Cascabel

I think what bothers me most is people not wearing their riding boots properly. They are not supposed to be flopping around near the ground. If you refer to period illustrations, they are folded down to the foot, and then about half is folded back up to form the open "bucket" top. This bothers me more than the fact that they are wearing boots. I dunno...... just a pet peeve of mine !!!

>>>>> Cascabel

Hmmmmmm.....

Kinda makes me wonder if that's how the Mercury crew got it's name !!!

"Oh.... you're spitting up nasty looking black stuff..... You must be part of the MERCURY crew !!!" ;)

And all this time I thought it had to do with the name of the ship....... ;)

>>>>> Cascabel

I think the real issue here is the venue. The public expects to be entertained at festival type events, and arrives with that mindset. At museums and historic sites, you get a different attitude, and they want to learn.

It's good to be able to do either education or entertainment, depending on the audience. I like to combine the two whenever possible to appeal to the greatest number of people. I can spend extra time on the ones that want to learn more as needed on a one to one basis.

>>>>> Cascabel

I added my tuppence.....

One stop shopping.

The ATF offers all state firearms laws on their webpage dedicated as such.

Just find FL on the right side of the page, click on it and read the laws yourself.

http://www.atf.gov/p...tion/index.html

Great info, Thanks !!

Oh Lordy !!! Stynky's moving the furniture around again...... Just when we got used to using the gallery the way it was.

Okay, I'm having trouble uploading too.

Anybody had luck uploading or not uploading?

As for totally scrambled, there are definitely bugs.

It seems to be loosing it's place while you navigate. It then bumps you out of whatever nested Album Gallery you're looking in and reloads the entire gallery - forcing you to start over.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it !!!! .......Or if it ain't broke, fix it until it is ???? ;)

................Okay, now that the gallery is totally scrambled, have you got any tips on how to navigate it ???? Does not seem to be very user friendly

>>>> Cascabel

I had one years ago that I called "Wildebeeste", as in "will da beast start ?", "will da beast stop ?", etc.

>>>>> Cascabel

As I understand it, these things were actually intended as horsemen's weapons. The idea being that they were larger and more powerful than ordinary pistols, and able to be used one-handed. One hand being required to control the horse, and the weapon being steadied by bracing it against the thigh.

One-handed use on horseback makes a lot more sense than any other explanation for the design. Steadying the aim, rather than than absorbing recoil being the point. Bracing against the leg while standing would be a bit awkward in my opinion, and not really necessary to absorb recoil if both hands were free to control the weapon.

>>>>> Cascabel

Ok.... but what i meant was, would it be practical to get a holster, and strap it to your thigh. Would you be able to Draw it? Would it be difficult to pull it it out? They're basically blunderbusses, but a little shorter than some of the ones I've seen for sale. That's what got me wondering.

It would be quite possible, but in my opinion, not very practical. They are fairly heavy and kinda "clunky". The barrels are only about a foot or so long. I guess to some people, there would be a certain "wow factor", but it's not something I would do myself. If I was to carry one of these, I would prefer to carry it attached to a strap so as to hang by my side like the old 1920's gangsters carried their sawed-off shotguns under their coats.

I think carrying a couple of them in leg holsters is sorta like having a half-dozen or so full sized dragoon pistols hanging on you. Kinda clownish looking to me, but to each his own......

>>>>> Cascabel

As I understand it, these things were actually intended as horsemen's weapons. The idea being that they were larger and more powerful than ordinary pistols, and able to be used one-handed. One hand being required to control the horse, and the weapon being steadied by bracing it against the thigh.

One-handed use on horseback makes a lot more sense than any other explanation for the design. Steadying the aim, rather than than absorbing recoil being the point. Bracing against the leg while standing would be a bit awkward in my opinion, and not really necessary to absorb recoil if both hands were free to control the weapon.

>>>>> Cascabel

To try and alleviate confusion, I've moved everything from the Public discussion here.

I figure anything people want to talk to us about will get voiced on Facebook.

Hmmmmmm....... Ya know, Shipmate, there ARE those of us that don't use Facebook. I'm sure I'm not the only one !!

Matt, posted the following in an open thread which I am reposting here so we can either discuss or at least answer his questions:

There will 100% be an offical Order of leviathon meeting at Fells but the Order needs to decide on some things ahead of time.

