An amazing pirate collection!

Jim McDougall · 26th June 2017, 07:29 PM

Ahoy Cap'n Mark and fellows of the Brotherhood!!! Its great to see everyone gathered here on deck!
This is a breathtaking assemblage of piratical stuff!!!!and I have looked in numbers of times, unable to even find words or focus enough to compose anything lucid.
So my apologies for being late, with my only explanation as the good ship lollipop (aka bookmobile) has been careened here in the port of Albacrocko for much needed repairs.
Looking at these makes me desperately want to re chart my course to St. Augustine and N.C.!!!!

It is always fascinating to watch you guys exchange such knowledge and detail on all of these things, and while I cannot add much to the firearms and ordnance, I wanted to at least throw in a few shots on some of the other items. While naturally always obsessed with the swords, I can only note how magnificently untouched and well represented these are here...great assembly of the shell guard sabres....which were as I have understood termed colloquially by the pirates, a 'shell' rather than the term cutlass.

On the small dagger, Broadaxe is spot on in this being a Mediterranean dirk, used collectively for these daggers in nautical use by sailors in and from the regions throughout ports there. With these daggers it is hard to distinguish specific identity to region in many cases, so the broader identification is usually better than the much romanticized 'Corsican vendetta' (which it could very well be).
In any case, the 'Mediterranean dirk, in another interesting and much romanticized incarnation, was actually the ancestor of the famed 'Bowie' knife, which is hard to believe when seeing the comparison to this much smaller knife.

I was intrigued by the multi-spiked item in post #5 (which looks like a Mercedes logo in this image). This is as noted , a 'caltrap' (I found interesting detail in "Brevertons Nautical Curiosities" , Terry Breverton, 2013).
Apparently these 'thistle' like devices were fashioned from scrap iron, and into four sharpened spikes. Sailors often went barefoot on deck to avoid slipping, so these devious things were devastatingly effective when strewn out before boarding. The term 'caltrip' derives etymologically from Latin and Old English words such as 'calketrippe' (OE= any plant which tended to catch feet).

The pragmatic 'belaying' pin, was of course to secure rigging and was emplaced in pin rails along the deck sides, however, these very hard wood pins quickly became a 'weapon of opportunity' used to severely club a victim.

Absolutely magnificent collection, and Mark, thank you for sharing it with us and extend deep gratitude to Steve Bunker!!!! a hearty extra ration of grog to him!!!

Norman McCormick · 26th June 2017, 08:13 PM

Hi Mark and Fernando,
Although the contents mostly date to the 18thC the coffer itself by the style of construction, locks and hinges etc sits very comfortably in the 17thc, right in the thick of the buccaneering days. It's a shame the document lining is mostly gone as it might have made some fascinating reading, a treasure map!!!! or maybe not

My Regards to you Both,
Norman.

M ELEY · 26th June 2017, 09:25 PM

Ahoy yarself, Cap'n Jim!

I was hoping you might see the thread and have comments! As always, a great pleasure to hear from you. Hope the
U.S.S. BookMobile is soon 'seaworthy'! If you're ever this way, let me know and we'll share a bumbo (real pirate beverage made from fermented fruit sans cocktail umbrella) and salmagundi (a dish only a sailor could stomach!)

Great information on the items, especially on the 'calketrippe'. I hadn't thought about the barefoot factor. Makes total sense!

Steve has shown an interest in possibly joining the Forum. He is a self-confessed Luddite, as I am. Still working on him to join. We'll see. He's got a long nautical history and would be a great asset for us maritime fellows

M ELEY · 26th June 2017, 09:42 PM

Hi Norman. I think the collection is perfectly on par for Age of Piracy. One of my biggest pet peeves are those who say piracy ceased after 1717 (the end of the Golden Age). This is simply not the case. Piracy existed ever since the first cavemen threw a log into a river to fish from while some other scoundrel floated out to rob him. It was alive and well into the 19th c. and of course still exists today. Don't mean to get on my soapbox, but the facts prove piracy went on.
I personally believe that some of that 'piracy is over' thing was created by aristocrats in the Indies that wanted to downplay its continued existence. It was the same type of ballyhoo about every pirate being a murderer, rapist, torturer, etc. While most were brutal men and thieves, some gentlemanly, well mannered, educated and had families. The infamous Edward Teach, who supposedly murdered by the score, has no historical documentation that he killed anyone save Lt. Maynard's men when they stormed his ship. Sorry about the tirade. Perhaps I'll stir up a little debate with that one!

