Captain Midnight

Ahoy Silent, Have you tried Loyalist Arms? That's where I got my pistol, an English doglock dragoon ca. 1640-1699. They are nice folks, located in Nova Scotia, Canada. Loyalist Arms & Repairs

Thanks for that info, John. Would you be willing to share the pic with me? I am a cordwainer, and if the pic was detailed enough, I could reconstruct it. I have also reconstructed the Whydah cartridge pouch, which is what I use for my pistol cartridges, so the the holster would top the whole kit off and be a most welcome addition. Thanks again for your help!

Other than being shoved through a belt or sash, how would a sailor from the GAoP have carried his pistol if he had one? Has anyone ever seen a holster from this period in detail? I have one of Loyalist Arms' English doglock pistols. I had mine fitted by the company with a belt hook, but wondered about a leather holster for it. Man, it is a huge, .64 caliber monster! The ball would damn near cut a man in half if shot with it! A most excellent addition to my arsenal... Anyway, if anyone knows where I might find details such as photos, drawings, or even better-a pattern, for a leather holster that is appropriate for the time period, could you please help me out! Thanks so much!

A beautiful heart. If the heart isn't right, the rest isn't worth my time...

Leather jacks were used from the Middle Ages all the way up to the early 20th century in some places, particularly England. They were light, unbreakable, and easy to manufacture.

Of course I'm no expert, but if ye're looking for a historically accurate hat, I'd buy a wool or fur felt one, and steer clear of the leather ones. As far as I know, there is no evidence of tricornes being made of leather in period. Sure, they look good, but are not historically correct. I could be wrong , though, and if proven so, please accept me apologies... :angry:

Loyalist Arms also has a very nice boarding axe. I like the handle. Pretty reasonably priced, too. Again, I do not know the actual time period of this piece. Blackjohn, perhaps you could help us out? The boarding axe is item "C" in the photo. Loyalist Arms

I agree with ye, Deadeye, I likes the American boarding axe as well, although I too, have no clue what the purpose of the "teeth" is, nor even if the axe is historically accurate. But it is a nice weapon, indeed. I'd buy it if I knew for sure that it was historically accurate... :angry:

Well on mine, I made a block drilled with holes to receive the cartridges, like a standard Revolutionary War "belly box", but this will be removed when I figure out a way to craft the correct wooden inserts. I suspect they just formed a lining which conformed to the shape of the pouch, with the cartridges lying stacked inside, similar to firewood. Since it was clearly rectangular-shaped with a rounded top, without the wooden inserts, it would be easily crushed out of shape, so I wouldn't want to go without something inside to hold the shape.

Thank ye, Scupper, me matey! That would be a great help indeed! Yes, I too have made a replica of it based on the archaelogical drawings of it, but the drawings depict the wooden "stiffeners" on the inside of the pouch in the condition they were when found, not how they would have been assembled when new inside the pouch, so it is very hard to understand how they would have been fitted into the inside. I have seen only one photo of the pouch inside the museum, and it wasn't really clear enough to make out any details. I look forward to any help you may provide, and my thanks to you again!

I have finished my first replica (I am building three of them), and it turned out very nicely. I started to make photos of it this morning to post here, but the batteries in my digital camera were dead. Just as soon as I can replace them I'll make the photos and post them for you all to see. I had to use a 2-1/2" wooden ball, the store was out of 3" when I went back, but it is roughly the size of (maybe a shade smaller) a U.S. baseball grenade. I textured the surface to simulate cast iron, and hand carved a wooden "fuse plug" based on one of the grenades from the Whydah. Stay tuned, more to come...

There were leather "blackjacks" as well...

Mates, I have tried to find 3-1/2" wooden balls for my grenade replicas, but that seems to be a non-standard size, and I have had no luck finding any. I can get 3" or 4" wooden balls, however. Which size would be better? Were grenade sizes standard in the GAoP? :angry:

That's an excellent idea, Kass. I'd love to learn authentic period stitches! :angry:

Definitely count me in, too!

Ahoy Harbor Master, That chest is absolutely beautiful! Would you happen to have a pattern for that one? I have been looking to make my own of this style, but have yet to find a pattern for a chest like this. It's gorgeous!

This is great information, thanks guys! I think the chest recovered from the wreck is interesting, but I can't really make out any of its details from the small pics, and the videos wouldn't play on my computer. Is it a plain rectangular box? So the slant-sided chests are too late for our period? That's a shame, I really like that design, and I love the marlinespike handles on them!

How much for an iron swivel gun, Royaliste? I actually like them better than the bronze ones...

I'd be extremely interested in seeing that information, Blackjohn, thanks so much. I look forward to your post.

Yep, he does indeed do excellent work! I have never seen such magnificent knotwork...I wish I knew how to do that. And the chests are awesome!

Ahoy Mr. Cripps! Thanks for that bit of information, that is what I was really driving at. I didn't know the history of the sea chest, so I didn't know if marlinespike's were appropriate or not. As for being dandified, though, I don't think the later ones were...as a matter of fact, most of them shown on marlinespike's web site are pretty utilitarian looking, even if they are from a later period.

I would think that out of the head gears you mention, the simple, un-shaped bonnet would be the more likely choice for a Scottish sailor (assuming he chose to wear a head gear native to his own country). The stocking hat or Monmouth cap would be a good choice as well.

Thanks, Foxe! I wonder what type of chest the two figures to the far right are carrying on their shoulders? They resemble the chests at marlinespike.com moreso than the two chests in the center of the engraving, which appear to be just plain boxes. I'd like to build something a little bit fancier than just a plain wooden box. I intend to paint the inside of the lid of mine as well with some nautical scene.

Ahoy me mateys! What did a sea chest for the GAoP look like? Did they look like the ones seen at Marlinespike.com? I'm looking to build one of me own, but I'd like one that is appropriate to our time period. Thanks for your help!

Does anyone know of a cutting pattern on-line for early 18th century men's buckle shoes? I'm going to make my own pair, but wondered if a pattern might be available before I draft one from scratch. I'm planning to make them from scratch, rather than modify modern shoes.