michaelsbagley

Awww Silkie, don't feel so bad for me... My luck took a turn for the better right after writing that last post... I called a friend to see if she could loan me a metal bladed shovel so I wouldn't have to wait or buy one... And while I was waiting for her to come over, I went back outside and tried rocking the vehicle out again... By "rocking" the vehicle, I mean forward then reverse repeatedly in an attempt to build enough momentum to get over the snow bank.... Well after about 15 minutes of that, I finally managed to get out... And then drove into work in time to get at least a half days worth of hours in.

I forget if we were supposed to be in a retreat or going around the fort to sneak in when we got blasted... All I know was we were told to be ready to be blasted as rounded that side of the fort.

Bo, I sent you a PM, but my computer did something weird as I hit "Send" so I am not sure if it went through or not.... Please let me know. As a note, there are only the 2 black ones left, 2 black ones and the natural one are now claimed (well one of the black ones has just been pulled for the "Dead Man's Chest: Santa Maria Edition" . Also, they can come as is, or if you would like holes punched for straps or cord, please let me know and I will do it at no additional cost (strap or cord not included).

I wish I had have been able to see that... But I was laying face down with a handful of the other red coats about 50 yards or so in front of the barrel of that canon.

Well Winter's last rampage directed at me (yes it is personal, winter is out to get me, everyone else is just collateral damage)... I got plowed into my parking spot in my apartment complex last night, of course the temperature dropped like an egg off a grade school roof, and that already dense heavy snow that the snow plow so loving piled three feet deep behind my minivan froze into a solid block of ice... Another day of work lost to the weather... And a possible expensive tow if I can eventually dig my way out. I broke the only shovel I own (it was plastic) and I now have no means of getting to a store to buy a metal shovel.... The Catch 22s in this situation keep piling deeper.

The two books Kate has are also modern (one has a publishing date of 2005, I can't find the other, but I think it is 80s or 90s), but the larger one that was published has a decent section on history of the art, and it staunchly places Stumpwork to the early to mid 17th century (for the start of the art). Everything else we have looked at seems to indicate that it was the height of fashion for what we would call the Buccaneer era, but was starting to lose ground during the GAoP (but still being used all the same). The pictures contained within the book may be reproductions (they look too new to be vintage), or they may be modern stuff trying to look "old fashioned", but from what I can tell, this art form would be perfect for early English Civil War through to mid to late Buccaneer periods. That's the best I can figure with my very limited resources and going mostly from what Kate has told me from her reading.

Okay, I've been sitting on these for months, I sold two a few weeks ago that got me to thinking that I should clear the rest out (of course this meant finishing the stoppers). So I will take $55 and include shipping on these. There are only four in black left, and one in natural (which turns dark brown after being hardened). I will not likely be making any more of these for quite some time (autumn at earliest), so if you are interested, please do so now. Please PM me or email me if you are interested.

No I didn't treat it because of the time crunch for PiP... Although now that I am in the winter doldrums and have more time, I might reconsider and give it a go. I am leaning towards trying a linseed oil and denatured alcohol mix, as I have those on hand.

The kettle would do for fine tuning, but I think Jack is suggesting an wide open pot for the major shaping. Hope this helps.

I used to watch it a lot in the 80s back when Tom Baker was the Doctor (best Doctor EVER). I did catch most of the first season when the series was resurrected a couple years ago, but then it fell off my radar when I moved to the US. How has the last season or two been?

Okay, I need to vent here.... Sorry if I offend.... But I CAN'T STAND PEOPLE who think a mere TWO INCHES OF SNOW is just cause to reduce every speed limit in the city to 20 miles per hour!!! Holy crap! If the snow freaks you out that much, call in sick, move to some southerly place where it doesn't ever happen... But please stay off the roads so that those who are NOT AFRAID of a horrendous two inches of snow can get around in a reasonably timely manner. It's a shame that probably none that will read this are likely the folks that need it said to them... Sorry again for the frustration, I feel better having blown off the steam. This was almost cathartic... I think I will go and make some oatmeal.

That is a post revolution concept... The revolution was about 50 or 60 years after the end of the pirate era. And let's be honest, even in the last 250 years after the revolution, how often has that concept truly been followed? Sorry but both modern and ancient history is written on the sole concept of those that lead are above the laws they represent... Sure every generation or two produces a leader that tries to live within the rules they are trying to encourage their people to follow, but those are exceptions rather than the norm.... Sorry if I seem a little cynical about this, but it is as I see it.

Are you trying to tempt me BlackJohn? I'm trying to do one event a month this year, and my first choice for April seems to be a wash (although I am still holding some mild hope it may be ressurected)... And this could be a good replacement event... Who would I need to contact/speak to about campiong arrangements and all the rest of that organizational stuff?

