Italian Stiletto for comment

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

LOL! great humor as always Wayne
...Often carrying small pocket pistols was done, but many of these, especially the cheap available kinds, were called 'suicide pistols' presumably for misfire rate or other issues.

Thanks. I try. Breaks the boredom & adds colour.

I once owned a .25 pocket pistol i recall buying in Miami. Someone told me once not to actually shoot anyone with them with that, it might make them mad and they'll beat the tar outta you. It was very accurate for it's size, I'm sure I could have hit a Battlehip at 10 yards at least 5 times out of 10. I'm guessing similar ballistics and terminal lethality for you suicide pistols, allowing time for the target to get in a few jabs, essentially suicide by it's effectiveness. Might scare the horses tho. never did sink that battleship either.

p.s. - another NOLA anecdote, my Birthday, took some of the other officers to the New Orleans Playboy club. We were in summer dress white ossifer's uniforms (it was of course a bit warm out), which are tie-less. Doorman insisted he could NOT let us in without a tie. We were going to leave when his manager arrived with a solution. He 'loaned' us a tie, we each put it around our necks, walked in , took it off and tossed it back to the next. problem solved, the rule didn't say you have to keep wearing one once you were in.

The food was, as you note, unbelievably good. Best in the world. Loved my tour there, in spite of the eagle sized Mosquitos that could carry off a small child in the night...

[M ELEY]

You guys are cracking me up! Never been to New Orleans, but absolutely intend to some day. Jim, you brought up an excellent point with migrants bringing these types of dirks over from their home countries. This is the 'melting pot', after all. I have seen several examples of gambler dirks and boot knives with thin, stiletto blades. One, I believe, was identified as belonging to a Confederate soldier.

All this makes me want to watch "Silverado" again. Remember? Jeff Goldbrum playing the villain with the boot dagger?

[Jim McDougall]

LOL!
Yup, Nu Olaans, quite a place. As much as I love music, it was awesome....not just in the 'joints' but musicians often assemble in the street, start jammin' and more join in. Before long there are whole groups of players all incredibly in complete harmony just makin it up as they go.

Remember we were there in the rig, right by the levee, the fishing boats would dock, and you got buckets full of shrimp etc. and just lit up the BBQ.

With knives, Barateria, where Jean Lafitte was 'king' (his place still there) in late 18th into 19th, was named for knife fighting. Jim and Rezin Bowie learned knife fighting there, and likely with knives of this size but based on the Meditteranean knives used by sailors from Spain, Italy and France.

At night, Bourbon Street becomes lively and jubilant, rather than bustling as during the day, and while there seems a threatening darkness, it is mostly indiscernible in all the excitement. It really does not seem to have changed much from those days in the past centuries.
A lotta fun, but ya gotta always 'check your six'

Oh, and mosquitos?? here in Texas they have navigation lights on the wings!!

[kronckew]

I recall the Skeeters in Baytown, and along the coast & swamps down to Galveston. puny little fellers, could hardly pick up anything larger than a small child. Those back home in Alabama could take off with a calf under each arm.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

You guys are cracking me up! Never been to New Orleans, but absolutely intend to some day...

Yes you should, Cap'n; and don't listen to what those frightening guys are telling you about the mosquitoes. They must have been in N.O. in their previous incarnation; there are no more mosquitoes over there .
And, as you are a boatsman, i recommend you a little cruise in the steam paddle boat along the Mississippi and another in a nearby bayou. And don't forget to carry a handful a marshmallows to attract the 'gators. Some are so big they could play the role of the croc that devoured Captain Hook's hand .
And, as you leave or as you enter, an overnight (or two) in one of those mystic plantations .

[kronckew]

Well, It has arrived, cute little tyke, more stiletto than dagger, scabbard a bit tight & dry, using some leather rejuvenator on it. Photo below in my hand for scale. no markings on the blade. Sharp, as 'Doug' says 'this knife will cut'.

-

[fernando]

Nice piece indeed .

[M ELEY]

Originally Posted by fernando

Yes you should, Cap'n; and don't listen to what those frightening guys are telling you about the mosquitoes. They must have been in N.O. in their previous incarnation; there are no more mosquitoes over there .
And, as you are a boatsman, i recommend you a little cruise in the steam paddle boat along the Mississippi and another in a nearby bayou. And don't forget to carry a handful a marshmallows to attract the 'gators. Some are so big they could play the role of the croc that devoured Captain Hook's hand .
And, as you leave or as you enter, an overnight (or two) in one of those mystic plantations .

