michaelsbagley

Nice Red Sea Trade! Thanks for sharing! I have a question about the horn cup. How do they handle with coffee or other boiled drinks? And since I am having a slow day, I'll just get it out of my system.... I'll start with the list for my Red Coat infantry portrayal. The uniform (shoes, stockings, garters, breeches, shirt, waistcoat and outer coat, cocked hat, and belt) On the belt shot box (with shot) hanger sword (or belt axe if I think it will fit the excursion better) bayonet and/or knife. leather costrel filled with water hanging from a strap Currently using a canvas haversack, but looking to replace it fire starting gear (striker, good size chunk of flint, and tin of char cloth) (although I might borrow Red Sea Trade's idea of keeping this in a small pouch) deck of playing cards and dice (to stave off boredom) some small diameter rope or heavy twine (usually a fist sized ball or spool) some coins (still need to get some better ones) usually my modern necessary stuff, like wallet and all that goes with it, and car keys etc. pipe and tobacco pouch (which is a modern plastic ziplock concealed in a wool pouch) a lighter as some times I don't have the patience for flint and steel (or I run out of char cloth) if I need to carry food, I will toss an apple(or a few) and/or some oranges or bananas in there as well In the snapsack extra socks extra shirt the coat or waistcoat if it gets too hot to wear both (I always try to leave one or the other on) any more food stuffs I think I might need tin cup and/or corn boiler Wooden spoon, and bowl knife (if not being worn on belt) In hand musket blanket (which I can and will tie to snapsack for travel) shelter canvas (carried as blanket, or perhaps rolled around blanket) Some ideas I have been toying with, that I haven't tried or figured out yet... a tampion to fit my musket, with a pin on the outside end of it, so as to use my musket as an upright for the shelter canvas as a single pole shelter (stored in haversack or snapsack when not in use). attaching loops to my cocked hat so I can carry my pipe there like I have seen Patrick Hand and others do (so I break fewer pipes in the haversack) Some means of doing portable coffee, and a good portable ceramic mug that won't likely break (yeah right) as hot coffee in tin mug = ouch I want to start carrying some strips of scrap fabric/rags, as they just seem to come in handy and be too useful to not have, maybe a small pouch to store said scraps in, and be kept in haversack or snapsack. That is all I can think of for this set up.

Oooops, double post.

I travel south to warmer climates (particularly Florida) for cold month events... And wear the same stuff I wear in the summer events up north. But on a less sarcastic note... ... I like Callenish's answer, although there are other good variants. I myself have been thinking of making use of a "Capote" (sometimes written "Capot" or other variants). Basically it is a hooded heavy wool justacorp/frock coat. I haven't researched how far they go back, but has seen plenty of evidence of their use by both French and English colonials in the later half of the GAoP (it seems to come up for Militia wear most often).

But I had such a good answer... Oh well, just exclude me anyways...

Okay, I hope I can make this clear... I also figured this may or may not be the best place for this, so if the mods think it might suit a different part of the pub, please don't hesitate to move it. Without getting bogged down in details (so try to keep it to lists, with perhaps brief explanations on some items), what would you bring (whether you currently own/have it or not) to make a complete portrayal on a "Trekking" style event. For those of you not familiar with historical trekking, basically it is re-enacting that is not done in public, you gather up everything you need and travel to a location (be it by boat, or by foot, or horse or whatever suits your portrayal best), and live as close to period as possible with what you have brought along for a short period of time (usually a weekend to a few days, but rarely longer than a week). Now understand, some allowances can be made for modern conveniences (medicines are obvious, lighters or matches for those who don't know period fire starting techniques would also be acceptable, any small things like that, that are reasonable). Your listed gear should all be portable by means that are appropriate (either all in packs for foot people, a reasonable sized chest and/or sea bag for boat people, or a few packs for the cavalry inclined). For those who wish to take it up a notch, and have a couple or a few containers (bags/pouches/chests), listing where you store particular items is a big plus. While some discussion of the merit of or exclusion of certain items would be beneficial, lets try not to get too bogged down with authenticity talk, or poo-poo other people's preferences... And I see no reason why the more pop-culturally inclined pirates or portrayals here on the pub shouldn't share their ideas and gear lists as well (in fact I think it would be cool to see a list for such a portrayal). I'll put my list(s) in a separate post to keep it separated from the guidelines.... And I might want to peek at a few responses before sharing my own. It might be best to for those who have multiple portrayals to put their lists one per post. I am really doing this because I am curious to see what people would do to create a whole portrayal, complete and done unto itself. And I think it is a neat idea for a discussion topic...

I got "Not quite up to the challenge" I think it is pretty close to true... While I do not shirk from hard work, I don't do well cooped up for extended periods of time... So I will have to leave myself to the category of a day-sailor, or at most a weekender... Which is just right for me!

Hey CJ, I checked and one or both parts of your questions were touched on in this discussion topic. I will let this sit for a day or two, if enough of independent discussion ensues, then I;ll leave it, otherwise I will merge this with the previous discussion thread. Now, as someone (GoF or was it Foxe?) pointed out, there is the below image.... It clearly shows what is likely a striped waistcoat (perhaps or perhaps not a slop contract waistcoat). and to me that waistcoat looks like it is depicted as natural linen with medium brown stripes. (see right hand most figure, and figure in the background to the right). As for the buttons... well that is something I still think we can only guess on, unless someone has some new insight since this was last discussed.

THINGS

I'm quite certain that Constance is talking about Antoine Watteau Link to Wikipedia article on him. He does some great work that reveals some interesting points on period French stuff (and some items that may be universal?). And I'm sorry I am not strong enough with his work to remember off hand which painting or image you are talking about to help find it... I hope the correct name (if it is him) helps direct you on the way though.

