capnwilliam

KIND related to this topic; does anyone know when percussion ignition started to become commercially available? If I recall correctly, the percussion cap was invented by a Scotsman named Forsyth, around 1805 - 1807, but when did they start to move into the marketplace? Capt. William

Ach, too bad: you'll be here the week we'll be gone to Florida! Beluche, will ye be around? Well, there's Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop. a wonderful old bar (and NOT hokey, just an old cavernous, candlelighted bar that never closes. They don't really make any attempt to be piratical, but hey, it was Lafitte's, nest-ce pas?), on Bourbon street. There's the Chalmette Battlefield; site of the Battle of New Orleans, just outside the city. Don't think anything is going on that week; they did have a militia drill (1815 era) last weekend. You might search for "Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial" on the internet: this year's the big year! Related to that there are special programs at the New Orleans Museum of Art, and other places. The standard tourist sites (Cabildo, Presbytere, cemeteries) are great sources of early 19th century history. While New Orleans is a major port, it's not a pretty or touristy one; lots of river barges, and merchant vessels coming upriver from the sea but no sailing vessels for fun excursions. Are you interested in Anne Rice? I can tell you much there, but contact me off-line if you're interested; I don't want to clog the list if others aren't. Capt. William

Good ideas, Mad Dog. But, I'd still strongly recommend proper eye protection, such as a 3-weapons fencing mask. I almost learned the hard way when I was learning rapier. An experiences rapier fighter wanted to demonstrate a technique on me. When I started to put on my mask, he said, "Oh, don't worry! You won't need that: I'm just going to hit you in the chest!" He lunged; and caught me 1/2 inch below my right eye. Fortunately, no damage was sone; but it scared the hell out of me, and that was a good thing! Capt. William

Well, to blazes with 'em! Capt. William

Dorian, Sounds like you've really been bitten by the reenactors' bug! Capt. William

Sounds like a fine crew you have, Capt. Scarlett! As you're in the SCA (as I am also), are you on the SCA-Nautical list? Capt. William Patron, Loyal Guild of St. Erasmus, Kingdom of Meridies Catain, the Seadogge Shiphold (1580's merchant vessel)

Well Beluche, good to see yer post! I'll be signin' yer Artickles, ye may be sure! There ought to be a lot of piratical interest here in the New Orleans area, with Lafitte and all bein' a part of our illustrious history. I'm already involved with the SCA, where my persona (or one of them) is a 1580's nautical type, albeit not a pyrate. I'd like to outfit meself fer two other eras; the 1720's (Blackbeard's era), and c. 1815 (Lafitte's). I'll be gettin' back to you shortly. Anyone else in the area interested? Capt. William

I'm goint to start practicing sabre fencing at the gym where I take epee lessons. I'm not interested in sabre competition but want to get the feel of cut-style fighting. Of course, Olympic fencing blades are so light that they don't well-simulate a real cutlass; but at least this way I'll be able to get the feel of the moves, without having to buy any additional protective gear (I already have the glove, jacket, cups, and 3-weapon mask. Capt. William

You're correct, Cascabel: without the tourists these events won't happen. We should still try to teach as much historical authenticity as we can, though. Capt. William

Aye, more's the pity, Morick! (Bad unintentional pun!) I don't think that Brother Teach did much sailin' around Dallas, but it's a shame that anyone let that come betwen them and a good time! Well, maybe we can both make it next year to the one in NC, or VA. (?) Capt. William

Any mates live in the St. Augustine, FL area, or spent much time there? Janet and I are taking a vacation there later this month; no particular itinerary. We're interested in any tips you might have about anything piratical or nautical in the area. Capt. William

Where are ye home-ported, Shellback? Capt. William

I'm not sure, for safety reasons, that I'd want to try me luck with homemade cannon and all that, unless I was both an experienced BP shooter and an experienced machinist, Jocko. Capt. William :)

Many good ideas are being put forth here, shipmates. Yes, I'm having me doubts that any metal or wooden or rattan weapons (that would include singlestick, SCA heavy, the Chinese broadswords someone mentioned as having the ideal heft, as well as ANY sort of steel or aluminum blades) are practical to use with a 3-weapon fencing mask. OK, real life cutlass fighting was all-out and included kicking and grappling and all that: but I'm not interested in getting all that authentic, just in learning to simulate something of what our brethren of old would have experienced. I'm thinking that probably a dry (non-electric) Olympic sabre is the way to go, UNLESS you're willing to wear a real helmet, along with all the other accoutrements such as hockey gloves, and thickly padded, or metal, body armour. Any blokes out there done any sabre fencing? I've done some foil and epee. Capt. William

