Pirate News

Why Black Powder Proof Testing?

What be a proof testing? Why be it important? Prooftesting is firing a gun barrel with a black powder charge that is well in excess of any load that it would see in normal use. If the barrel bulges, deforms or explodes, we fail it! It is important to assure that every gun is safe to use. It be the pirates curse to die in battle from his own gun that he fired himself, arrrrrgh!

At Pirate Fashions, we measure each barrel with digital calipers n' record all measurements. We proof test our guns using the old British standard of a triple charge and double ball load. This is loaded into the barrel and bolted into a test stand. It is then electricly fired, cooled, then remeasured. If the dimensions vary by more than .005, the barrel fail the test n' is destroyed. If it passes, we fill out a certificate of proof n' proofstamp the barrel on the tang. This be arrrr way of assuring the saftey of our customers and ensuring the enjoyment of our hobby for years to come.

Note we NEVER proof a barrel in its gunstock. This would destroy any stock n' risk injury to those nearby. If you are going to proof your own personal weapons, do so on a test stand well away from anyone. Allow at least 50 feet and put something solid like a concrete wall between you n' yar test. I don't recommend this fer anyone but a qualified gunsmith.

Proof testing has been in use since the 16th century. Currently there be no US standard for proofing black powder firearms. There are black powder proofing houses in Old World. We view this as a problem! We proof test every single weapons we sell. I am not aware of any other black powder gun maker in the US that proofs their weapons. The British standard be the toughest standard we could find, so that be the one we use.

 

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This be arrrr 28th issue of the Pirate Fashions Newsletter for Mar 2013. In transfer the old website to the new one, we had issues transferring the newsletter. So we be reposing the feature article into this blog instead of losing all the past newsletters.

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Tampa Bay Welcomes Tiger Lee's Pirate Fashions

Tampa has welcome Pirate Fashions more in 2 months that St Augustine has in 4 years. Tampa Bay Times ran a half page article features on the front of the local section on Jan 12, 2013. The article by Susan Thurston "Retailers cash in on Pirate Mania" covered 3 different business, Pirate Fashions recieved first billing as well as a huge photo featuring Tiger Lee.

Two days before Gasparilla, Charley Belcher from Fox Channel 13 News, did a live newcast from the store. There be three 3 minute news interview segments on arrrrr website.

 

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This be arrrr 27th issue of the Pirate Fashions Newsletter for Feb 2013. In transfer the old website to the new one, we had issues transferring the newsletter. So we be reposing the feature article into this blog instead of losing all the past newsletters.

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The Treacherous Adventures of Tiger Lee's move to the bay of Gasparilla.

View of back of store from parking lot, still waiting fer front windows to be put in n' wall mural to be painted against side of store.

There alway be some scurvy dog trying to steal all yar hard earned dubloons. Well it turns out this wench named Ms. Bennett, uses a business broker to steal all my trade secrets through a ruse. She told me not to tell anyone of the sale. This be the reason why I didn't notify my customer earlier. She backs out at the last moment and signs a lease with the landlord, so she can steal all my loyal customers without paying her dues.

I have spent alot of effort building a business through a depressed economy. I ask all my friend to support me by Boycotting the opening Streg's Pirate Shop in my old address in St Augustine.

 

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This be arrrr 26th issue of the Pirate Fashions Newsletter for Jan 2013. In transfer the old website to the new one, we had issues transferring the newsletter. So we be reposing the feature article into this blog instead of losing all the past newsletters.

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Why Pirate Fashions be Moving to Tampa, Florida

Opening Day be Dec 15, 2012. Hours of operation arrrr Friday, Saturday N' Sundays from 11am to 6pm. Other hours by appointment only. There be plent of free parking in the back.

Many a folk wonder why I be moving. It not because I not makin' any money. St Augustine has been the perfect place to move my business in 2008 from San Diego, CA to the East Coast. I transform my business from a mobile Dress Like a Pirate Photo Booth following the Pirate N' Renaissance Faire circuit on the Pacific Coast to a permanent full time store that sold pirate wares and takes pirate photos for the tourist market.

 

Avast all ye loyal readers of this fine newsletter. The rumours be true that Pirate Fashions be movin' the entire operations to Tampa, Florida in Dec.