A)Are you electing anyone new?

B)If so how many?

C)Do the new people get rings?

D)If so do the pay for them or does the Order want to try and fund it some how?

E)The Order working with Pirates Magazine needs to decide a Pirate of the year. (DOES NOT have to be in the Order)

F)Any other awards you want to give out to members or none members of the order

G)M.C. of the event or would you members of the Order like to do it as a Council type of thing.

I am sure there are more Q's to answer but get chatting about these.

A)Are you electing anyone new?

I think we should elect at least two or three new members this year and every year... if we wait too long,say another two years as was suggested, the whole Order will look more like a one shot deal and possibly a failure. We need to act, and act quickly this year.

B)If so how many?

2-3

C)Do the new people get rings?

Due to the cost of the rings and no one currently able to sponsor new ones, I suggest the rings remain a special possession of the original "Devil's Dozen". It would be nice to be able to give away more of these special rings, but personally speaking, even when the economy was good, I couldn't afford even one, let alone give multiples away. So perhaps we should come up with something more cost effective to be given to the next members...? Perhaps a period style coin with the logo stamped on the reverse? Thoughts??

D)If so do they pay for them or does the Order want to try and fund it some how?

It would be odd for the new members to have to pay for the item themselves...although someone suggested perhaps having the crews that nominate their members donate to the cause. Unless we can find vendors that might be willing to donate items? Sorry fund raising is not my strong point. Thoughts?

E)The Order working with Pirates Magazine needs to decide a Pirate of the year. (DOES NOT have to be in the Order)

This is our job?

F)Any other awards you want to give out to members or none members of the order

At one point there was talk of free advertising space in the mag... is this still available?

G)M.C. of the event or would you members of the Order like to do it as a Council type of thing.

Still need to figure out exactly what the event at Fells Point will be this year...maybe we should quietly sit down and actually get some business done?

My thoughts on this (so far)....

I think there should be 2-3 new members selected each year. It will keep up interest in the Order, and be something to aspire to.

I would like to see rings awarded to new members. I think it somehow cheapens the honor to not have rings. However, I have absolutely NO idea how to fund the rings. If rings are awarded, I think they should differ in some way from the original "Charter Member's" rings. If rings are not possible, then perhaps some kind of distinctive pendant would be feasible.

I think because of the significance of the honor, anything awarded should be noticeably different from ordinary jewelry, and definitely NOT made of cheesy pewter !!! Silver is not all that expensive.

Perhaps we can get the events themselves to sponsor the awards by promoting the award ceremony as an important and public part of the event. I would like to see the Order of Leviathan awards rotated around to different events, so that different locations get a chance to host the awards, and appreciate the value of having Leviathan members at their events.

The only way the Order can become a "BIG DEAL" is if we, ourselves cause it to happen.

>>>>> Cascabel

Ahoy Cascabel;

I've been running a project thru me loaf fer making a blank firing blunderbus outa an old flintlock. In Florida a barrel under 13 1/2 in is a no no. Do you know if such restrictive laws apply to this?

Pistol Pete

I don't know Florida law at all. An educated guess is that muzzle loading weapons are exempt from the rules governing short barreled smoothbores and rifles. You will really need to dig into the laws and interpretations of them in Florida. Quite often laws are worded rather poorly and unfortunately are open to interpretation by judges based on their biases. Many places specifically exempt muzzle loading weapons entirely from those types of restrictions, or perhaps worse, don't mention them at all, which can cause problems.

Smooth bore flintlock pistols are quite commonly sold everywhere, so that may make it O.K. It is all dependent on how the laws are written. It's possible in some instances to be prosecuted for making the equivalent of a sawed-off shotgun, but not likely.

Do some digging, or get your favorite lawyer to check for you. DO NOT rely on asking a police officer. However well-intentioned they may be, they really can't be expected to be experts on all the applicable laws.

Let us know what you find out......

Well done, sez I !!!!

My thoughts are with you, and I wish you the best. I'm here if you need a fellow biker to unload on......

>>>> Cascabel

my settings are set to receive a notification of pms but I am not actually receiving any via my email....?? thanks for any help

;) Good Lord, Cap'n....... I certainly HOPE you don't get PMS !!!!!! :o If you do, it's the rest of us that need notification.......