Capt. Flint, What little I know about singlestick is that it is a sabre style of fighting with straight broom-like wooden swords that was popular in the 19th century (Sherlock Holmes was described as an accomplished singlestick player). It has been superseded in the 20th century by Olympic style fencing with light metal blades. Capt. William

Aye, Maria, for 63,000 doubloons for th' chest, rare's th' rogue who'd have any booty left to put in it! Capt. William

Is anyone planning to hit either or both of the Blackbeard Festivals (NC, or VA)? I won't be able to make either of them, but would be interested in hearing from anyone who's going this year, or anyone who went in recent years, so I'll know whether it's worth it to go next year! Capt. William

First Mate Jan and I went to Contraband Days on Friday night. It was a lot of fun, but made no attempt at authenticity! The opening gimmick is that the Mayor of the town has been a scoundrel and made the people work too hard, so Jean Lafitte and his Baratarians (anyone with a MOTOR boat who wants to participate) circles the beach while the town militia (wearing sort-of uniforms that actually date to about 1770) tries to drive them off firing 1/3 and 1/2 scale cannon and a few pistols at them. At the appointed time, the boats land, Lafitte and his Pirate Queen come ashore, the Mayor is put on kangaroo court trial, convicted, and made to walk the plank into the drink. The town flag is hauled down and replaced with the Jolly Roger, and Lafitte declares that fun shall reigh until such time as he can be booted out of town. The people are indeed very friendly, and the Buccaneers (yes, that's out of period, but that's what they call themselves) invited us to party with them afterward, which we did. The people were a lot of fun! As far as wenches; well, I'm 51 and married, but what a bevy of beauties there were at the event (I can still look!) All in all, it was lots of fun; but don't approach it as a "living history" event! It's a faire, not a historical reenactment. Capt. William

Yes, I agree; we're getting afield from our sword-purchasing topic; let's take this sword-fighting discussion back to "Boarders Away", and resume it there. Capt. William

Capt. Flint; My swordfighting has been restricted to Olympic epee, and SCA rapier. What are light Ren and heavy Ren styles like? Also, have you any experience with singlestick, or with any style of cutlass fighting? Capt. William

We just got back from Contraband Days; a silly event, but fun! They had 5 cannon there; none of them full-scale. But they sure did cut loose with the noise, flames, smoke, and burning wadding!

I'm trying to get some sword mates interested in practicing cutlass-style fighting. Not sure whether we should work with dry fencing sabres, or singlesticks. Anyone have any experience with singlestick? I'm especiually interested in knowing what sort of protective equipment you used. Capt. William

Mad Dog, this topic is right up me alley! (I read the first volume of "Boarders Away", by the by). Yes, I'm interested in all aspects of pirate gunnery, musketry, swordfighting, etc., from Elizabethan times to Jean Lafitte! Some ideas for conversation starters: - Pirates rarely sank vessels (why destroy your prize?) unless they were attacked by a stronger adversary. - The way to sink a vessel is to hit it at the waterline: belay that shooting at rigging! - Shooting at rigging, anti-personnel gunnery, firing over the bow, etc., are the tactics to be used when you want to capture the other ship. - Thrusting beats slashing in a swordfight, as a general rule, but not in the narrow confines of shipboard battles. - A good cutlass is a better weapon than a singleshot fiream at close quarters. - Pirates tended to avoide fighting if they could; it's all a business, and it's not business-like to damage the merchandise, or to get yourself hurt or killed in the process of acquiring it. Thoughts, comments, criticisms, observations, on my ideas? :) Capt. William

We have a few pieces of nautical pr piratical art, just decorative stuff; we are not really collectors but just have some for wall decorations. Have one of Blackbeard in his final battle, another of the Baratoarians, and a few drawings of medieval ships that we still have to hang. Also have a couple of Confederate Navy pieces, and a copy of sailing ships in battle, a naval cannon, and one of US Marines in action in the 19th century. Capt. William

Loyalist is sounding like the best choice, Capt. Cat. Does anyone on this list have any personal experience using one of their cutlasses? Capt. William