Jim McDougall · 27th June 2017, 03:05 AM

Thank you so much Mark!
As always, the discussion of pirates is fascinating, fun, perplexing, intriguing and a host of all sensations, so we owe a great deal to the writers on them who have provided us with such adventures........there lies the treasure!

I do hope you get Steve to join us.....and uh.....'luddite' (?) ...I still have a Fisher-Price keyboard!!!

Regarding Blackbeard, the quintessant figure in piracy......he was only 'on account' for just over a year, and its true, he actually never killed anyone (as far as recorded). An absolute must is the recent book by Kevin P. Duffus, "The Last Days of Blackbeard the Pirate", which reveals well researched accounts of the true character of him.
The reality of his final battle with Maynard is astounding, and far from the creative embellishing of Hollywood.

Norman, I neglected noting that wonderful chest!!! These sea chests were of course far different than the almost cliche' 'treasure chests' with hump back lids characterized by Pyle and Wyeth in their renowned illustrations. This is more like that which was of that of Cap'n Billy Bones in Stevenson's "Treasure Island" , which actually was situated in the mid 18th century, long after the 'Golden Age' had uh, 'ended' (?) NOT!

As for Blackbeard (or whatever his real name was), it is believed that his naming of his captured French slaver the Queen Annes Revenge was most telling...and that he was actually a Scot, and professed Jacobite.

Along with Blackbeard, the history of the much maligned Captain Kidd, crafted into notorious and feared pirate, is revised with a much different view in various books revealing the unfortunate treatment resulting in his unjust execution. The very document which would have exonerated him was found I believe in around 1911. There have been countless searches for his 'treasure', which of course was as fabricated as most of the rest of his case.

PS. wanted to add one more title which gives dynamic perspective to piracy, its artifacts and the true image of what these pirates were like.
"X Marks the Spot: The Archaeology of Piracy", R. Skowronek and Charles Ewen, 2006.

26th June 2017, 07:29 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,588	Ahoy Cap'n Mark and fellows of the Brotherhood!!! Its great to see everyone gathered here on deck! This is a breathtaking assemblage of piratical stuff!!!!and I have looked in numbers of times, unable to even find words or focus enough to compose anything lucid. So my apologies for being late, with my only explanation as the good ship lollipop (aka bookmobile) has been careened here in the port of Albacrocko for much needed repairs. Looking at these makes me desperately want to re chart my course to St. Augustine and N.C.!!!! It is always fascinating to watch you guys exchange such knowledge and detail on all of these things, and while I cannot add much to the firearms and ordnance, I wanted to at least throw in a few shots on some of the other items. While naturally always obsessed with the swords, I can only note how magnificently untouched and well represented these are here...great assembly of the shell guard sabres....which were as I have understood termed colloquially by the pirates, a 'shell' rather than the term cutlass. On the small dagger, Broadaxe is spot on in this being a Mediterranean dirk, used collectively for these daggers in nautical use by sailors in and from the regions throughout ports there. With these daggers it is hard to distinguish specific identity to region in many cases, so the broader identification is usually better than the much romanticized 'Corsican vendetta' (which it could very well be). In any case, the 'Mediterranean dirk, in another interesting and much romanticized incarnation, was actually the ancestor of the famed 'Bowie' knife, which is hard to believe when seeing the comparison to this much smaller knife. I was intrigued by the multi-spiked item in post #5 (which looks like a Mercedes logo in this image). This is as noted , a 'caltrap' (I found interesting detail in "Brevertons Nautical Curiosities" , Terry Breverton, 2013). Apparently these 'thistle' like devices were fashioned from scrap iron, and into four sharpened spikes. Sailors often went barefoot on deck to avoid slipping, so these devious things were devastatingly effective when strewn out before boarding. The term 'caltrip' derives etymologically from Latin and Old English words such as 'calketrippe' (OE= any plant which tended to catch feet). The pragmatic 'belaying' pin, was of course to secure rigging and was emplaced in pin rails along the deck sides, however, these very hard wood pins quickly became a 'weapon of opportunity' used to severely club a victim. Absolutely magnificent collection, and Mark, thank you for sharing it with us and extend deep gratitude to Steve Bunker!!!! a hearty extra ration of grog to him!!!

