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Graydog

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Posts posted by Graydog

    FLINTLOCKS 101

    in Armory

    Posted

    Try any place that balances tires. They may have bulk used tire weights they just throw away and these often are lead. We used to get lead from places like these many a MANY year ago. They were FREE back then as it actually saved them money to have them carted away. Not sure if that still is a good source.

    Unbeliveable

    in Armory

    Posted

    Today I went to our local pirate fest and decided not to fire any guns as I felt the safety stand point was questionable

    Don’t feel like the Lone Ranger. I have been reenacting since the early 1970’s and the most over the top dangerous event I have ever seen was at a Pirate reenactment event battle in 2007. This event no longer takes place. I don’t want this to be anything other than a safety discussion, so I will only be listing the items that got me concerned. I will not be sharing what event, where, or who were involved.

    Hang on to your horses:

    No true crowd control just an unsupervised rope hanging maybe 18 inches off the ground.

    Anybody that cared to could walk on to the “battlefield”, heck even in the middle of the battle. While the majority of the people belonged to some priate group or another, these were unaffiliated groups with zero discussion of safety between them. This was grossly exascerbated by the fact indivudals (as in customers at the event) could just walk on and be a part of the battle (oh, they did have to be in costume). There were zero controls on the individual participant. There were maybe 100-200 people running around shooting and sword play haphazardly with a general concept of two sides. They did not even identify which side would “win” the battle.

    No safety briefing, no safety rules, and nobody that you could even take a safety complaint to. The event organizer was not present, he didn’t see a need to attend his own battle event.

    Since there never was any from of checking any participant for anything, only the Lord knows who had been drinking and to what extent.

    An informal musket line was formed and a pistol firing line formed. The pistols formed behind the muskets at a distance of about 15 feet with people expected to shoot between the musket men in front of them.

    Muskets used ramrods during the battle and were ramming paper down the barrel to ensure a nice loud report. Oh, and there were no safety zones between firers and their targets, that was an individual responsibility.

    There was a trapdoor rifle cut off to pistol size firing blanks so powerful it blew the pistol out of the firer’s hand.

    In most cases this battle was comprised of various pirate groups. In one of the groups the people firing weapons weren’t allowed to load because they weren’t “certified” by their group to load their own pistols, but it was ok for them to fire their pistol unsupervised that they didn’t know how to load, nor handle a misfire in, plus they were told to shoot between people in front of them 15 feet away.

    A large caliber cannon being fired with no identified safety zone and the gun crew just fired when the area appeared clear.

    Some people literally sticking their gun barrels in their mouth after firing them. Smoke coming out of the vent looks cool! (If you really need to wrap you lips around your gun barrel and blow, try not doing that in front of the children in the audience, who will treat a gun just like you do.)

    All weapons universally overloaded directly from flasks. To include Falconets that were stuffed with powder from a flask till they “sounded” right.

    A person got a misfire on their percussion pistol yelled “Hot gun” put the pistol on the ground and then ran off to play with their sword leaving the misfired pistol abandoned on the ground, loaded and capped, available to anybody to pick it up and nobody watching it. (Remember no crowd control)

    When I made the mistake to open my mouth to ask about safety I was shouted down and told to shut-up because they had been firing weapons for over 10 years and nobody had been hurt.

    To this day I am amazed they didn’t hurt somebody. Given time I fully expect they could have killed somebody. It’s the only time I have started a battle by being in the very rear, then backing up, and finally turning around to flee the field in terror for my own safety. I followed up with a letter of complaint to the event organizer. In hindsight, I should have filed a formal complaint with the Fire Marshal that permitted the event.

    So, yes there are some BAD events out there. Always remember your safety is YOUR business.

    Fair winds,

    -Greydog

    Good Movies, Stupid Critics

    in Pyrate Pop

    Posted

    There are lots of reasons a good movie won't be successful, wether for bad reviews, or poor box office numbers, maybe both. But some pirate movies were really good and don't have a good reason as to why they failed. Prime examples and personal opinion: Cutthroat Island and Treasure Planet. Thoughts anyone?

    To me Cutthroat Island was flat as a movie because the lead male role was Matthew Modine. He is just fine as an actor but was a terrible choice to cast as a rogue. It just did't work. Every time he was on screen it was horrible.

    Ojai, Ca.

    in September

    Posted · Edited by Graydog

    I heard a rumor that this will be the last Ojai! iS THIS TRUE?

    According to my sources just recently Gold Coast Festivals has cancelled this event for 2011. If true they have not put that info up on their website.

    You know how rumors are, I'd suggest you contact Gold Coast direct at goldcoastfestivals@gmail.com to verify before planning to attend or not to attend.

    OLDEST reference to "GROG"

    in Captain Twill

    Posted

    Following the wiki link provided, it appear that the entry has been changed recently (last month) to take account of the fact that the Defoe use of 'grog' has actually been misquoted, and in fact should read 'make the ginger'.

    Thanks for the info!

    OLDEST reference to "GROG"

    in Captain Twill

    Posted

    I seem to recall a reference on a pre-Adm. Vernon mention of "grog" on either this forum or Blackjohn/Foxe's Ye Pirate Brethren.

