formal dinner with the instructors. We have made reservations at the Radisson and you can sign up for it during the registration process. The menu is online and the meal will be $25/person. You will need to register in advance to join us for the festivities. I heard there may even be some entertainment for the evening as there are a few people who have a score to settle with Cecil Longino after the 4-W workshop :) The other exciting addition is a new way to register for the workshop, You will now have three options. For the intermediate and advanced participants we have a new Easy Pass, so you will be able to pay one flat fee and take any class you would like. -Normal registration is still available for $110 (early registration) and then you can add the maestro/master classes of your choice. -The Master Class pass is $325 which includes your registration fee and any master classes you want to take. -The Maestro Class pass is $400 and includes your registration fee and any maestro or master classes you would like to take. You will need to sign up for the advanced classes you when you are registering. Please know your limitations, and only sign up for classes you will be taking (you are required to participate in the classes that you sign up for). At ISMAC these advanced classes are limited in size so you get more out of the class than at any other WMA workshop. Every year there is a waiting list of people that want to be in the Master/Maestro classes and it would be a shame for them to miss out when there is an open spot. Lastly, don’t forget to make your reservations at the Radisson early. The hotel fills quickly and all the after hours fun happens there!

I have, though it may be off slightly period-wise. Gilkerson shows leather Boarding Caps in the first Volume of Boarders Away. The look just like a thicker heavy jockey cap except it has flanges to the oputside where it was molded into shape and the American ones had iron hooks on the side to catch cutlass blows to the head. These were used almost exlusively by American marines from 1803-1815 roughly. The "glazed" leather may have been what they called Latigo back then, which was impregnated with wax during the tanning to toughen the hides up and then they were buffed to make them more weather-resistant. Didn't sound like that's what they were talking about though.

It seems to imply that the hatwas more just that...a cap. But I'm not givin up my handmade leather tricorne just yet! :)

Interesting stuff! Curious as to whether there were still Sumtuary Laws in effect in the 1700s and whether or not they could be enforced outside of England?

Wow. looks like somebody got up on the wrong side of the guns today, Kass. Cordingly is generalizing, and most of his subjects appear to be captains, and likely had at least one good suit of clothes they like to be seen in. Cordingly also mentions variations based off what he lists as seeming standard clothing for seamen. Note he says seamen, not pirates, referring to working class sailors who were sometimes issued their clothes. So in a sense, yes,to be a seamen of the period these basic items would likely be a part of your everyday wear. I disagree with his phrases that begin with "most", as there is no way to document what the majority of over 1000 seamen had on at any given time......in a 100 year span. Also, I think you were originally talking about the down n dirty pirates, and in that I believe you to be right on the mark, but if Cordingly has done the research I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it for at least the captains. Damn, can't finish the thread; got customers in the shop! Carry on!

We figures those are more like guidelines rather than actual rules....

I appreciate the help, Cap'n; The HMCA will be needing a few for next season and apparently for drill work they used to use a large calibre musket ball lashed over the tip for protection. So it could be said you really need balls to practice with these things.....er...for historical accuracy that is.....

Cap'n, Have you seen the pike heads in Gilkerson's "Boarders Away" Volume one? The HMCA would be interested in several pike heads( with langets) that can be attached and removed from the shaft as needed for shipping to various workshops coming up in 06 and 07. Drop me a note off the forum sometime and we can discuss costs and such. Glad yer healin'!

I'd like t' admit t being too full o' meself, but I'm far too important to deal with small-time issues like that....

I've also invited the people in charge of BB to join the Traditional Buccaneers yahoogroup, so we'll have all the latest info as it comes available. The project may take awhile, but looks like it'll be worth the wait!