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capnwilliam

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Posts posted by capnwilliam

    Where be the Cannon???

    in Armory

    Posted

    I knew we had some cannoneers on here after all! :P

    Wormer's my favorite position, when I'm not being gun captain. My crew's 1815 era, though. We don't understand all this CW "No. 2" stuff! :P

    Jim

    Well, I'm sure every group is slightly different and some probably don't use the numbers. If memory serves me correctly, I'll go down the list (just for fun)

    1. Looking down the barrel, stands on the right side of the gun at barrel's end.

    Before Fire: Ramming the charge with ram end of the wet sponge.

    After Fire: Wet sponge for sloppy awesomesauce. (extinguish embers and quick clean)

    2. Looking down the barrel, stands on the left side of the gun at barrel's end.

    Before Fire: Loading the charge (Ding Dong) after a hand delivery from the powder monkey. Yes powder monkey was indeed the correct term. To my knowledge, never given a number, but if I had to.. I would say #5 man who just stands by the ammo cart all day… boooooring (perfect job for the noobies).

    After Fire: Worm (cleaning out the Ding Dong wrapper) and dry sponge to clean out the sloppy awesomesauce.

    3. Looking down the barrel, stands on the left side of the gun's rear.

    Before Fire: Priming wire. This is the guy with the long brass pin with a ring at the end. Slams this down the wire to puncture the charge and open up the ding dong (delicious).

    After Fire: Vent pick to clean out any crap that could cause a fowling or misfire. Usually helps #4 insert and hold the primer. (Only until #4 has the lanyard snug, otherwise the primer wants to pop out while #4 walks back to firing postion).

    4. Looking down the barrel, stands on the right side of the gun's rear

    Before Fire: Hooks the lanyard to the primer. Yaaaaa, that's about it.

    After Fire: Stands there until Before Fire: Lazy buggers!

    5/Powder Monkey: Stands by the ammo crate and runs powder

    Before Fire: RUN MONKEY RUN!

    After Fire: RUN MONKEY RUN!

    6/7/8: No reenactors needed but in Civil War they would prime the actual ammunition. Many rounds would have punch holes which had numbers on them. This is to open the round to allow fire in and ignite a fuse. The charge would then explode (say at 200 yards) instead of relying on a direct hit. Pretty nifty.

    Gun Sergeant: At gun's rear but slap in the middle. These guys also generally make fun of us (in good sport) and act as a bridge between officers and peons (I mean privates/corporals). They also crack wise at the officers, bringing us peons great joy.

    Before Fire: Aims and elevates the gun barrel.

    After Fire: Looking pretty with those 3+ stripes. Also, making fun of us and cracking wise.

    Tips:

    When #4 and using the lanyard, place the handle between your knee and hip on your leg. Instead of yanking the lanyard, keep your feet in the same place but turn left. Sometimes we'll yank the lanyard but loosen the tension and sometimes the lanyard hook will bounce out of the primmer hoop. Embarrassing.

    Everyone should use gloves at all time. Welder gloves are perfect, except for #4 where deerskin help with the delicate nature of the job.

    Why so much Brass everywhere? It doesn't make sparks unlike steel or iron, hence a much safer experience. You don't want that priming wire setting off a charge, now would

    you?

    Perks of artillery.

    When you get that sloppy powder/water mix on your clothes, it turns GREEN! Bringing character to your gear. Also, used primers pinned to your hat also give you more character.

    Yaaaar I love to write long posts and I hope you mates like reading them =)

    Everyone, feel free to message me or post with questions. A trip down memory lane =)

    Our group (1815) has a Wormer, Spongerammer, Ventpick, Lintstock, Powder Monkey, and Gun Captain.

    Gun Captain (rear of cannon) gives orders throughout, and pretends to sight the cannon.

    Powder Monkey (rear of cannon) takes up the charge, and assists GC at pretending . :P

    Sponge rammer (near muzzle, on right) wet-sponges before and after firing, and rams down charge.

    Wormer (near muzzle, on left) worms before and after firing, and inserts charge.

    Ventpick (near breech, on right) checks to make sure vent passage is clear, before and after firing, and punctures charge and inserts primer).

    Lintstock (near breech, on left) ignites charge with burning cord held in lintstock.

    And NOW, by Thunder: I need to go and get ready for cannon practice. :P

    Jim

    Well then, show yer weapons...

    in Armory

    Posted

    Not the best picture of the hilt but if'n you look close you can see this be a sea dragon hilt with the cross guard being the beasts out streached neck. The pommel is it's claw that holds a lovely sea-blue Labrodorite spear.

    It was made org as a Schlager-style but can be rapier or smaller cutlass as well. The grip is custom fit to my grip.

    FAST and nasty! B)

    SeaDragonHilt.jpg

    And here also be too old ones of mine...

    Mortuary1.jpg

    and...