"Nando, you make me want to pack my bags and go right now! Just had a friend that went and did a cemetary tour of the city. She was completely blown away! I hear that the bar where Jean Lafette used to hang out is stil there. That river boat also sounds extremely amazing! Fernando, did you go while you were visiting here?

Speaking of river boats, didn't Jim Bowie have a knife fight atop one in a famous duel on the Mississippi? Have to do a little research on that one.

Wayne, that is truly a nice piece! Good find!

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

"Nando, you make me want to pack my bags and go right now! Just had a friend that went and did a cemetary tour of the city. She was completely blown away! I hear that the bar where Jean Lafette used to hang out is stil there. That river boat also sounds extremely amazing! Fernando, did you go while you were visiting here?

Speaking of river boats, didn't Jim Bowie have a knife fight atop one in a famous duel on the Mississippi? Have to do a little research on that one.

Wayne, that is truly a nice piece! Good find!

Avast there Capn Mark!
Been to New Orleans MANY times, and yup, the building that is claimed to be Lafitte's is still there. The cemetery's are kinda spooky, if you recall the scenes out of "Easy Rider" (1969) pretty good idea. People still pay pilgrimages to the Voodoo queens crypt.
There are the 'dueling oaks' (not fighting trees but the place where many duels were fought).
Bowie's 'sandbar fight' took place in a sandy shoal in the Mississippi near Natchez, chose to avoid jurisdiction in legal aspects as it was neither Louisiana nor Mississippi . The fight was actually a brawl that broke out AFTER the duel with seconds and witnesses all involved. They had all gotten to the shoal by boat.
Going through Arkansas, I visited the blacksmith shop where Black made the knives for Jim and Rezin Bowie. They are still forging and it was amazing to see.
Mosquitos......the quarter and tourist areas aren't too bad as there is a lot of spraying etc. but get out of those into outlying areas and yikes.

Alligators...……….along with popcorn shrimp, gumbo, the catfish and gator are pretty good eatin'.....along with beer and blues, oh yeah!.

Late at night, Bourbon St. is pretty much the way it was back then in those heady days nearly 200 yrs ago as far as liveliness, and the great buildings that came later as the city grew, and the antebellum mansions etc. are awesome.

Fantastic place! and Wayne, your stiletto is pretty awesome too, looks very New Orleans in the manner we have described.

[kronckew]

NOLA even had a good German Restaurant, I couldn't afford to eat there on an Ensigns salary. Ate many a Po'boy or Muffeletta sandwich (aka 'hero' or 'submarine') which were cheap and you could get just about anything layered on them. Them or red beans and rice (usually with hamhock and cajun sausage in it). And tons of shrimp and crawdads (crayfish) tho I never could bring myself to suck the heads out like the locals.

When we first moved there, in 1968, we lived in a small efficiency apartment on Royal just off Canal street a few doors down from a large Antique arms and armour dealer. Bought a cool elaborately engraved double headed indian parade axe there, since lost over the years of moving. racks of swords, halberds, spears, flintlocks, etc etc etc. It's still there! Antique Guns and Swords, 437 Royal. see below! spent many an hour drooling in there (and spending a few dollars). Y'all can blame them for getting me started in this mad avocation

French market was a couple blocks away as was Bourbon street. Beignets and coffee every morning before getting to the MIO offices at 9 that was a long trip of two blocks. We were on Camp & Common, a block other side of Camp from our flat.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

... That river boat also sounds extremely amazing! Fernando, did you go while you were visiting here?...

Yes, i did. Will send you some pictures ... assuming i know your email address.
We don't want the resident moderator to remind us that we keep diverting from the basic house business .

[Rick]

Originally Posted by fernando

Yes you should, Cap'n; and don't listen to what those frightening guys are telling you about the mosquitoes. They must have been in N.O. in their previous incarnation; there are no more mosquitoes over there .
And, as you are a boatsman, i recommend you a little cruise in the steam paddle boat along the Mississippi and another in a nearby bayou. And don't forget to carry a handful a marshmallows to attract the 'gators. Some are so big they could play the role of the croc that devoured Captain Hook's hand .
And, as you leave or as you enter, an overnight (or two) in one of those mystic plantations .

In Florida you don't view the Gators; they view you and you don't have to leave your house.

[kronckew]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joF7...wEUDQDWOSA6VD8

Some Gators are domesticated and cuddly. Crocodiles, not so much...

[M ELEY]

Let us not forget others that carried such pieces. I know we've already discussed Lafitte briefly, but few have heard of the nefarious Harpe brothers and their bloodthirsty exploits on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Called the 'first serial killers in America' by some. It is hard to imagine their barbarity happening in such a pastoral setting...

http://1mississippi.org/pirates-of-the-mississippi/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpe_brothers