Rats

What a waste.... If those guns were kept up????? Actually my idea was to have the audience on the ramparts, along with as many defenders as possible (Remember the redcoat discussion Captain??)....Then as the casualties start growing, the casualties are actually changing into their raider's gear. Then when the signal is given...(the attackers on land are beaten back and the defenders hoot and hollar. Which will make the crowd applaud, thinking it's all over... Gues again!!) A door swings open, a large volley suddenly goes off, and the galvanized attackers can make a fight on the wall with boomers then blades until.... what ever!

I hate when you tell folks about the PUB, only to notice some preteen is posting cheap porn on the PUB..... Now if it was expensive..... OK just kidding! I'm all for a lynching the little freaks!!

Hmmmmm? Maybe we should even up the sides this year???

A canoe on the ramparts??? Is there a catapult for slinging livestock at the attackers?? Run away! Run away!! Actually the reason I'm asking, is if there were defenders on the ramparts to fire back at the attackers, it would give the public a ring-side seat of the entire assault. This would also give any medical staff an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and also the ladies an opportunity to help with the wounded... ??

Aaaah! I see say's the blind man... As the wheels begin to turn Are there defenders on the ramparts aside from the cannon???

Exactly!! It would be easier for staging the seige if held on that side... Maybe someday?? So where is the public on the ramparts during the seige on the fort??

What is on this side of the fort's battlements???

I'll probably go with the hemp this winter for another project. I'm going to be working on a hammock and maybe the simple trousers for GP and simplicity. Actually I need to make a dufflebag like my old GI one for PIP!! Sorry for the brief Hijacking!!

Hey! I mark that resemble!!!! Now where was I??? FUN FUN FUN FUN One of the most wonderful things about Rats is I'm the only one....... IIIIIIIII'm....the only one! Maybe I'll start me own ship..... The Angry Weasel?! It'll probably be more of a raft made out of empty keggers, with sail that look more like a wash woman's laundry-line... But a ship just the same!!!

I thought you guys don't give tickets to pretty girls! You know, I believe you're right..... Here's your ticket, your court date is Thursday!

Welldone!!! I'll be trying some slops... or maybe some breeches in linen... Just because I have two or three in Canvas already and the linen looks so much better and I'm sure wears lighter

I seem to remember all the ant hills in Washington and how they would practically carry you off....Or was that the mosquitos??? Maybe I'll just work on a hammock-ala-maddog style for sleeping off the ground? So basically it's "travel light and freeze at night" kinda stuff... No problem! A couple shirts, a couple pairs of slops, some stockings and extra drawers and yer set!! Not a problem!!

Half asleep......Did I ask about the need for a bugbar or skeeedo-net??

Just wondering as to the typical weather... Are we talking slops and shirt and still sweat yer arse off??? Or is a longcoat or even short jacket overkill???

Agreed on the sportsman guide!! That's where I got mine!! Here is a pair of links for you! Blanket link1 Blanket link2

Women and guns and swords! Oh my!! Throw in a few nicely packet corsets and a hogshead o' rum..... By God I love being a pirate!! This really is great to have folks working this out!!! I love the forward progress! I have also been talking with Lt. March about safety pikes and such. I believe our DD was checking into some possible molding techniques at one time or another???? DD? I would also like to add, this whole conersation is an excellent reason for folks to go to PIP. If nothing else, so we can come to an accord for future events and get the hands on!! For the roster... Rats: Shooting experience...Dying experience (It's true! I die really good, so the good guys can get all the credit! Damn good guys!) Blade work while getting whooped by Maddog. I would also be more than willing to go against newer fighters and try to keep folks safe. I would also like to mention... As seen in Un-Civil or as others call it "Silly WAR" reenactments, we should have folks ocassionally fall, take wounds and especially Take cover and react when shot at!!! There is nothing worse than to see twenty people on each side calmly shoot at each other, and no one fall down..??! I once died in eight different areas of a battlefield, after changing hats, jackets, being bandaged and bloodied (So I looked like a different trooper). Just because no one was dying and thought they were invincible!! Just thought I would add to the confusion!! Cheers!

Very sharp!! I actually came across some of my 1st attempts.... maybe I'll post them for laughs later.... But you on the other hand, have really done a very nice job!! As for the jacket.. my new short coat and long coat are both from an old military blanket... or two! Take a break and have fun enjoying your outfit!! See??? It feels good, dosn't it!!! Here's to you! Well done!

MD........ Yer a diamond my friend! LaughMyBleedinArseoff!!!! Michael I really like the look of that second version with the saber blade!!! You say it holds up to SCA fighting??? Perhaps for staged combat???? I'm also looking into recieving demo pieces from Knights Edge in Chicago. To see how they might fair against SF blades and such. Oi Freeboot!! Don't every worry about extras mate!!! There are always easy altrnatives for practice! We have a pair of youngsters who go blazes fast with a pair of hickory sticks (i believe). A good cudgel (free) or hatchet ($35 tops) will also work just fine. Plus we should have "some" spare practice pieces.... Who knows.. with the way my hand is going, you might be able to use my blade!! Now remember there are also daggers out there for a lesser price!!!! ($60-70) and a good stage ready dagger with a pistol for a cudgel would be just fine to mix it up with!!

That's actually the kind of situation I'm talking about... I'd hate to wear one (Something around my neck, just to get in the way or broken) and not be able to use it for a call or..... three?

Munch Munch Yum! Munch! munch.......??? What's everyone looking at?? Cuz IIIIIIIIIIIII'm the only one!!! Here's to you all and above all, glad to bring a smile!!

Like with knots and such... As the bosun of your crew, which calls would you suggest are a must to learn??? Thanks again!

