Captain Midnight

Count me in!

For me? The bald eagle.

Heck yeah, me too! I think it would be great!

I agree, that is indeed an outstanding portrait, Captain Jim. And after seeing William's artwork, I know he can do an outstanding job with a painted portrait. William is an extremely talented artist!

Well, according to some accounts I've read, Blackbeard stood 6'-4" tall, so I'd say that counts as a pretty big torso...LOL! Of course I am also that exact same height, but I don't feel that I'm huge or anything... Nice work on those holsters!

Ahoy Quartermaster James! The box will accomodate up to a 2-3/4" belt. William, yours is next in line, I am already finished with Captain Sterling's. After William's I have to do one for Gentleman of Fortune, and then I am open to do orders for whomever orders next.

A. 0 B. 1 C. Historic D. Escapism

I don't know for sure about the long frock coats, but I do know some sailors' short jackets were made from hemp canvas during the period. I think Kass would be the lady who could offer the best advice on the subject, if you're interested in doing it in the most authentic manner.

This is interesting stuff to me! Stede Bonnet, however unsuccessful a pirate he was, is still one of my favorites.

Harbor Master, Do you still have photos of the beautiful chest that you made? It's one of the nicest I've ever seen. I would love to have a pattern of that one so I could make one, if you ever had one.

I have several: Eucalyptus, red cedar, roses, rosemary, honeysuckle on a warm summer day...

You are the best Blackjohn... Every time I look at you, I think Damn I have a ton of work to do in order to catch up! You both are role models for what I wish to strive for...I think your impressions are outstanding!

I love both. I drink hot coffee in the mornings to wake up, and iced Earl Grey tea the rest of the time.

Lady Alyx, Have you tried The Bud K Catalog? Hope this might help you a bit.

Don't know how historically accurate it is, but you can tell it is definitely based on historical styling. I think it is quite plausible, and is very handsome.

1. Chicken and dumplings 2. A crow 3. Mark 4. Sheila

Happy Birthday, Bunny! I hope you have a wonderful one!

Sure, Patrick, we could do that if you wanted to. I would be happy to help someone else learn to make a blade. As for making a cutlass from a modern machete...sure, I think it could be done. But you would need to cut or grind down the grip to make a suitably shaped tang, and add a bone, antler, or wood grip, coupled with a guard similar to either Patrick's or mine, or some other historical shape. I believe Master March of the Archangel crew has made some extremely nice cutlasses from scrap steel. They are very much like the cutlass from DeadMen TellNoTales.com You could make the guard like Patrick describes and add it to your machete, and come up with something pretty neat, as well as functional.

Yeah Patrick, I know what you mean! Actually, despite its "different" look, the Montero cap was quite commonly worn during the mid 1600's to early 1700's, as is attested by period illustrations. But the biggest thing about the cap for me is its comfort...it's FAR more comfortable to wear than a tricorn, and is what I most often wear when I'm doing some serious "hunting", if you catch my meaning... :) After all, the Montero I believe, originated as a hunter's cap...

Well, it ain't very good, but it's a start. Here I am, in me infamous Montero cap...

Patrick, I cut the grooves in the guard as well as the fuller in the blade with a dremel tool with a heavy duty cutting wheel. The blade itself was also cut out with the same tool, from a scrap piece of industrial saw blade. I work in a sawmill, so when the big blades break, they just cut them into pieces with a torch and chuck them in the garbage. I just chose a piece about three feet long for my cutlass. Cutting it out with a dremel tool doesn't put any heat on the metal which would remove the sawblade's temper, so it will still hold and keep a razor's edge. You DO have to have a steady hand to cut the lines straight, though.

How about just making your own from scratch? That's what I did with this one:

I'm reading the Deerslayer by James Fenimore Cooper. I just finished The Last of the Mohicans a couple of weeks ago. I had read back when I was a kid, but I like it so much and it has been so long, it was like reading a new book. Cooper was an excellent author.

Yep, I agree, Jenny. If I could build one like this, she'd definitely be the one! :)

I'd like to find plans for an authentic longboat. I'm in the planning stages of building a boat, and would love to find plans for something like this: This one has obviously seen its better days, but she's still a beauty none the less. :)