michaelsbagley

Based mostly on what I know, and a little bit of experience with folks doing period dying at events.... Linen is notoriously difficult to dye using period techniques. My reddish-brown neckerchief dyed using modern techniques still bleeds colour after four or five years hard use (red and black are the worst colours for bleeding in my experience). So while I wouldn't rule out black linen for flags, I would rate it as unlikely, or at best a rare exception item. That all said, I bought black linen a year or two ago for the purpose of making a flag (one of those projects that has found it's way into a permanent cycle of procrastination).

Again, every time the "governing body" thing comes up, I cringe. And not for the cited reasons... But for the un-cited one. I am all for standards. I am all against whatever arbitrary method that puts some potential self-important jackass as head of an standards organization that quickly devolves into a petty clique. I have seen so many small orgs start and explode (with an average of a 2-3 life cycle, maybe up to 5 years before the final death throws). The sad things is, small orgs are almost ALWAYS (in my experience) ruled with an (uneven) iron hand. There is a size point where orgs live long enough to grow big enough to have enough checks and balances to get to the size where th petty nonsense (mostly) goes away. Unfortunately, I can count on one hand the number of orgs that have survived that gorwth to grow into what they should be. I might need to use two hands to count if I count old long established orgs that pre-date me. So again, I repeat, devise a standard, and I will agree to follow and adhere to it. But ask me to trust someone to "govern" said body.... well a lot of years hard experience have expolicitly shown me the foolishness of that. Edit and addendum - I am not hinting or insinuationg that anyone here is, or will be a "potential self-important jackass", but in the past, every time I have been biting in the backside by such a person, they had started as someone I thought I could trust.

Frizzens on two muskets re-hardenned and locks tuned (and two frizzens for a friend who can't make it, since I was at it), vehicle packed with all gear, clothes about to be packed, I think I am actually ready early this year! We're leaving Wednesday night now (originally we thought to leave early Thursday), so we should be rolling in late afternoon or early evening at the latest. Can't wait to see eveyone again! What's best about the above, one of the muskets mentioned above, I have owned for two or three years now, and has never sparked well... And it is now sparking brilliantly! ..... with a dull flint even!

Just a "bump" to remind folks we're still collecting donations... we've a few already, and a few more that have been pledged (but not received yet). Please try and get those over ASAP do I don't have to scramble at the last moment. Thanks!

DROID auto-correct strikes again.... I am fairly certain Mark means one pounder.... and I should have plenty of room for it.

I can't find the image right now, but I wil post it later when I do finally come across it. But there are images of some French voyageurs from the 1690s(?) with them wearing what is called a Tapaboard (sp?) hat (which to me looks exactly like a Montero). With luck, searching under the French name may find you some more additional references. Scratch all that... I remembered an article that was previously published in a magazine, but also posted on the web page of the author. The article has plenty of references to Tapabord hats, from the 1650s through the 1740s. Below is the link to the article, lots of really good well researched historical information there. The article ends with a sketchie set of instructions on how to make one. http://frenchinwisconsin.yolasite.com/resources/v13n6_walters_fix.pdf Hope this helps. Ejoy!

I've seen a few garrison lists from the early 1700s where Matchlocks are listed, but the listing made it seem as if they were "last resort" type stores. In my research, I have found requisitions from the colonies dated to the 1660s where officers (or what-not) are begging to have thier outdated matchlocks replaced by newer firelocks. The more I see the subject come up, with additional references added, the more I beleive it was a long slow transition between matchlock and flintlock.... But the bulk of the transition seems to have gone down between the 1650s and 1680s, with some holdouts that lasted an extra couple of decades.

I've made both leather only, and leather covered wood scabbards... And to be honest, I found while it is a bit more work, the leather covered wood was easier (to me). Short version is, wrap the leather around the blade (wetting the leather can help if it is thicker), then stitch the seam. Doing the seam in the center blade is nicer looking than a seam on the edge of the blade, also less likely to get frayed or split. And voila. Some nice touches you can do to make it better looking (and perhaps more functional) is to make the scabber a couple of inches longer than it needs to be and fold the top few inches back over itself. It kind of acts like a leather throat/chape to the scabbard. Skiving down the leather seam can give it a more professional and smoother look as well. I am a huge fan of melting wax into the leather, as it helps stiffen the leather if done correctly. (Although some will say this can make the scabbard more brittle and more likely to break). There's a lot of different ways to do this, it can be a fun (and frustrating) project, so good luck with it. Definitely post pics if you can. Love to hear how it works out for you.

