42nd F&I War Weapons

[JMorganKuberry]

That is very interesting about the pockets. I'll have to do some research into civilian hunting fashion. If true I'll have the best jacket on the block. Switching the pockets to the inside is but the work of a moment. I have read the original statement and have been puzzled about how the flap he mentions could work.

I have never used a tripod to suspend a cooking pot and don't intend to anytime soon. My cast iron cauldron has 3 legs of its very own, cast right into its construction. It holds 3 liters and the legs are about 6 inches long. It has a hard handle like one would use to suspend a pot. I set it directly in the coals on it's 3 legs and fish it back out with a stick or poker using its handle. Failing that I do have the wrought iron equivalent of the two Y's and a beam, to hang pots over. But it is it's own sort of farbiness. Wood poles are much more accurate but I never seem to find good ones at event sites, I've looked. Cast iron is far over represented at reenactments in general. So I will rethink that pot for FnI. I got it for 13th century purposes, where it is identical in silhouette and functionality to the cast bronze ones we see in manuscripts. Most of them are depicted as being soot-stained black, so cast iron worked well.

Probably the most accurate for 18th century cookware I have, is a medium size copper pot that I got at an estate sale and had the inside tinned (for modern safety reasons) that I can suspend from a beam. I got that for 15th century purposes. The problem is it's a lot of junk to haul to cook for just one or two. And none of it or nearly none of it is quite accurate anyways.

But reenactors cook way too much. Generally, biscuit, alcohol (coffee in the 19th century), and cold meat is usually what I eat all the days of an event. I don't believe in coolers, sleeping bags, or other such things.

I also have a tiny sheet brass cauldron, tinned inside, with stubby legs that I can stand in a fire. That might actually be best for making stone soup for 2 or 3 guys at events in the 18th century.

I know what you mean about the standard issue Indian dirk that you see 7 of at every event. I intend to get one used. Probably won't carry it at events very often, that and the pistol I mostly intend for show and tell tables. I'm not going to be cutting anything with it. The edge will probably be ground down to keep John Q. Public from hurting themselves with it. So for that, a used old Museum Replicas one is ideal. I have a small regular old knife to carry around for practical purposes. Someday I might get a a good one. I'm in no rush on dirks. I'll just keep an eye out.

Mostly I am excited to hear that there is a reasonable looking issue sword on the market.

Knapsack, I still have to find or make one. But in the meantime that's where I'm at for carrying gear.