In 2009 my store sat in a 300 sq foot mall space, in 2010 we moved into a 1200 sq foot 130 year old historical building. In 2011, we added a 1000 sq foot space fer pirate clothing and leather production. This year I attempted to purchase a 2400 sq foot historical building to combined both the retail store and production facility together. The 8 month in the making deal when to Dave Jones Locker. I had already given notice to move n' when I told them I be plannin' on staying, they told me they not be renewing the lease. So I be cursed.

I studied the charts n' figured out the best pyrating town in the New World be the home of the rich krewes of Gasparilla in Tampa Bay. I found a 4000 sq feet building on 1711 W. Kennedy Blvd near the University of Tampa, that I be in the process of converting to be the grandest pyrate store in the seven seas. I will be able to combined the store with the production facility to produce more custom pirate garb, accoutrements n' weapons.

 

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This be arrrr 25th issue of the Pirate Fashions Newsletter for Dec 2012. In transfer the old website to the new one, we had issues transferring the newsletter. So we be reposing the feature article into this blog instead of losing all the past newsletters.

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Pirates in the Land of the Rising Sun

My first customer from Japan placed an order, so I asked him a question about Pirates in Japan. Here be what he told me:

Matthew Green, who be called Captain Calico Mattias, after being crowned captain fer 6 years, he and a group of friends started going to all the bars in Perth during International Talk Like a Pirate Day dressed as pirates.  The best-dressed pirate be named Captain.  In 2010 he moved to Japan only to experience the worst ever ITLAPD.  Last year he connected with an organizer to hold a 3 hour Tokyo Bay cruise on ITLAPD, which 180 maties attended. 

This year Captain Calico Mattias organized afacebook page fer the event. They started the evening in the harbor as the crew gathered, much to the interest of onlookers. Spirits be high n’ there be a lot of great costumes. They brought a large chest full of props to wave about. Most of his time be occupied with people wanting photos, which sadly cut into his ability to take advantage of the all-you-can-drink grog. Probably my fondest memory of the night, he said, was singing 15 Men on a Dead Man's Chest.

The popularity of pirates in Japan has probably spiked in recent years with the Pirates of the Caribbean films. As with Perth "Jack Sparrow" has become synonymous with "pirate". The Japanese are very receptive to the idea of pirates n’ the fun that comes with them. While it is still in its infancy, Captain Calico Mattias thinks there be a promising future fer things like Talk Like a Pirate Day in Japan.

 

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HMS Bounty Sinks

I have been aboard the 120 foot tallship build in 1960 fer the MGM movie "Mutiny on the Bounty", as you may have seen if ye looks at some of my calendars. The Bounty has been a fixture at many a pirate festivals n' all us in the pyrate community will surely misse her, even though she be a king's ship.

On Oct 29, 2012 the 16 members of the Bounty abandoned shipp off the coast of North Caroline after getting caught in the high 18 foot waves of Hurrican Sandy, which staled her engines. 42 year old Claudene Christian was drowned n' 63 year old Captain Robin Walbridge be still missing. The rest of the krew be rescued by the Coast Guard. Arelief fund fer the family n' krewe of the bounty has been establish.

 

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This be arrrr 24th issue of the Pirate Fashions Newsletter for Nov 2012. In transfer the old website to the new one, we had issues transferring the newsletter. So we be reposing the feature article into this blog instead of losing all the past newsletters.

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The Sovereigh of the Seas

This here book be taking ye back in time to the year 1799 to sail with Captain Pike n' his crew on their unbelievable journey in search of the four keys of the sea. Good verses evil is the name of the game in this classic story, n' as always, if good is not really careful, evil will prevail. Demons, devils, witches n' sea maidens all play an important roll in this unforgettable story, many out to help the crew n' many out to stop them. The book has a five star rating on Amazon!

D.M. Atlas over at The Almost Living Motion Picture Company, LLC has purchased the screen rights for the movie.This 3 hour motion picture is scheduled to be released Dec. 2013. Once funded a fully functioning, 140 foot long, three tall mast great ship will be built in Turkey & sailed the States where filming will begin all over the east coast's barrier islands as well as the Caribbean including the Virgin Islands. If ye be interested in auditioning fer a part, following this link to casting.

Stephen P. Simpson, the author with no prior experience in writing, 3 years ago he sat down to write. Two years later he had created the greatest pirate tale ever told, the Sovereign of the Seas "The Four Keys".

