Cascabel

Here ya go, Shipmates..... (see if this link works)

http://www.readyayeready.com/navy-life/boa...swains-call.htm[/url]

>>>>> Cascabel

50 guns and 1000 flints? 20 flints per gun. Seems like a lot.

Seems like a lot until you think about being a long way from home port, and possibly in a hostile area. No muzzle loading supply dealers at the nearest strip mall. Flints don't take up much space, and are durable in storage. The small arms would be quite useless if you ran out because of heavy useage or a high percentage of breakage, which can sometimes happen due to variations in quality.

>>>>> Cascabel

Iron Bess and Red Maria thanks so much for the nice compliments. I had a great time in Ojai with all me fine shipmates from the Pub. And thanks to New Providence for the use of their stage, and also Port Royal Privateers for their fine hospitality. Ace of Harbor Bay, I'm glad I finally crossed paths with ye. Great booth !!!!

>>>>> Cascabel

Right handers are pretty well protected by the flash being on the right side. A lefty using a right handed gun is in for an unpleasent experience. It can be VERY unpleasent if more than a normal amount of priming is used. I had a friend many years ago who was left handed, and successfully competed in target matches with a right handed gun. He used a minimal amount of priming, and kept his head as far back as possible when aiming.

>>>>> Cascabel

No one from Northern waters?

I used to live near there many years ago. Glad they are having an event....

>>>> Cascabel

I am currently at pos. 54° 09' 55.67" N, 10° 32' 55.87" E. Hope that helps.

AH HAAAARRRR, I found ye !!!!!

(I put your coordinates into the Google Earth search window). Looks like a lovely area.....

>>>>> Cascabel

I plan to be there this year......

>>>> Cascabel

Okey-Dokey......

An internet list, be it complete as it may, amounts to nothing if the Ctrl- F command to find anything is suppressed with an anti- copy Java applet that takes the intelligence of a 9- year old to bypass. And particularly not with such a long list.

My 2 Pieces of Eight.

Huh ????? What dat mean, Cap'n.....

Heads up, Shipmates.....

I just submitted the third and last part of my three part article on how to work with flintlocks to No Quarter Given. Very in-depth and useful info for taking the mystery out of getting reliable performance out of flintlocks.

With this info, you will never again think of flintlocks as un-reliable. The first two parts have already been published, and I suspect that the last part will be in the next issue.

>>>>> Cascabel

I think a lot of people who have been with it far longer than I would agree. It is not counter productive to voice one's opinion based on experience and history - I've been intimately involved with the event for five years now on the planning side, so I believe I am qualified to offer some perspective on the event.

I'll stand with ye on this, Shipmate. I wish the event well, and appreciate everyones hard work, but I always felt that the move to the fort was a huge mistake. The place is far too remote from the tourist areas, even though the atmosphere is great from a re-enactment perspective.

>>>> Cascabel

The very first thing I have to say on the subject is that "you get what you pay for".

But beyond that, more helpful information is that the earlier style of pistols mostly have thin walled, large caliber, (.50 or over) tapering smoothbore barrels, rather than the thick walled smaller caliber octagonal barrels. The earlier pistols are much more graceful in appearance because of it. Most of the earlier pistols also don't have sights on them either, and the locks tend to be a bit larger.

I don't want to be accused of being some kind of elitist, so I don't jump into a thread in such a way as to insult someones choices after they have spent their money, although I will always advise caution when there is a big difference in pricing. Usually there are some very good reasons that some guns cost more than others.

I will always answer specific questions if asked, but I hate to torpedo a guy that believes what he paid for is top quality.

I find that many times, folks buy something without really knowing the difference between mediocre quality and top grade stuff, simply because they have nothing to compare it to. Usually the difference only becomes apparent upon seeing the pieces side by side.

Better to save up the funds for something worth having. I have never seen a gun or kit for under $100 that I would consider buying.

>>>>> Cascabel

There are some really wonderful examples of fancy wigs in Roman Polanski's 'PIRATES', starring Walter Mathau. Several different styles, including the "horned" variety. All of them huge, and probably very expensive.

>>>>> Cascabel

Aye, the Queen Anne's Revenge is a true treasure and very much worth a visit. I was there a couple of years ago after an event.

By the way, it was great seeing you and yer crew again at Bald Head !!!

>>>> Cascabel

Master Studley, I am 1000% in agreement with you on this !!!!

>>>> Cascabel

Look at the size of those cuffs.