I'm just amazed at how much things have changed since I moved out of the motherland... There were no "Real" pirates in Canada when I left. What has happened there that has driven people to be desperate enough to "Real" piracy? Didn't the Somalians show the world just how foolish "real" piracy was in the modern world?

Hey are you calling Silas a freeloader? Plum wine! I'll drink what you don't bake with! I'll try and remember to bring you some of my cherry wine to sample (drink or cook with at your leisure), but my memory I have learned is terribly bad during packing as I have learned this summer, and every time I have told someone I would bring something to an event, that seems to be the one or two things I forget... Speaking of plums, Nick sent me an email last night saying that his plum tree is just about ready to harvest... I think he is looking for some help with making a batch of plum wine. Maybe there might be enough that I can get a small batch out of it too for next year?

Callenish, as always you make a great point. The India made guns are perfect for allowing those who are not infinitely wealthy (which is most of us) into the hobby much more quickly... And you are also the source of my greatest joy when it comes to the India made guns... The pistol I got from you was one of the "good ones" as it has needed no fussing, no adjusting, and despite it being used very often, I have had to change the flint only once in the 6 months I have been using it. Some day I will be able to afford the custom hand crafted musket of my dreams, but until then, the India made guns are more than great enough to make me happy, specially the "lucky" ones with no quirks! And there are more than enough helpful people here (and on other forums I am on) to help me work through the quirks to get my less than ideal pieces to a much better place.

Thanks for the suggestions Cascabel... I think I will have a closer look at the notches in the tumbler, but the pull feels smooth, just too stiff, so far (without a closer look) I would think it is more the sear spring than the notches... But we will see. I'm starting to see the truth behind what is becoming an adage on some of the muzzle loading forums I am on... The quote tends to run something along the lines of the India Guns not being good guns out of the box, but not bad as "kits" that need plenty of adjusting and fine tuning.

I almost forgot about this thread... Well, I haven't had much opportunity to use the doglock musket over the last few months (one event I was on a small boat and hence had to rely on my pistol, the other shooting pretty much got rained out, etc.)... But at the Lockhouse a week or two back, I did get to use the musket a lot..... And since the re-hardenning of the frizzen it is behaving wonderfully! I still think I might need to stone the sear spring down (trigger pull is a bit heavy, and it is chipping out flints quicker than my other flinters). Mister McNamara, sorry I didn't respond to your post sooner... But I will try and contact you privately about your request.

Happy Birthday Callenish! Well you already got your gift from the wife and I (a wee bit early), but the drop dead gorgeous accessory your wonderful lady got you to go with our gift, is sitting here in the corner.... Cheers!

You and whomever it is you're traveling with would be more than welcome to stay with us. We have a guest room. I am uncertain as of now how many people will be staying with us, but there is plenty of floor space to spread out on, and we have at least one guest bed and an air mattress (or more accessible to us). So As long as you do not require 5 star accommodations, consider yourself accommodated.

Well I had planned on attending two out of the three listed anyways... At this early point I wasn't sure if I would be attending those events as an individual, or with the Scioto Pirates.... But if the Mercury Crewe is at either the Lockhouse or the Captain Kidd festival, and it doesn't conflict with something I am doing with the Scioto Pirate, I will happily join on with the Mercury Crew for the event.

I have read in one of the many home brewing books that I have that the legal limit to how much home brew one can make in the course of a year before taxation is... And it is more than any sane home brewer could theoretically make and drink. I think the number of gallons it takes to break that mark pretty much puts you in the category of commercial brewer. If I recall correctly the number is listed in the Charlie Papazian book "The Complete Joy of Home Brewing", if I can remember through my NyQuil induced haze, I will try and look it up and post the number tonight... Actually scratch that, we'll take the Wikipedia article's word on it this time (although I tend to treat Wikipedia info with some suspicion in many cases)... According to Wikipedia, a household can brew up to 100 gallons per year per adult over the age of 21 living there. So an average household with a married couple could brew up to 200 gallons per year without breaking the law. It could be even more if you have that adult child living with you that just won't get their own darn place to live already and stop free-loading... Despite the fact that the Papazian books lists how much you can legally brew, it doesn't go into the span where it was illegal and why. So that was a really cool tidbit you added there Jill! I also think it would be a difficult law to enforce, are they going to track the amount of alcohol in your urine content in the septic systems leaving every house in the country? Although if you started selling it or buying the ingredients in huge quantities, it might raise some red flags somewhere....

Well, there goes my leanred thing for the day... And I am barely awake! Home brewing illegal? Wow, who would have ever thought (well save perhaps prohibition). Or is that one of the laws introduced during prohibition that was not removed until a long time after as an oversight?

I got to meet Joe and about a dozen of the Sea Rats at St. Mary's city, and they are awesome guys. Real class acts. Generous to a fault and a whole lot of fun as well. 'm looking forward to the next chance I have to hang out with those guys.

That is one awesome looking coat Jack! That is something any re-enactor of this period would and should be proud to wear!

Parcel received! Thanks again as always!

I got my set from Nathan, since you are going to be at Paynetown, you could save yourself shipping and pick some up there from him (if he has any left). Even if they cost a buck or two more than what you find on eBay, you'll still save money as the average prive of shipping anything on eBay is about $5 or $6.

Hey Jack, Keep in mind that the slop contracts specify "black buttons" on a few different items... While unfortunately what exactly "black buttons" are is never clarified (as far as I know), the possibility that black buttons were some form of thread buttons, like dorset buttons is just as good as any of the other theories as to what they are. In fact at first my favourite theory was that "black buttons" were likely fabric or fabric covered buttons, lately I have been leaning more towards the theory of one of the thread styled buttons is what they were. And P.S. the buttons looks awesome, way better than the pewter ones, not that the pewter looked bad, the dorsets just look that much more awesome.