 

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This be arrrr 23rd issue of the Pirate Fashions Newsletter for Oct 2012. In transfer the old website to the new one, we had issues transferring the newsletter. So we be reposing the feature article into this blog instead of losing all the past newsletters.

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Talk Like a Pyrate Pub Crawl

International Talk Like a Pirate Day be created in 1995 by me bucko's Ol' Chumbucket n' Cap'n Slappy, who proclaimed Sept 19 of each year as the day when everyone in the world should talk like a pirate.

There be no cost to this pub crawl other than what ye buy fer food n' drink. We will stop at 3 local pubs, were we will pay grams, sing a sea shanty, tell some bad pirate jokes n' even engage in a pirate duel.

We put on two pub crawls a year just to have some fun with me good mates. Must come in pirate garb. Talk Like A Pyrate Pub Crawl on Friday, Sept 21, 2012, just meet up at Pirate Fashion located on 26 Cuna Street, St Augustine, FL 32084 at 6pm, yarrrrrgh!

Stay the weekend n' attend the Mariners Ball on Saturday.

 

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This be arrrr 22th issue of the Pirate Fashions Newsletter for Sep 2012. In transfer the old website to the new one, we had issues transferring the newsletter. So we be reposing the feature article into this blog instead of losing all the past newsletters.

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Republic of Pirates TV Series

NBC is expected to unveil plans at its upfront presentation next week for a new drama series about pirates, targeted to launch in March 2013.

The 10-episode series, “Republic of Pirates,” is reportedly being financed by Reliance, an Indian media firm that has traditionally been involved in feature films. Reliance, known as a backer of Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks Studios, is looking to make a move into U.S. television, the story reports.

“NBC is finalizing a deal for a straight-to-series order to the period drama, which will be produced by Georgeville Television, an independent TV studio formed recently by producer and former Heyday Films executive Marc Rosen (‘Harry Potter’), and Motion Picture Capital, the finance arm of Reliance Entertainment.

Neil Cross (“Luther”) is said to be close to a deal to write and executive produce with Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald. The project is based on the Colin Woodard book “The Republic of Pirates.”

 

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This be arrrr 21th issue of the Pirate Fashions Newsletter for Aug 2012. In transfer the old website to the new one, we had issues transferring the newsletter. So we be reposing the feature article into this blog instead of losing all the past newsletters.

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Pirates of Savannah Author

In my travels of various Pirate Festival n' events, I be meeting many interesting characters. I met with Tarrin P. Lupo n' his co-author wench, Ruby Nicole Hilliard. Tarrin be best known fer being the author of "Pirates of Savannah". He has published 13 Books n' currently resides in Savannah Georgia and is a member of the Free State Project.  They try to write fun adventure novels crammed packed with real history. It be nice to see a pirate book not set in the Caribbean, the story occur's in George and Florida. Ye may read the first few chapters here for free as a special bonus to my mates.

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This be arrrr 20th issue of the Pirate Fashions Newsletter for Jul 2012. In transfer the old website to the new one, we had issues transferring the newsletter. So we be reposing the feature article into this blog instead of losing all the past newsletters.

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Mutiny Magazine makes a Splash!

A new on-line pirate magazine just come out n' it be a treasure filled 150 pages of pirate articles n' stores. This be published by Clay Clement, better know as Talderoy of Studio City Tattoo in California. It be free to view on-line, so take a gander. The first issue looks well layouted with interesting articles such as: Escape with Kendra about her travel to La Isla Bonita - Belize, Save the Shawnee by Chritine Lampe, Mermaids in the Wild by Rebecca MacKay, Fictional Story called L'Ollonais by Bullet Valmont, Resurrection of La Royaliste, a piece about the Pirate RockBand - The Pirate Charles, 2012 Inductees of the Order of Leviathan, the Art of Karen Yee, Ale Hunter by Jules Evermore, Piratical Ponderings by Cap'n Slappy n' Ol' Chumbucket, n' many more articles to mention.

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This be arrrr 19th issue of the Pirate Fashions Newsletter for Jun 2012. In transfer the old website to the new one, we had issues transferring the newsletter. So we be reposing the feature article into this blog instead of losing all the past newsletters.

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