Baldric Buckle

[Cuisto Mako]

Hi everyone,

I know every body loves those big brass buckle on their baldric, but I was wondering if they were actually pc and if so what are they suppose to look like?

I know that soldiers baldric usually features some sort of stretch double D buckle but what about pirates or militia man?

Anybody with pc image or painting? My main interest is of cours late 17thC but GAoP would be interesting too.

Thanks

Mako

[Kenneth]

You might find some info from a Brethren thread where they have discussed the Baldrick. heres the link..

http://www.piratebrethren.com/forum/viewtopic.php?postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=90&t=647

[Cuisto Mako]

Thanks! I though I had already scann through that forum but apparently I missed this thread

[Pirate Petee]

This should be an easy one to answer. First off were the materials to make those buckles available? Yes. Did the technology to make buckles exist? Yes. Did buckles exist during that period? Yes. Now second thing to consider, pirates did not have uniforms, other thing to consider, things were not mass produced as they are today, meaning almost everything you bought and or stole was custom or hand made. Lastly there is no accounting for personal taste. That should do it.

[blackjohn]

There's probably more I could add to our thread since last we discussed the topic.

things were not mass produced as they are today, meaning almost everything you bought and or stole was custom or hand made.

A buckle-making industry was established in Birmingham in the beginning of the 18thC. By the middle of the century, they were producing over 2 million buckles per annum.

[Pirate Petee]

That's interesting, I thought mass production came about during the industrial revolution in the late 1700's, I stand corrected. Still not quite mass produced as products are today or mass distributed. There wasn't a "Ye old Target or Walmart in every town."

Edited October 17, 2009 by Pirate Petee

[blackjohn]

That's interesting, I thought mass production came about during the industrial revolution in the late 1700's, I stand corrected. Still not quite mass produced as products are today or mass distributed. There wasn't a "Ye old Target or Walmart in every town."

I'll blame the education system, which I think is a bit Amerocentric.

The book I have goes on to talk about how, in the 1760s, a machine stamping process was invented for buckles. They stamped stamping out buckles like crazy, and as the 18thC progressed, the grew and grew in size, becoming more fancy, with open work and filigree and all sorts of cool stuff. Someone also invented a process to silver-plate copper during that time. It seems like the late-18thC was the real hey-day of the big buckle.

[Pirate Petee]

Thank you john, always a wealth of info.

[blackjohn]

Thank you john, always a wealth of info.

Thanks. And hey, it's always nice to see you back here hanging out with us old pirates!

[Pirate Petee]

Its good to be back. Missed you guys.

[Cuisto Mako]

Thanks guys,

after going through those threads and doing a bit more research on the web, I decided that my baldric won't have a buckle but rather cross stiches like this one:

http://www.karlrobinson.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=6763

Looks pretty good, and you saved the cost of a buckle that would not necessarily have been pc in style anyway...

[PoD]

I was just going to send you this link too:

http://www.re-enactmentshop.com/p_16th-17th_century.htm

They sell reproduction 16/17th century buckles

[Commodore Swab]

Intestering little tidbit on buckles, there were some (circa 1730's) that unlike everything you see we not made with a bar thru the center but instead were drilled and a pin installed, material was something like a copper/bronze alloy.

[Badger]

Yearr, after goin' crazy lookin' fer big squar buckles, I finally decided on round ones. Thanks fer th' links, me hearties. good readin'!

[Hawkyns]

Thanks guys,

after going through those threads and doing a bit more research on the web, I decided that my baldric won't have a buckle but rather cross stiches like this one:

http://www.karlrobinson.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=6763

Looks pretty good, and you saved the cost of a buckle that would not necessarily have been pc in style anyway...

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

[Cuisto Mako]

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

You do have a very good point there. I'll think about it. Thanks Hawkyns!

[Quartermaster James]

I'll second what Hawkyns said, and not just for seasonality. If it's pyrates about town (i.e. pyrates at the pub) and I'll be mostly sitting, then I wear it higher than if I were mainly on my feet.