Hey Capt. J, where did you find the gun case. Expensive or not, I might need one eventually.

Thanks for all the beerthday wishes guys!

Basic details found at the usual place... The Event Web Page Or you can follow the discussions on the Facebook page (Private Group, please contact either me or Mark G to be added). We are also soliciting any donations for the Auction. The auction will start the week before the event and end Sunday evening of the event weekend (on eBay). Please ensure your donations are sent and received to me By March 1st at the latest if you want your donation to be included in this year's auction. As there were a few items brought to the ship last year, we have a head start on this years auction. Hope to see many of you there! If there are any questions please don't hestitate to post here or contact either myself or Mark G.

I think it had been oft stated that pockets were uncommon (as in the minority), and often messages like that are perceived/taken to mean "don't do it at all" rather than the intended "avoid using it to prevent making the uncommon seem commonplace". That happens a lot with re-enactor favs that have evidence of existing, but as an uncommon item.

So it was pointed out to me that the official dates are posted on the Island's tourism web site... And the dates are the weekend of June 23-24. The Festival web site is mentioned/linked in a post in the middle of the first page of this topic. I would repost it, but the mobile device makes that difficult, so it will have to wait until I am at home... or if someone else beats me to it. Okay I had time... it was on page 2 and not page 1 as I thought, and as of the date of this post, the web site has not been updated for 2012... but the link is... http://www.pyratefest.co/ Enjoy

8 X 8 wedge.

I know both Blackbeards (VA) and Port Washington (Wi) and Fort De Chartres (MO) are three or four weeks earlier... But I can not think of a single conflicting pirate event for this weekend. There are likely some Rev-War, F&IW, and possibly some War of 1812 events going on the same weekend... And likely some Renn-Faires running at the same time... But I don't know of any pirate re-enactor focussed events running that same weekend in the Mid-West. Regardless, this will likely be the fourth years this festival will occupy that weekend, and since the event has grown steadily every year since it's inception, I don't see the dates changing. One thing that was told to me by members of the chamber of commerce last year was the pirate event out-did the 4th of July weekend last year. And since the 4th of July is... WAS the islands biggest money maker, I think there is a lot of vested interest in not chaging the dates. That said, the official web site hasn't been updated yet, and I haven't begun talks with the event organizer yet, so I don't have official info on the dates, but I would wager it will very likely be the June 30/July 1 weekend. Considering both years the grand prize for a trip for two to the Cayman Islands was the prize for the costume contest, re-enactors won (and most of the top contenders were also re-enactors).... This is not an event you'll want to miss lightly. But now that it has come up.... Anyone have any suggestions for me to take to the organizer for this year? I'd say while not official, it is likely I will be the coordinator for the re-enactors again this year.

I will confess up front that I am a little late in sending my gift out. I hope my recipient will forgive the delay. It will be going out this weekend for delivery by mid next week (still in time for Orthodox Christmas or 12th night). I'm not sure if I received my gift or not... I received a rather beautiful and suspicious mug that came from Key West... but I still can't figure out if that is one of the typical pranks that arise from the Fort Taylor festival, orb a rather generous present.

If you have a Tandy store locally many of them sell rabbit furs cheap ($3-$4 a pelt if I recall correctly)

One of my favourite quotes from the weekend was from Mr. Edward O'Keefe (Keith).... "I will gut you like a fish.... And enjoy it."

No, not a seam groover. Sorry, I responded to the post from my mobile device and couldn't view the image. That to me looks more like edge binding. Probably in kid skin or some other thin light leather. It is possible the edge binding may be fabric, but a very light leather makes the most sense in my mind. The other details are likely painted on, but like I said in my last post, leather tooling goes at least back to the dark ages (and likely further), but I have not seen many examples of leather tooling in the GAoP. That's a bueatiful piece to replicate. I believe Patrick Hand made one (or one similar) some years ago, but he made his very plain and simple and left out any adornment.

