Captain Jim

Great Etchin's there, 'Eye. Not to get off-topic, but I've a big favor to ask: can you find out where the Surprise got those flint cannon locks? I've searched all over and cannot find a supplier. Any help would be great.

I say we make a raid...

The Season 5 & 6 DVD gift Pack contains a very small puffy pirate shirt. Just right for yer, ah, er, "Pyrate."

Apparently not. Ironic, that a production company can make a show about pyracy, and then fuss about being pyrated.

Bunny, me lass, I have seen yer picture. Iffen ye buy a standard cut Pyrate coat so that the shoulders and sleeves fit and is of proper overall length, it will be tight in certain spots.

Gary, ye old dog, ye need ta be postin' some pictures o' those new guns, mate, either here or over on the cannon thread. Don't be makin' this pyrate say "Please." It don't look good t' the rest o' the mates.

Anyone ever notice that that is the same pistol that Barbosa carries in POTC?

Don't Know where to find that older boarding pike thread, so I'll post this here. From the USS Constitution Tech Drawings web site, a Boarding Pike. A better view can be had at: USS Constitution Technical Drawings

For what it is worth: During the restoration of the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) in 1927 the weight of both gun and carriage are given on the gun carriage detail plan for both the 24- and 32-pound guns. They are: 24 Pound Gun: Gun 3780 lbs. Carriage 1090 lbs. Total 4870 lbs. 32 Poun Gun: Gun 4275 lbs. Carriage 1215 lbs. Total 5490 lbs. More as I find it, or you can search the database at:USS Constitution Technical Drawing Archive

So far I have four, all sub-scale. My first was a .32 caliber all-brass (carriage, bucket, powder measure, rammer, swab and two blocks as well) naval cannon. It is jewel-like in its craftsmanship. It was made by Valley Cannon Works in Tigard, Oregon. If anyone knows anything about them, please drop me a note. My next two were .45 caliber naval cannon, wood carriages and, oddly, rifled bores. Next was a Napoleon Field piece, .75 caliber (anyone see a pattern here?) The barrel was plated and has since been painted black. My next aquisition will be a scale swivel gun in 1.75 caliber sometime this year. Loaded with grape (rock salt in a canister) it should make an impression on that pack of wild dogs running on my property. To anyone reading this who wishes to buy a cannon: Buy one now. Buy a small one (.45 -.75 caliber) for small dollars and learn the proper loading procedure and practice it on the small scale. Big guns cost a lot to shoot regularly and mistakes will cost you your hand, while a smaller gun can impress while keeping you in practice for when it is time to fire off the big stuff. Learn the dangers and follow the rules. Warnings and Object Lessons

In your picture of the "British Hercules" little weight should be paid to the position of the "hand in the pocket." Illustrators of the time were notorious theives (pyrates?) swiping ideas right and left. The original image that the illustrator used is from some account of the Farnese Hercules: The statue dates from the fourth century B.C. Although the image is reversed, the pose, hair, beard and modeling of features is the same. That the artist called the illustration "British Hercules" denotes that he would have had to have seen the statue or some depiction of it and that the statue was famous enough at that time that others would make the connection. Note the hand hidden behind the figure. Another example of why illustrations from this period can be very misleading.

Thank you m'dear. Splendid job Hugh. What did you use for the trim?

Found this on the web while looking for something else... ...and I remembered an earlier post of yours. It can be found at: Military Antique Shop Thought you might find it interesting, skull and crossbones and all. The site has no information on the cross so take care in using the image if unsure of who you might be offending: It could well be some sort of military award for exterimanating a people. There are others on the site, all of them military awards of some sort. Disclaimer time: I also have no idea what it represents and have not posted the image in an attempt to offend anyone, posting it only for it's artistic and design merits.

I have a labrador. Kate is 14 now and still retrieving. She is my hunting companion and household guard dog. She is known to have driven one burglar out of a house we lived in in Ocala, as evidenced by the blood stains left by the intruder. She is a great dog in a world where the average dog is nicer than your average person (Andy Rooney). She is at the end of her life now (14 is way old for a Lab) and will leave behind a hole in our lives much larger than dog-sized. And when that time comes I will cry, but that is alright, for as long as grown men cry over dogs there is still hope left in this world. Then I will get a Labrador puppy, because there is no greater healer of a broken heart than having a puppy lick you face.

Thank'e Patrick. I'm sorry that I missed the parade, but I had a wench what needed feeding, an' ye do not want her to go hungry for long: she gets vicious.

Been there Patrick. Once had a summer job up in Mass. Rent was so high I had no money left over to eat on. So I went down to the docks and waited for sportsmen to come in with their catch, and offer to clean it for one side of a filet. Although it seemed like a low point in my life, I recently looked at the experience in a different way: I was good and fast with a knife, so I earned my side o' fish very quickly. Given the price of fresh seafood, I realize now that I have never made so much money on a per-hour basis before or since. Perspective.

That picture that I posted was pyrated from a website The Hong Kong Society of Wargamers and is not attributed on that web site.

That be what we pyrates are 'ere for. My hat can now be seen in my profile picture as well as the watercolor in my sig. Happy hatting.

Blackpowder as Chemistry, Cannonball trajectory as Phisics, Pillagin' as economics or business model, pyrate articles as government studies, pyrate slang as creative writing, cutlass work and boarding as physical education, the list goes on and on...

We had a good cast.

Captain Jim's PiP 2005 Pyratical Etchin's At long last, more etchin's from PiP, with even more o' yer favorite Pyrates. Enjoy. An' iffen ye know the name o' the unknown pyrates let me know.

I'm rather partial to Partagas Sabroso's meself.

If you havn't gone there yet, try this link. Lots of cannon links there. Greybeard cannon links page Following the links to Big Shots of Idaho will take you to this nice coehorn mortar: It's in the lower right corner of the picture.

fI wondered if anyone was going to see that plug bayonet...and I will go and find out who drew that picture.

Captain William sir, you can find what you want at G. Gedney Godwin. The price on the site is $89.95. They also carry slow match. Good gunning to ye.