Hawkyns

I think there are two distinctions to be made here. First is that I wouldn't count out the matchlock so easily. Yes, doglocks were being imported to Port Royal and probably to some other ports, but when? Early buccaneer or late buccaneer? Looking at the production from England, I'd have to say that the early buccaneer period, say the period of Myngs, and you are far more likely to see matchlocks. By '72, the percentage would have changed, but the the matchlock would still be represented. Remember that while the independent buccaneers would get hold of doglocks and even french flintlocks whenever as they could, Morgan was being supplied by the British government, which was still firmly in the era of the matchlock. The Glorious Revolution was still a matchlock war, manuals were still being written for matchlock troops, and the last ones were not withdrawn from line regiments until the early 1700's. So it is safe to say that equipment being supplied, especially concerning that colonial supply tended to be whatever was left in the armouries, would still have consisted of a reasonable proportion of matchlocks. Also, the one weapon that is being ignored in this discussion is the miquelet. It was the Spanish firelock of choice well into the 18th century. Captured Spanish arms would be miquelets (and matchlocks), not French locks or English locks. There should be a percentage of miquelets in any buccaneer group. Second, I disagree with you about the appearance of the doglock, Hurricane. The English doglock of the mid century period had a side acting sear, not the rotating sear of the French lock. The lock plate was longer and thinner, looking far more like a matchlock lock plate, from which, indeed, some of them may have been converted. There is a definite visual difference. I suppose it depends on what you are doing. Tendency among modern reenactors is to have the fanciest, most up to date musket, that is available. We can afford it, for the most part, and we have the advantage of 350 years of hindsight onto which worked best. Historically, though, it depended what you could afford, capture, or be issued. The choices, for the average no name, were not so many. I'd certainly like to see more variety in the weaponry at any given event, instead everybody carrying top of the line, state of the art, shiny weapons, that they likely would never have been able to afford. Hawkyns

Is there a time before which we should not arrive? Ny travel schedule will probably put me there first thing in the morning. Hawkyns

That's a good question. I've always used Dr Bronner's when I've been backpacking and camping. Soap/shampoo/laundry detergent all in one. Recommended by leave-no-trace backpacking organisations and certified USDA Organic. But no green seal. How sticky are they going to be about this? Hawkyns

That is why we know our crews and most of us don't accept walk ons. Nobody crews my pieces that I have not known for some time and trained them personally. I know the difference between when they are sober and when they have had a couple. And they all know that if I EVER catch them trying to crew when they've had a drink, they are off the crew. Not just for that event, but permanently. Whether it's crewing a piece, shooting in the line, or sparring with blunts, you need to be stone sober and in top shape. Anything less, whether from drink, hangover, or illness, and you stand down. Period. How long for depends on how stupid you tried to be. Hawkyns

No problem, Badger, you're welcome. The CA and TX references were because I thought you guys had all kinds of ordinances about wadding so as to prevent fires. A couple of my 15th century gunners have complained about it. Hawkyns

Green grass and dandelion leaves don't burn, and don't leave a mess and it's not the whole plant, just the leaves. It's better than using them paper cartridge as some groups do. O' course, that works for here in the northeast, don't see it as a possibility in California or Texas.

And some not so politely. I don't have much tolerance for idiots when it comes to safety. Hawkyns

Some people use bread as wadding to keep the powder tight against the breech and improve ignition speed and compression. Bread breaks up and does not usually become a projectile. It also is degradable and does not create a mess after a battle. There are times when I use wadding and times when I don't. NEVER against opposing forces. When I have a clear downrange and may be holding fire for a bit, I use wadding to keep the powder from shaking away fronm the breech. My preference is green grass or dandelion leaves. Hawkyns

I know I posted this somewhere, but damned if I can find it now. So, just to be safe, I have a 10x14 pavillion, plus 2 foot of ropes on each side for a total 14x18. I'll be merchanting, and inside the fort. All period, nothing modern showing. Hawkyns