I'm going to chime in here with what me buddy Blair at Loyalist Arms said, the English doglock is the most complicated lock he sells, and is the only lock I have ever sent back to him for adjustment. My guess is that the "dog" may be two different things, the hook that pivots on the lock plate and can engage a notch at the back of the cock and prevent it from falling, or perhaps the tab that protrudes slightly through the lock plate at a right angle and prevents the cock from falling. Anybody know? The "dog" catch is (as far as I know) only the hook that hold back the "cock" (or hammer for those that prefer modern terminology). There are various styles of doglocks out there. The "English Lock" with the dog catch has a horizontal sear, whereas later doglocks were closer to "true flintlocks" (or French Locks as some called them at that time), with a vertical sear, but without a half cock notch/position on the tumbler. So Doglock has some variety and is not a specific technical term.

However, that does make them just about perfect for Buccaneer era stuff.

That is a challenging hurdle to cross... As to become bigger you need to draw more folks. To draw more folks, you need to be a two day event. To get permission to be a bigger two day event, you need to draw more folks... Bit of a viscous cycle? Hope you guys and gals have a brilliant time though, please toast us that can't come that want to! As to those who can't come and don't want to... Let 'em rot!

July Lockehouse is already on my calendar (or should be... runs and checks... yep it's there... Look at my Pub Profile and see!). I will be there as long as there are no real life mishaps. Heck if I could get away with it, I would do the November one as well, but as that will be during my getting geared up for PiP time, I won't even bother claiming to try to make it to that one.

It's a bit of an annoyance that this event is only one day... I've been really wanting to get out to Maryland for an event... But I keep running into either conflicts with the timing of the event, or the events I am free for are one day only and not worth the drive... It seems you guys (and gals) party too hard out there (which is why I am guessing the events last only day)... Pace yourselves, then you will find that more of us out of towners might actuall be able to come to your parties and hope to arrive before they are over.

I don't know as to whether the original front laced stays had busks or not (but I would trust Mary, she has never steered anyone wrong that I know of)... But I believe it is possible to make front lacing stays with a busk. My understanding of the "View B" stays from RH711 is that basically they are sewn as one solid tube(with the stomacher seperate) and the lacing holes are done in such a manner that they pull the edges of the front panel together together. Perhaps this image will make it more clear. The reason I think a busk could be used (whether accurate or not is another matter) is the panel under the lacing is straight and flat and really could accomodate it (in my best guess without havign tried it).

A Polish man moved to the United States and married an American girl. Although his English was far from perfect, they got along well until one day he rushed into a lawyer's office and asked him if he could arrange a divorce for him. The lawyer said that getting a divorce would depend on the circumstances, and asked the following questions: Have you any grounds? Yes, acre and half with nice home. No, I mean what is the foundation? It made of concrete. I don't think you understand. Do either of you have a real grudge? No, we have carport. I mean. What are your relations like? All my relations in Poland Is there any infidelity in your marriage? We have hi-fidelity stereo and good DVD player. Does your wife beat you up? No, I always up before her. Is your wife a nagger ? No, she white. Why do you want this divorce? She going to kill me. What makes you think that? I got proof. What kind of proof? She going to poison me. She buy a bottle at Drugstore and put on shelf in bathroom. I can read. It say: 'Polish Remover.'

I have messaged Zatara... While my schedule is a bit hectic, there are some things I can defer for a hsort bit and squeeze this in should Zatara and I come to an arrangement....

Not the best selection of colours, but B. Blacks and Sons have some good wool at decent prices.

All of the buttonholes are sewn, but only most are actually cut open to receive buttons. I think the bottom 8 are not cut whereas the top 20 are cut. The coat is made from a wool broadcloth (I bought it as "real" wool, but a burn test later revealed it to be a 50/50 poly/wool blend), the cuffs are made from wool flannel (and that stuff is 100% wool), the lining is made from a navy cotton/linen blend (45/55). I am contemplating making a second coat like this one, with a few changes (using 100% wool outer) and a thin wool lining instead of the cotton/linen blend. I'm also contenplating doing a slightly different edge treatment. If I do this it will likely be late in the spring or over the summer... Or perhaps even further in the future... This will also have the advantage of me having a "loaner" red coat, so we can try and get more than one red coat soldier on the filed at a time fighting the pirates. Here's a more side angle view of the coat...

Yes the coat has a center back slit... Thanks for the compliment.

This is my frock using RH702, I'm also wearing the RH704 waistcoat (long variant) but it is difficult to see the waistcoat under the Frock. I made this coat as a military uniform of the period (a standard Red Coat soldier). I am also wearing the RH706 Breeches in that photo, again they are difficult to see. The one thing about the RH 706 pattern is they are difficult to fit, I had to go one or two sizes up on the waistband from what the instructions specify, and I had to go three sizes up on the leg portions in order to get a decent fit. Let me know if you have any questions, I own just about every pirate era pattern from Reconstructing Hostory, and I;ve made items from most of the patterns, so I have a bit of experience with this.