Mick MacAnselan

If you're looking for hard wearing then the best swords in the world bar none are made by Armour Class in Scotland.

Foxe,

Which Armour Class pieces (if any) would you say are appropriate for GAoP? TIA!

I have some authentic shoe buckles at the foundry now, and should be available for mid October.

Take a look (also, this is one of Kevin Garlick's shoes.)

and

These were made up from an original in my collection.

This style would be good throughout the GAoP, and will take about a 3/4th inch latch.

When they are available, I will be selling them for $25 a set (2) shipped. That is at least $5 cheaper than the later buckles everyone else is selling.

Let me know if any of you are interested.

Greg aka GoF

GoF,

Count me in for a pair. Thanks.

You don't need steam at all to turn a hat blank into a cocked hat (tricorn), just some string or lacing. 

Tora,

Kass is right. If you can get the shape you want by tacking the brim to the side of the hat, you may not need to steam at all. But if you want to shape it further, or if you're using a heavy blank, like the bigger one Townsend sells, you might have to, or you could end up with a 'cracked' brim. Also, you mentioned a problem searching. Try this search result...lots of threads on tricorns and steaming, etc....

More Threads

Tora,

Here's one thread...

Tricorn Thread

I don't think it says so in the thread, but wherever I refer to 'steaming', that means holding part of the brim over steam that's billowing out the spout of a boiling tea kettle.

Who be plannin to attend?

+1

I rte-read the section on exemptions and noted that the word "concealed" in the descriptor. this means that this section does not exempt antiques from the "concealed weapon" provision, meaning that you cannot carry a flinter in a manner meant to conceal its presence. Just my reading, mind you, consult a lawyer or play it safe if unsure.

CAPT Jim,

Yes, I have read it that way too. But the non-exception refers to the 'section' concerning concealed weapons, and that section also covers transport in a vehicle. Pretty ambigous IMO.

CAPT Thighbiter,

I understand your points COMPLETELY from a FEDERAL perspective. PA code is more restrictive. PA code does not consider flintlocks to be firearms, but it absolutely does specifically apply some of the PA firarm sections to flintlocks. And the more restrictive code (PA in this case) would prevail.

Sorry, same answer: Heavy canvas.

Capn,

Would that be Cotton Canvas, Linen Canvas, or Hemp, or something else? Reason I ask is that most/all the wedge tents sold for reanactors seem to be Cotton Canvas, but I don't think cotton sails were used much (if at all) in the GAoP, and Cotton was banned for clothing in England. Though I don't know if it was banned for other purposes (like tents).

Thanks Capt, but what I was trying to ask was... "what would land lubbers' wedge tents have been made of?"

In another thread, I think it was established that wedge tents were period for GAoP, but suspect for use by pirates ashore. Be that as it may, what would the wedge tents of the day have been made of? TIA.

Kass, another question on this pattern... if adding the fly, would you make the waistband that much longer (so that its buttons align with the fly's buttons), or would you run the fly all the way up to the top of the waistband? I'm thinking the former...that's the way I made my pre-Kass breeches anyway... but I want to get this right. TIA!

  The answer is "yes", they were most certainly worn during the "Golden Age of Piracy".

  Please reference B. Picart's 1720 picture "Matelot de Brabant". 

Mike, is this picture on line somewhere? Google comes up empty. TIA.

I too send thanks for the info, and the clarification. I have a nice felt hat that will now soon be a tricorn.

Themarko, if you're building from a felt blank, here's a link that might be helpful. There's a couple different methods in it, including the one I use.

Tricorn Thread

Sounds good, for I too live in the south and wouldn't want that to happen to my hats. I one question though, what do you mean by 1 part white, 3lb cut? I not sure I understand. 3lb cut, is that the type of felt? And the shellac is white? Thanks again for your insight.

White 3 lb cut is the type of shellac. Mix one part of that with 2 parts denatured alcohol.

For those who have Pedrsoli Queen Anne pistols, what size balls do you shoot? I know it's a '.50 caliber' pistol, but would that mean a .490 or .495 ball or something else? TIA.

I hope Greg doesn't mind, but what would everyone call what the two studly gents in this picture are wearing?

Kass,

You're one of my absolute favorite people to hear from, but in this case, you're right, I was looking for a 'second opinion' if there is one!

Kass,

Thanks. That's a relief! (i.e. Linen.) Think I'll probably do trousers then, since they do seem to be prevalent in the pictures.

Kass, If I read the assembly instruction right, there is no 'band' at the bottom of the breeches legs to gather the legs into. Is that right? Also, what material(s) would be appropriate for the Trousers version? Is canvas the only way to go (as in the admiralty contracts) or would linen have also been used? Looking at the pictures of the period, some of them don't look (to me) like the way canvas would 'hang'. But maybe that's wishful thinking. Anyway, would appreciate your thoughts. TIA.

I was reading the historical information that Kass sends with her breeches/slops pattern and was quite surprised (if I'm interpreting correctly) that there's no evidence during the GAoP for the loose open bottom slops (short or long) so many of us wear. Well, I don't wear them yet...that's why I bought the pattern, only to find out that it's either breeches or trousers, but not 'slops'. So are there hundreds of enthusiasts/reenactors running around in the wrong garmet, or is there some evidence that what we normally think of as slops existed in period?

Of course local laws and statutes would apply, but for the most part,  making a LEO aware that you know the federal laws on this point will usually ease thier mind.  By far the vast majority of people have no idea when it comes to such a narrow area of interest.  It would be a painstaking municipality indeed to have written laws on this topic, it is so narrow.

Capt,

It ain't the municipality in my case, it's the state of PA, and yes, PA has specific code applying to antiques (which is where flintlocks fall per PA code). The PA code even states that antiques are not firearms, but that certain provisions (such as carry/transport) of the firearm sections do apply to antiques. The PA code has exceptions to exceptions to exceptions, but after you parse your way through it, you need a carry license to transport a flintlock in a vehicle except to/from a shoot, a dealer, or a repair place (and maybe a couple other exceptions). I don't think I want to say to a PA state trooper, "Yes I know it's illegal in PA, but the feds have nothing against it".

I'm going to take the plunge and buy some custom made shoes from a maker in England. Since I'm in the USA, anyone know how/where I can get a money order in British Pounds? TIA!

Okay, maybe I'm dense, but I'm still wondering. What would have been the Usual load in a 'blunderbuss' pistol (as opposed to a longer barrel blunderbuss)? Would it have been a single ball or a load of shot?

Question regarding 17th/18th century flintlock pistols with flared barrels. Were these used like a Blunderbuss shotgun, i.e. to scatter shot? Or were they intended to fire a single ball, with the flare simply making them faster loading? TIA.

  parking at the mall can be a nightmare sometimes so keep that in mind before you head out.

Crimson,

I've never been to the mall. Are you saying it might not be possible to park there?

I will be ordering my ticket this friday...

  I thinking about getting there alittle early so I can make a late around the mall or maybe get a bite at the eatery.

Anyone else going early?

Crimson, I might come down early (mainly to make sure I'm not late due to the road trip). What time were you thinking about?