Indeed that might have a possible outcome, supposing that such a short span of years would be acceptable to All, but not all here inhabit that span of years known in the common tongue as the Golden Age. Indeed, seeing the world as I do, from that age in which Gloriana shines Her resplendant light on her subjects, it doth seem att great odds with those who shall come after. That one should post the tale of one's life would be a preliminary devoutly to be wished, ere setting forth upon such a Venture, knowing that the doing of such would for certain sure keep us from confusion. In haste, Hawkyns

Forasmuch as those here presente doe be of like mind to embark upon this venture, it would seem most meet and rite to determine, as would be advised to All setting out upon a new course, in exactly which country and year they do finde themselves, for it would be most remiss to speake of things not yet accomplifhed and be like unto the fortune tellers of Egypte, causing a great murraine to those unfortunate soules as to know what the future may hold in store. Nay, yet firther to mention that one must be at all times and in all cases circumspect in ones correspondance, that details and facts may not be revealed to the Enemy, such as are all about us in these times, not only those of the foriegn countries, but such evil persons amongst us who might pray upon the Unsuspecting and cause great loss of life liberty and goods to those whose words may fall into the wrong hands. Therefore I would say unto you All that we must be most certaine to whome we are penning such missives, and to what end they may be, in some future time, used, whether fairly or foul. I doe trust that this find you in the best of health and your family likewise. Hawkyns By my hand, this 26th Day of October At the Black Horse in Skipton High Street

Not to get too involved in the political here, I do that on other boards, but the Tea Party stuff scares me. Not because of the core of it, I agree that a lot of money is being wasted. I agree with the concept of the bailout and stimulus, it was neccesary, but not with where the money went. No, what scares me is how much the neocons, the pseudo conservatives, have put into this movement and how they are trying to hijack it. There is way too much of the social conservative/religous conservative movement attached to these parties. I have no problem at all with trying to get a handle on the money and steering it to the right place and demanding full accounting. But when these same people start agitating for family values, anti abortion, anti gay, anti porn, pro intelligent design, pro prayer in schools, then I want nothing to do with them and will fight them wherever possible. Those are all anti freedom issues, and when I see stuff about the tea parties on other boards, they always seem to to dragged into it. Keep it at financial issues and I can support at least some of it. Try and drag us back to the 50's, as some of these guys are trying to do, and there is a problem. Hawkyns

With that in mind, where might i find a good reference for period language - myself and many of our crew are very interesting learning more For what period and country? Most of my research in that area is late 16th to mid 17th century. For Early GAoP, I'd start with Pepys' diaries. Also any of the books written in period. Esquemellin or Johnson's 'General History'. Get copies that have not been updated to modern language. Learn to think in the flowery and convoluted language of the time. Hawkyns

I've done some of this. We did use quills on period repro paper and sealed them with wax and our seals. We even went so far as to post them in a period way, passing them from person to person up and down the East Coast. The problem is that something like that does require a fairly decent number of people with more or less frequent contact. We used period language and syntax as much as possible. Our correspondance was between myself, as a 1595 soldier in Carlisle, writing to friends in London and on the Continent. The experiment lasted about 15 months, until life just got in the way and things petered out. It was interesting while it lasted, and forced us to research not only the day to day facts of the time and place, but also how people from various stations in life would actually express themselves. Hawkyns.

I've tried that route, but with problems. It's OK if you always wear the same kit, but if you vary what you wear, the piece won't hang right. If I have it set for summer kit, just a weskit and shirt, then I put on a wool jacket and canvas coat for bad weather, the hilt hangs under my ribs. If I set it for the heavier gear and then try to wear it with just a shirt, the hilt is halfway down my thigh. There is good reason to put the buckle on and it doesn't have to be a great fancy thing. Just a 2 inch double D works fine. Hawkyns

My registration goes out today. It would have gone out a couple of weeks ago, until I read the part about insurance required. Took a bit to get that set up properly. Hawkyns

