1stMate Matt

Just dropped the whole Cali crew off at the Airport. I must have slept a whole 3 hours since thursaday but we had a blast. A few bumps in the road as always but we came out on top each and everytime. The sword raffle went well. The guy who won it was so excited and followed us around all night during the crawl. I got to direct traffic in full garb every night in Fells Point. There are tons of videos sufacing of that already. I am so tired I can hardly type and I am sure I will be sahring 1000's of stories soon. I want to say sorry to anyone staying at the Admiral Fells on Saturday night. I heard that we kept the whole 2nd floor awake with us untill the wee hours of the morning. Also many videos of that! I want to thank Dai Andrews(sword swallower) for going with the flow and being super cool about the bumps in the road that happend to him. He kept our booth packed all day with random performances in front of our booth prooving that you dont always need a physical stage to shine! We sold a ton of magazines and I sold a few swords. All in all it was def a success. We even had tent drama and we just rolled with it and made the most of what could have tragic. Jason!!! Jason! You had a tough job. I would never have wanted you job but you did great. Well done! I will be sure to post a ton later but for now my bed is calling me. Once again from Pirates Magazine and Baltimore Knife and Sword I want to thank everyone single one of you for coming out and making the weekend special. I think Captain Sterling hit it in the head when he said "As always, no matter what the setting, tis always a great blessing to be with family and friends" but Fells Point 2009 will always hold a special spot in my heart as long as it beats!

:) I will gladly watch that one. About 31 hrs till the Soiree. Looks like we will be blessed with good weather for the weekend. They were calling for showers in the evening on Sat but now its all clear and beautiful!!!

I will be there once agian set up with Pirates Magazine. ALways fun to be at that show just to see how hot it can get in mid summer in FL. Besides I <3 Suzie King the lass that runs the show.

So it seems we will have a fair number of pubbers. Anyone got a head count?

I was going to wait to say anything but it looks like I will be unvailing our new bronze eagle head pommel at the show this weekend. If all goes well we should be pooring them thursday giving me enough time to clean a few up and have them for the show. So, I am excited about that. I am a little bumbed that I wont have as many wood handled pieces as I first hoped. I want to have as many finished pieces for the show so it looks like most will be leather wraps which is still the best handle for stage use IMO.

If you could snap a quick photo I may be able to help you.

Only a few more days! I am scrambling trying to make as much stuff as I can for the show not to mention I have to restock a few dealers this week. Most of our guests are flying in Thursday evening. The rest on Friday in time for the soiree. As planned now, we will be set up in front of the Admiral Fells Hotel. I believe it is the only magazine stand and certainly the only place you can buy a magazine and a sword all in one stop :)

I have to admit that I missed New Orleans more than I thought I would. Perhaps I will make it out again next year. Not sure.

Saturday will now feature a performance by my good friend Dai Andrews who is a Sword Swallower. Dai worked in my shop for awhile and has had a roll in making quite a few swords. He is also the only sword swallower that swallows a curved cutlass the way he does. For more info on Dai please see his website http://swordswallower.com/

Love this shot! Saw a few old faces from my past at that event. Looks like you had a beautiful day at a great location.

We would we put a cap on how many tickets someone can buy? That would be silly. It's all about raising money to make the show bigger and better both this year and following years.

I was thinking about a 1$ a ticket raffle at the soiree for one of my swords to help keep costs down for the event.

Could be the Blackbeard film that is rumored to by shot in that area....

I admit...you got me.

Just chatted a bit with some of our West Coasters that are getting ready to come out. We are all super excited. This will be a grand event! I plan on bringing as many swords as I can but now is your chance to suggest something that you may like to see. This doesn't mean that you have to comfirm a purchase but if I am making them anyway it might as well be what you want to see. I will have some damascus pieces and maybe even some high end wootz blades that we are now making. The soiree will be the best. I will be working right up untill the hour before so it will be a huge let loose event for me. I heard rumors of a possible contest where the prize will be one of my swords...

Oh cool. Yes I remember having lunch with you in New Orleans. It was a nice afternoon. I will try to have a sword to show mr Sage. I have talked with him for a few years about making him a sword in the style of our jolly rodger cutlass but with a compass rose instead of the skull and Xbones.

For an event this large I am supprised that the number is that low. I went to Gasparilla last year and Klaus road on the Belemy Float this year and I have to say that it is one crazy time. Bead crazy college kids everywhere. It is a sight that I think every pirate fan should see at least once. The real freaks come out for the night parade. There is a full story of Klaus' trip in the upcoming mag. It's a good time. Def not a re-enactor's paradise but it offers a ton of exposure. Tampa is one of the only places that year around I can walk around in full garb and no1 thinks that it is wierd.

crusty

All I know is that it seems that I sell 1 cutlass to a biker for every pirate that buys one.... Whatever that means.

I think if you look closely that you are in Pirates Magazine a few times. I think we even used one of or two of your photos that you took at some point. Wow...did I just post in.... Oh nvm.

"Class"

True! I happend to purchase it just to watch on a Sunday afternoon and it left me wanting a lot more.

I found that "Sky Captain and the World of Tommarow" had a ton of steam punk elements in it. I just watched it last weekend. However, I do not suggest watching this movie if you are looking for a good flick. I was disapointed in the movie as awhole but it did have some neat steampunk like ideas in it.

I always understood the notches on the blades to have been used as elevation marks while aiming the cannon. I think they were often stock in the touch holes or somewhere and used as a site. Never heard of using them to measure powder but I wouldnt rule that out.