A well made Miquelet lock is every bit as reliable as a "standard" flintlock. The advantage to them is that with most of the works on the outside, there is a lot less wood removed from the stock in order to mount them, making for a stronger stock. If a stock gets broken, it usually breaks through the lock area, as a lot of strength is lost when inletting for tumbler, bridle, and especially the mainspring. Very nearly half of the wood is cut away in the lock area to clear these parts on a standard flintlock. The disadvantages to a Miquelet is the moving parts being on the outside, they are exposed to impact damage and being jammed by dirt and debris.

>>>>> Cascabel

I also want to add Moll Flanders (1996), but I'm speaking of the GOOD one starring Alex Kingston in the title role as presented on PBS, rather than the theatrical version starring Robin Wright.

>>>>> Cascabel

I hope you have not bought this thing. There is far more not "right" about it than good. As vintage sailor states, it is a put together piece from mismatched parts from different guns, and really not very well done.

The stock is very obviously newer than the rest of the parts, and the workmanship is rather poor. The parts are definitely not matching in either style or quality. For instance, if you look at the lock, the cock has obvious engraving, but the lockplate does not. That is an immediate red flag. I would also like to get a look at the inside of the lock. For a gun of this period, there should be some kind of carved molding around the lock area, and the oposite side, even on an inexpensive piece. The barrel bears Spanish proofmarks, and is rather nice, and the buttcap is a quality piece, but the trigger guard and sideplate are much poorer quality in both style and workmanship. It has all the earmarks of a cobbled together piece from either North Africa, or the Middle East. Probably has some age to it, but not a couple of hundred years.

>>>>> Cascabel

Another of my favorites is The Duelists, with Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel. Set in the Naploeonic wars, and very well done. Great story !!!

>>>>> Cascabel

In fact Mad Magazine did a satire on it called Bore-y Lyndon.

I so wanted to say "Bore-y Lyndon" after I saw Cascabel's response because that is exactly what it made me think of, but it seemed inappropriate. I should really see that movie instead of just relying on the satire to inform me.

:D It may be a bit boring by today's standards, with not a whole lot of explosions, car chases, etc., but great costuming, a good story line, and some well researched period battle sequences, along with most scenes filmed using natural light.

>>>>> Cascabel

That particular one in the picture is one of the non-firing die cast replicas by Denix. I would love to see a functional reproduction available. I always thought the miquelet locks were exotic looking. I plan to keep an eye open for the results of Vintagesailor's efforts. He produces some interesting pieces.....

>>>>> Cascabel

Barry Lyndon.....

Feel free to move it, from my research the "stock" employed is used to be braced against the knee. Many appear to be post GAoP employing many different kinds of lock although almost all are a blunderbuss barrel which is very short. Is it fair to assume they may of taken older locks and fabricated barrels and stocks for their application? If not where did the barrels come from?

The barrels of the ones I have examined always looked to be locally made, even if the locks were salvage items. The locks often were also locally made, but not usually of the same quality as European locks. If you look at the example you posted with the fancy carved stock carefully, you will notice that the cock is not even of sufficient reach for the flint to contact the frizzen !! Compare it to the other examples. If that was the original cock, it could not ever have fired.

Many of the firearms from the region are very crudely made, but some are also of excellent quality. Some fancy weapons from the Mediterranean area, including even ornate daggers that were not even sharpened were apparently intended to be "gentlemanly jewelry" to look good with some of the elaborate outfits worn by the rich. I have seen a lot of crudely made blades with very fancy handles and scabbards intended to be worn just "for show".

Many of these short blunderbuss type barrels had a bore that tapered for the full length, which would render them very inefficient as firearms, as the pressure of the charge would push past the shot as the bore increased in size, greatly reducing the power. A properly made blunderbuss barrel is straight bored for most of it's length, and then flares toward the muzzle. A lot of the Mediterranean type blunderbusses also have quite an exaggerated amount of flare to the barrels, which is typical of the region.

Be aware also of the REALLY crude pieces that were produced in the last hundred years or so strictly for the tourist trade. A lot of inexperienced collectors get cheated out of their money on these things !!

>>>> Cascabel