    BarbossaSword1.jpg

    I'll get some pictures taken of my custom work from Lunndgaard Armoury and pist those as well.

    The swods are beautiful, too! B)

    Jim

    Well then, show yer weapons...

    in Armory

    Posted

    Not the best picture of the hilt but if'n you look close you can see this be a sea dragon hilt with the cross guard being the beasts out streached neck. The pommel is it's claw that holds a lovely sea-blue Labrodorite spear.

    It was made org as a Schlager-style but can be rapier or smaller cutlass as well. The grip is custom fit to my grip.

    FAST and nasty! B)

    SeaDragonHilt.jpg

    And here also be too old ones of mine...

    Mortuary1.jpg

    and...

    BarbossaSword1.jpg

    I'll get some pictures taken of my custom work from Lunndgaard Armoury and pist those as well.

    Reallly beautiful, Bess! Except that the damn sword gets in the way on the first pic! B)

    I must admit that I looked at it for while before realizing that the sword's what I supposed to be looking at! B)

    Jim

    Where be the Cannon???

    in Armory

    Posted

    I've been on many a gun crew, and worked every gun position... I can't say I favour any one over the other...

    Here's some images...

    P7220367.jpg

    1750s french field piece, with a very motley gun crew.

    P7220361.jpg

    Firing said piece. (this was a multi time period event, notice the ACW crew in the background)

    P8160013a.jpg

    Firing one of Master Hawkyns guns at a past Pennsic.

    P8150004.jpg

    More Pennsic guns.

    Firing a medley of cannon from various eras all at once: my idea of heaven! ;)

    Jim

    Where be the Cannon???

    in Armory

    Posted

    One of the neatest cannon experiences I have had is the privelege of firing an original 7 inch Brooke rifled cannon at the Confederate Naval Museum in Columbus, Ga. It uses 5 pounds of powder per shot as a blank load. Normal live load was about 15 pounds, variable according to projectile weight. Quite an earth shaker !!!

    >>>> Cascabel

    WOW! We normally fire a six pounder with about an 8 ounce blank load, but a couple of weeks ago we fired an 18 pounder with 2 pounds of powder. I was worming, and the concussion literally blew my hat off my head!

    Five pounds? Love to try it! FIFTEEN pounds + projectile? Don't even want to think about it! ;)

    Jim

    Where be the Cannon???

    in Armory

    Posted

    We shot this Cannon last week end at Ojai.. Fun it is to wield such a powerful gun..

    I'm just learning about them myself.

    IMG_1937.jpg

    Beats muskets and pistols by a nautical mile, Odorless! ;)

    I'm going to start posting some serious ship's gun stuff. My cannon crew is getting back in practice, and this will be a good thing for all of us. ;)

    Jim

    Where be the Cannon???

    in Armory

    Posted

    well technically....once the cannon is on board the ship...its now called a gun....and vice versa.....but im bein picky.....

    BRING OUT THE GUNS!!!! ;)

    Point well taken. Madodgge. I was just trying to be certain that they realized that it WAS the big guns I was referring to.

    Jim

    Battle of New Orleans this weekend!

    in January

    Posted

    If'n the weather wasn;t so nasty today, I;d be out helping set-up...but precictions are for clear weather for the event, Friday and Saturday.

    Come out to the Chalmette Battlefield and see Jean Laffite's Baratarian cannoneers send those Brits packin'! :ph34r:

    Capt. William

    Turkey -- any suggestions?

    in Ports O'Call

    Posted

    Capn William? Yes on the hookahs. But if I just came back from Egypt and Jordan without purchasing a hookah, I doubt I'll pick one up in Turkey. And, yes, all these Middle East countries have vast quantities of daggers.

    Though I no longer smoke at all - anything - :o - I'd be tempted to buy a hookah just as a novelty item. And I know that I couldn't resist the daggers! :o

    What's the Middle East country where all men routinely carry a dagger at all times? Not as a weapon but a status symbol. :o

    Capt. William

    What are you reading right now ?

    in Beyond Pyracy

    Posted

    Great quote, Ransom!

    I'm reading a compilation of H.P. Lovecraft stories. Read almost all of them before, but HPL is always fun to re-read, every so many years.

    My favorites are The Dunwich Horror, the Call of Cthulhu (very nautical, that one), At The Mountains of Madness, and The Shadow out of Time. :rolleyes:

    Capt. William

    Turkey -- any suggestions?

    in Ports O'Call

    Posted

    Yes - Istanbul.

    Thanks for the heads up on the antiquities law -- I am already well aware of it. I'll pick up my antiques in the good old U.S. of A., thank you very much.

    I don't smoke, but I will look for the pipes (good call!)... maybe to use as barter for something better after I get back?

    Do they smoke the hookah in Turkey? That would be a good novelty item. :ph34r:

    What about daggers? Or am I in the wrong country for those? :rolleyes:

    Capt. William

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