There are two issues here. First is the fact that somebody screwed up bigtime when working that gun. Whether it was carelessness or inadequate training, somebody got hurt and the only thing we can say is that we are lucky it wasn't much worse. Second is that, the more I read about this, on this board and on others, it seems that there is at least some form of coverup going on. I've been owning and firing blackpowder cannon for 25 years. Like the chap from West Point, I can't believe that a rammer falling across the muzzle is going to fly for 100 yards. Aerodynamics tells me that an unbalanced object like a rammer, propelled sideways from somewhere along the shaft, is going to cartwheel and hit the ground in a relatively short distance. the story being told by the fort does not make sense. Unless we get real lucky, this is going to come back and bite us in the ass. It was only luck last year that prevented blackpowder weaponry being regulated fairly harshly in New York State. Actions like this only give ammunition to those who think we are just another bunch of gun toting nuts. The history that we provide is irrelevant, if the impression is that reenactors are unsafe in the pursuit of that history. Hawkyns

It's a Knights of Columbus 4th degree hat and badge. http://www.kofcsupplies.com/ccp0-prodshow/4B-2.html Hawkyns

There are only a handful of these originals about, maybe less than that. There are more of the repros out there than ever actually existed. They were one of the oddball weapons that show up from time to time, but because they are unique and different, they get a lot of attention. I've played with one a bit, but yes, the side blades are attached at only the hinge points with a rivet type hinge. VERY weak. They might work in a light rapier fight where the blade is thin and long enough to give leverage when you catch it, but I don't see breaking it as an option. And against a backsword or cutlass, they would be completely useless. Hawkyns

Sterling, while you are nailing that down, can you also check on then dates of the weapons required? I was thinking of bringing my old standby battle piece, a 1640's Littlecote doglock carbine. Perfectly correct historically, but not legal by those regs. We're dealing with a period where the warrants for weapons were flexible at best, non existant in many cases. tying us down to a limited set of weapon years seems to fly in the face of making us look right. Thanks, Hawkyns

Yeah, the buffcoat has caused many an argument. Some say they were all heavy leather(1/4 inch thick) designed for use by cavalrymen. There is some documentation that thinner ones were made for infantry officers that like the style but not the encumbrance. that's an argument that I doubt will ever be settled. One thing I will say, though, and this is from personal experience. My serjeant made one. 14oz leather, properly tanned with fish oil. Sleeved like Nate Fiennes. Made as pretty a picture on the field as I've ever seen. Then it rained. What was a drop dead gorgeous piece of kit rapidly became a 30 pound dead weight hanging on his shoulder and flapping soddenly about his thighs. That being the case, I can't realistically see a true buffcoat being usefull aboard ship. Not for a sailor, anyway. The Mary Rose did have some leather jerkins of thinner leather that might be what you are thinking about, but that was 150 years earlier than your date. Of course, jerkins were around for a lot of the period, they are windproof and hard wearing, though useless when wet. I don't know of any extant examples from 1640-1680. Ed?? Hawkyns

I'm outa here too. Teaching backsword classes this weekend in Philly. Hawkyns

Ransom, I think the definitions are part of the problem and here's why: when reenactors talk among themselves, those terms are part of the conversation, and they are some of the milder terms used. We are harsh among and about ourselves. I've said worse about my own kit when new research comes to light. You should try some of the progressive boards if you really want to see kit torn apart. The other three groups are not so invested in the authenticity, so they are not so critical of kit, and see the language that we use as off putting. They don't listen to the point that they see us saying the same things to ourselves, and assume that they are the only target. Now, a while back in this thread it was said by someone that Twill was more for the hardcore, a community of pirate reenactors within the overall pirate community. So I guess that begs the question, how do we get people to understand that what is going on is normal for us, not insulting, and that this is how we discuss things? Putting restrictions on the language, trying to 'clean it up', or make it more friendly, would, IMNSHO, lessen the impact of what we are trying to do here. Put it this way, If I walked into a military NCO's mess, I would be hearing things that some would find offensive, getting some funny looks, and generally being on the edges, until I learned the dynamics of that mess. That is on me to be polite, stand back and learn, and generally try to fit in. Perhaps an extra notice on Twill the wya we have one on the over 18 boards. "Things said here may be construed as derogatory, which is not the intent. Information will be exchanged in what may construed as a volatile manner. Please be aware of this and take no offense." Just my two penn'orth. YMMV Hawkyns

And how's that working out so far for you? *lol* Very well, actually. Hawkyns

Personally, I prefer cider and brothels. Hawkyns