Hey Michael!! No pics on the lonk you posted. Just the main intro page???? Agreed with the voided warranty

Very nice shell guard!!!! As Patrick has mentioned there is generally an agreed upon series of 8 strikes. There is also a shorter series which we used, (I went back to the main series) at Pike River. The big thing seems to be distance and control! If the proper distance is kept and the proper target is offred by your partner, all you're doing is hitting each other blades and "selling" the attack. That's where the pre-practice comes in!!! Also if you find yourself suddenly facing someone different or unexpectidly, the crowd is usually so far away, you can usually coach each other. Someone has to give in!!! MD mentioned about a young "new" pirate recruit at the Lockhouse event, who suddenly found himself facing the one and only Mad Dog under the Gallows..... The young man ran up heroicly (and then sheepishly whispered...), "I've never done reenacting with a sword before...." to which Mad Dog smiled at him and said, "Then you die first!" as he parried the blade and calmly lowered the flat of his own blade across the young fella's back.. Problem solved!! I have what is possibly one of the prototypes from starfire. Could it be smoothed out and rounded more?? Sure!!! Nothing a couple of minutes with a file wouldn't fix!!! I'll take a pic or two when I get my blade back with the guard added!! I would also like to mention in no way am I saying folks have to run out an get one sword or another to play!!! This is just what we are starting to lean toward since we have some already... That's where the partnering up comes in!! Michael I would love to see more of that sword of yours and the blades you have with it!!! I especially like the changeable options!!! What kind of price though????

Where are you Mad Dog????!!!! I was hoping he would chime in and take this over in the manner he always does!!! Here is a simple bout of advice I got when we started talking steel.... This is simple the basis for safety guidelines "our" crew is working toward.... Do don't no one start moaning!! As we all know Armor Class offers an excellent hanger, only they are about six months out for waiting list!!! Here's the advice I got, in the way MD can only tell it.... With humor!!! ok.....Swords...... in my opinion there are only two types of swords: hangers (look pretty/authentic/showy) bangers(rough/battle ready/safe for live action) problem is...hard toi find a HANGER you can fight with...or a BANGER to show off/authentic!?!? "Our crew's" RULE NUMBER ONE: NO HANGERS ALLOWED TO FIGHT WITH....PERIOD...OBVIOUS FOR SAFTEY REASONS....perfectly ok for show and tell...balls...around camp...authenticity reasons etc...i like them to....just NO BANGING THEM!!!!! so the question now is...where can we find good bangers??? starfire makes the best BANGER swords...lifetime guarentee the works...good for daggers (should be 12" at least for banging) light swords (LS 24" , 27" or 32") could work for small swords with a different quillion...but the rapier (i have one) are now $500....i bought mine for $350...not sure how period correct...but perfect for BANGERS.... http://www.starfireswords.com/web-pages/pr...l_orderform.php possible alternative for rapiers....Stage Steel...again genaric swords....boast battle ready fight groups approved...never seen one up close...not sure...but like the price! ok.....these types of swords are a generic style....very plain...very strong....but generic. what rats is lookin for is a small 21-24 inch blade...easily concealed...possible broken /cut down from a longer piece....lookin at starfire available left only two options.....short ridged with quillion...or short roman without quillion.... the "blade" here is whats important....to modify a sword with a quillion to look more the part....we first take off the quillion....then add our modification....a cup.or else....to give it the proper look..... or start with a blade without a quillion....then add a cup or else..for the proper look.... if ya take away the names here...theres less confusion...rats is not saying that he wants to use a roman sword for a pirate....he wants to use that length of blade for his persona of a pirate.... from now on this sword will be named ..."bob" "bob" is a nice sized sword for one that would use it this way....with modifications to be more pc...albiet from a distance...it would make a nice banger pirate "bob"..... what we are talkin about here is spending hard erned money.....a lot of money....i would love to have an original...(do have an original cival war sword)....or the perfect replica(i do in cival war)...but i do not dare stage a fight using them the way we can with stage blades.... we have gone thro many versions of blades in the past with actual sword groups...lookin for the perfect blaedds that marryies style with function...sorry...still lookin after 20 years......some are more function...others are more pc.... been to alot of battles where no live blades are allowed...wooden ones only with plastic cups....yikes...but they can not trust real blades in the field.... so......i forgot where i was goin with this..... in summary......until we find the "perfecrt blades" that we can afford.....we are stuck with HANGERS vs BANGERS.....we will most likely need both....one to show...one to use.....kinda like havin a toy still in original package.... have i made any sense at all?.........go ahead rats...by a "BOB".....then modify it....and wish us all well on our juorney for the perfect blades... Now after this discussion I contacted Zak from Starfire and he agreed to make a cutlass blade and he now even offers it on his site!! I recieved this blade in less than a week!!!!! The bottom line is this... I was able to get a simple 25inch blade with a small quillion, which will stand up to anything!!!! I plan to have our LT March customize it and have a simple guard put onto it.... So it will not look like anyone elses!!! A very simple workig blade!!! My Webpage Now if folks are interested.... We have been offered a group discount.... Who knows, our LT "might" even be willing to customize for a fee???? My goal with this was to try to get a simple workhorse which will last longer than one skirmish.... She's a tank and has stood up to MD's chopper and also my handaxe (Angry wife incident...) Hope this helps

Oh man, that's great to hear!!! I just met the guy and would hate to hear he was side-lined! But talk about badluck for an event!!! 1st the attempted theft by the indigenous natives!!! Then a storm that lasted forty days and forty nights?? Ok maybe not that long!!! But then to end up with a pair of spareribs??????!!!! Lucky there wasn't any lightning that night!!!