Yeah they're brilliant but not very conducive to getting out the front screen door... I'm always catching mine on the handle and jerking myself backward on the way out to events...

Aye, but back in those days, if you could afford to dress like that, you didn't have to open doors for yourself.....

I'll be there.....

>>>> Cascabel

My favourite example is cartridge pleating. It's all the rage in the 16th and 17th centuries. Then almost as soon as the turn of the 18th century (actually, it stopped in the last quarter of the 17thc), it disappears. And you don't see cartridge pleats again until the 19th century.

Kass....

I am REALLY curious. What exactly is "cartridge pleating" ? Can you show an example ?

>>>>> Cascabel

Arrrrr, me long legged lovely !!!! It were good to see ya....

>>>>> Cascabel

Great pics, Duncan and Jim-Sib !!!! A truly excellent event. Had a great time hanging out with all me good ship mates once again....

>>>>> Cascabel

Here’s something that just occurred to me: None of the testing done on blunderbuss patterns states that they are using period-correct shot, shot that is almost by definition odd-shaped. While perfectly round shot might not go astray while leaving the barrel, oddly shaped pellets might and probably would.

Also, the tests do not address the type or quality of wadding on top of the shot. Anything other than a flat felt pad is going to affect pattern.

Lastly, the wad on top of the shot and the wad behind would serve as a compressor, air resistance on the front wad working in concert with the gas pressure from the powder charge, collapsing the shot column before the gas can escape around the back wad. In other words, the front wad would start to decelerate as it hit the flare in the barrel while the back wad would still be accelerating, pushing the pellets outward and spreading the pattern out where the odd shape of the pellets would take over.

Just a thought.

Some interesting thoughts on the subject, Jim. Perhaps I need to do some patterning tests with different load variations. Keeping the powder charge and weight of shot load constant, but varying the wadding types and shot quality and type. Might be very enlightening...

>>>>>> Cascabel

any truth to the rumor that these were often loaded with broken glass, rocks, or old nails?

No truth to that rumor, except perhaps in cases of dire emergency.

That type of junk would damage the barrel, and can you imagine the result if a large piece of iron hardware such as a nail were to get jammed crosswise in the bore with the rest of the load trying to get past it ???

I can't recall where I read it, but I have heard of thick sheet lead being cut into projectiles with a hammer and chisel, which would create some rather nasty square pieces, but quite usable if regular buckshot was not available. I have not tried it yet, but it should work nicely if the pieces were kept about usual buckshot size.

My blunderbuss has a spread of 2+ feet at a distance of 50 feet with standard 00 buckshot. There were some fireing tests done back in the '50s with various different antique blunderbusses, and the shot spread eventually created a hollow pattern with few hits in the middle of the pattern as the distance increased.

The way to properly load one is to pour in your powder charge, followed by a thick wad to act as a piston to push out the shot load, (without a thick wad, much of the force of the powder would be lost passing between the individual pellets). Then another thinner wad is rammed down to hold it all in place. Not something that can be done in a hurry while you are being shot at !!!!

>>>>> Cascabel

Well it became obvious to me early on that this was a half a$$ attempt to immitate the Haratio Hornblower series. This wasa far cry from hornblower and obviously entirely fiction. Poor acting, crappy effects and really shitty editting.

but hey it's just my opinion.

Aye.... I nominate it for the second worst pirate movie ever made !!!!

>>>>> Cascabel

Maggie,

I tried replying to your email. It bounced. I bought an English Dragoon. I have fired it countless times. No problems whatsoever. My Gunsmith's shop is Deercreek in Marietta GA. I'd be surprised if they are on the web. It is the only place I trust with my guns... I have several expensive and collectible firearms.

Joey

Barbossa II

I also attempted to reply to you, Maggie. Let us know when you get your e-mail fixed, and I can help you out.

>>>>>> Cascabel

In an earlier post Cascabel said he had an article  in NQG concerning flintlocks. Does anyone know what issue it was in?

Those are the most recent NQG's and continuing to next month's issue. If you contact Jamaica Rose at NQG, you can back order the other issues of Cascabel's 3 part series. Just drop her an email.

Aye, only Part 1 has been published so far. The second part will be in the next issue, and I have not yet submitted the third part, but it will be ready in time for the issue after that. The first part deals with selection of your weapon, Part 2 deals with Theory of Operation and Making it Work, and the last part will be about care, cleaning and maintenance.

Lots of detailed info, I think you will like it......

>>>>> Cascabel