26th June 2017, 08:13 PM	#2
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,644	Hi Mark and Fernando, Although the contents mostly date to the 18thC the coffer itself by the style of construction, locks and hinges etc sits very comfortably in the 17thc, right in the thick of the buccaneering days. It's a shame the document lining is mostly gone as it might have made some fascinating reading, a treasure map!!!! or maybe not My Regards to you Both, Norman.

26th June 2017, 09:25 PM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,196	Ahoy yarself, Cap'n Jim! I was hoping you might see the thread and have comments! As always, a great pleasure to hear from you. Hope the U.S.S. BookMobile is soon 'seaworthy'! If you're ever this way, let me know and we'll share a bumbo (real pirate beverage made from fermented fruit sans cocktail umbrella) and salmagundi (a dish only a sailor could stomach!) Great information on the items, especially on the 'calketrippe'. I hadn't thought about the barefoot factor. Makes total sense! Steve has shown an interest in possibly joining the Forum. He is a self-confessed Luddite, as I am. Still working on him to join. We'll see. He's got a long nautical history and would be a great asset for us maritime fellows

26th June 2017, 09:42 PM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,196	Hi Norman. I think the collection is perfectly on par for Age of Piracy. One of my biggest pet peeves are those who say piracy ceased after 1717 (the end of the Golden Age). This is simply not the case. Piracy existed ever since the first cavemen threw a log into a river to fish from while some other scoundrel floated out to rob him. It was alive and well into the 19th c. and of course still exists today. Don't mean to get on my soapbox, but the facts prove piracy went on. I personally believe that some of that 'piracy is over' thing was created by aristocrats in the Indies that wanted to downplay its continued existence. It was the same type of ballyhoo about every pirate being a murderer, rapist, torturer, etc. While most were brutal men and thieves, some gentlemanly, well mannered, educated and had families. The infamous Edward Teach, who supposedly murdered by the score, has no historical documentation that he killed anyone save Lt. Maynard's men when they stormed his ship. Sorry about the tirade. Perhaps I'll stir up a little debate with that one!

27th June 2017, 03:05 AM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,588	Thank you so much Mark! As always, the discussion of pirates is fascinating, fun, perplexing, intriguing and a host of all sensations, so we owe a great deal to the writers on them who have provided us with such adventures........there lies the treasure! I do hope you get Steve to join us.....and uh.....'luddite' (?) ...I still have a Fisher-Price keyboard!!! Regarding Blackbeard, the quintessant figure in piracy......he was only 'on account' for just over a year, and its true, he actually never killed anyone (as far as recorded). An absolute must is the recent book by Kevin P. Duffus, "The Last Days of Blackbeard the Pirate", which reveals well researched accounts of the true character of him. The reality of his final battle with Maynard is astounding, and far from the creative embellishing of Hollywood. Norman, I neglected noting that wonderful chest!!! These sea chests were of course far different than the almost cliche' 'treasure chests' with hump back lids characterized by Pyle and Wyeth in their renowned illustrations. This is more like that which was of that of Cap'n Billy Bones in Stevenson's "Treasure Island" , which actually was situated in the mid 18th century, long after the 'Golden Age' had uh, 'ended' (?) NOT! As for Blackbeard (or whatever his real name was), it is believed that his naming of his captured French slaver the Queen Annes Revenge was most telling...and that he was actually a Scot, and professed Jacobite. Along with Blackbeard, the history of the much maligned Captain Kidd, crafted into notorious and feared pirate, is revised with a much different view in various books revealing the unfortunate treatment resulting in his unjust execution. The very document which would have exonerated him was found I believe in around 1911. There have been countless searches for his 'treasure', which of course was as fabricated as most of the rest of his case. PS. wanted to add one more title which gives dynamic perspective to piracy, its artifacts and the true image of what these pirates were like. "X Marks the Spot: The Archaeology of Piracy", R. Skowronek and Charles Ewen, 2006. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 27th June 2017 at 06:02 AM.