The decorative line is done with a "seam groover". I am a big fan of using that technique on a lot of the belts and other strap work I make. Tooling leather goes back a long way in history, and while I haven't looked for samples (because I don't do leather tooling), I haven't seen any examples for tooled leather in the GAoP (maybe it wasn't fashionable during the period?). For fabric covered baldrics, there are a lot of images. Most seem to be dated to the 1680s and 1690s if I recall correctly, but I am fairly certain there are later and earlier examples as well.

I've never seen evidence of ties being used on any shirts in the historic clothing books I have, I was suggesting it more as a means of salvaging the shirt.

The most ideal solution would be to have the collar pulled off and a larger one put on. Of course that may not be possible if you don't have enough fabric left over... Cuff links might work if you can sew a buttonhole, and the existing buttonhole is large enough to accommodate cuff links. (And if you won't find the metal to rough on your throat). Ties could work, but I am not very fond if that option as I find ties can slip a lot and cause the shirt neck to either fall open or constrict more.

Okay, I have one last question. Cooking. I have small portable cookware I can pack to bring, but will there be a cookfire? I haven't been since things moved inside the fort, so I haven't paid attention to how this is being handled. As long as there is a fire, or someone with a brazier willing to share with me, I should be good. (And I imagine this should be the case). I will likely be dining on the town at least one night (if not two) and with the pig roast Sunday my main concern is breakfasts and lunches.... and most importantly morning coffee (I will be bringing some of the Widow Black's coffee and a small coffee pot with me). Other than that I should ne pulling up to Fort Zach at around 3:00 to 4:00 PM Friday afternoon. If anyone needs a ride from Ft. Lauderdale to Key West (or anywhere in between) friday afternoon shoot me a message and I will help you out.

I'd say the justacorps is more 1660 to 1680 (maybe 1690s), and while the term "frock" seems to be applied to coats after that time until the end of the 18th century, what a "frock" looks like seems to change every few decades. But remember, these terms are generally used more as modern classifications (while they may be used in period as well). Try not to get hung up in the term, and focus more on what a "coat" looks like in the decade you are aiming for. I have heard the term "justacorps" applied to French coats up to and including the French and Indian Wars (7 Years War late 1750s-early 1760s). The number of buttons seems to be a fashion thing. It varies by country and decade. However, if you really want a generalization (and I don't advise this), plentiful buttons seem to be a more early thing than late thing. Also note the position of the pockets seem to vary by decade and country of origin. As for how long a garment is acceptable in re-enactor terms.... That is a very subjective question. Personally I try to avoid wearing anything more than a decade or two out of time for the 17th and 18th century time frames. I might stretch an item as much as 30 years if I am really pressed to make an event of a specific time-frame and don't have the time to make something better. But That would be a rare thing for me indeed. Personally, I would avoid going to an event rather than wearing an item 50 years or more out of time for it. But I can be a bit more strict on myself than most are.

To broad of a question to answer effectively. Some yes, some no. Most did have buttons and buttonholes to close them with, the fashion would have been to wear them more open in warmer weather. Functional ones (not the fancy ones in museums) would have been buttoned up more often than not. Some yes, some no Not likely. The inside pocket is a more modern thing Great Coat is generally a term for a heavy coat that is warn OVER a just-a-corps. Frock coat is what later period coats were generally referred to as (or basically what the Just-A-Corps evolved into). The name is French, I haven't studied enough period writings to know what else it was called (regional names, etc). But please keep in mind, classification is a more modern thing, in period it was more likely referred to as a "coat". The garment first started to show up in Western Europe in the 1660s. It is thought to have evolved from the eastern "zupon" (sp?), basically the long Slavic coats worn in the earlier 17th century. It basically evolved into the Frock coat. As an aside, you obviously want a great deal of information regarding this style of coat, you'll find you are likely to get better answers if you space your questions out. It would take an essay length response to fully answer all the questions in your post to the depth you seem to want to know. Few folks want to write an essay on a forum like this.