    Now, i can't find it (try a search for "grog" on a pirate forum).

    Anyone one KNOW is such a reference exists?

    (EVEN if the term meant a rather different drink than the later cut-rum "grog")

    I have the exact same recollection but for the life of me can't find the reference. This is of course is at odds with the accepted use of where the term comes from that was listed in the wiki.

    I was having a chat on this item this weekend and when asked to come up with a refernce to prove this point the best I could find is this very old post of the same question.

    Anybody have a refernce for the use of the term grog prior to the often quoted wiki answer?

    Thank you.

    POTC 4 is at this time....

    in Pyrate Pop

    Posted

    — this time in Disney Digital 3D.

    GROAN! When will this resurrected 1950's fad die and go away. I don't need to wear glasses on my glasses to watch a friggin movie. They are a pain physically and restrict my vision of the screen. I hate them!

    Of course I do look kewl in them like all items I wear.

    :lol:

    Cigarettes - were pirates smoking them?

    in Captain Twill

    Posted

    I am a bit confused. Let me quote from the reference provided:

    1828: SPAIN:The cigarette becomes popular as a new way of smoking.They are sold individually, and in "rolls."

    1832: TURKEY: Invention of the paper-rolled cigarette? While Southwest Indians, Aztecs and Mayans had used hollow reeds, cane or maize to fashion cylindrical tobacco-holders, and Sevillians had rolled cigar-scraps in thrown-away paper (papeletes), an Egyptian artilleryman [in the Turk/Egyptian war] is credited with the invention of the cigarette as we know it. In the siege of Acre, the Egyptian's cannon crew had improved their rate of fire by rolling the gunpowder in paper tubes. For this, he and his crew were rewarded with a pound of tobacco. Their sole pipe was broken, however, so they took to rolling the pipe tobacco in the paper. The invention spread among both Egyptian and Turkish soldiers. And thus . . . (Good-Bye to All That, 1970)

    1853-1856: EUROPE: CRIMEAN WAR British soldiers learn how cheap and convenient the cigarettes ("Papirossi") used by their Turkish allies are, and bring the practise back to England. The story goes that the English captured a Russian train loaded with provisions--including cigarettes...

    1876-11-07: Albert H. Hook of New York City is granted a US patent for a cigarette manufacturing machine.

    I think there might be a terminology issue here between a very small cigar "ette" and the paper wrapped tabacco called a cigarette. Then again maybe I am full of something. Regardless, I don't see present anything to make me think that the paper wrapped cigarette as we know them today were being used in the 1600-1700's. But, heck I have been wrong before, this wouldn't be the first time.

    Oct 2 & 3, Buccaneers Day, Two Harbors, Catalina Island

    in October

    Posted · Edited by Graydog

    http://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/twoHarbors/Calendar.php

    Text From Above:

    Buccaneers Day (Catalina Island, California)

    October 2nd

    Argh Mateys! Come celebrate our 21st Annual Buccaneer’s Day. Don your best pirate attire and set sail for Two Harbors for a day of treasure hunts, costume contests, great food, live music and a lot of fun.

    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    The location is on a part of the island that comes as close as possible to demanding you approach from the water. I do not know if the "Catalina Express" or other shuttle service handles this location. Everybody I know that has gone was either on their own boat or somebody else's. I have heard that certain of the areas Tall Ships do attend this on occassion. Mostly, it's a small pleasure craft event/big party time. Some people get there as early as Wednesday to ensure they can get a good place to tie up. The reports I have gotten is that it's one hell of a pirate party, but alas, I have never attended so can't give any first hand info.

    Fair Winds,

    -Greydog

    P.S. Speak of the devil just got an E-mail on this subject. Seems the Tall Ship "American Pride" will be attending and ye can hitch a ride, for a price. The cost is $190 which includes transportation, food and lodging. This ship is 130 foot tallship. It leaves Long Beach, CA about 7 am on Sat and comes back on Sun about noonish. You can make reservations with the American Pride at (714) 970-8800.

    Volunteer Dies on Star of India

    in Beyond Pyracy

    Posted

    http://www.760kfmb.com/Global/story.asp?S=12829620

    (Story from above link is below)

    Man falls to death off Star of India

    By News 8's Steve Price (7/18/10)

    SAN DIEGO, Calif. (CBS 8) - There was tragedy at the Star of India Sunday, when a volunteer working on the ship fell about 40 feet and died. Witnesses say Greg Gushaw was up in the sails when he fell, hit his head on the ship and landed in the water.

    Fellow crew members quickly got him out of the water and CPR was started, but Gushaw was pronounced dead at the hospital.

    Gushaw was taking part in a training operation at the time designed to get everyone up to speed for a sail this November.

    The president of the Maritime Museum says Gushaw had a safety harness on, so it's not clear why he fell. Harbor Police are investigating.

    Gushaw was a retired Naval Intelligence officer who now volunteered as a crew member on the Star of India.

    He was also a popular museum docent. He was 68 years old.

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