Reenactors!? - Anyone Here Reenact History?

There was a time when I couldnt believe that there was anything else more important OR enjoyable than being out in the park practiceing. Now that im too old to be doing that. I cant see what i saw in it. I was Lord Wilhelm Da Kaalavo

On Saturdays

Okay, that sounds fascinating! I would love to see that...

Pardon the typos - this was sent via Tapatalk on my cell phone!

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Nick and I are former SCAdians. We recreated characters from 16th century. He created a German merchant; I was an Irish croftswoman.

We also played at Ren Faire, until it was overrun with "faeries" and other such nonsense. Bungee jumping at Faire wasn't even the worst of it, but it was part of it.

SCA was a lot of fun. No shires where we now live, though - at least not within reasonable driving distance.

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Ive been on a bridge made out of hay bales for bannisters say 8ft wide or less. Maybe 30 to a side. The other side had what was called a war pick. The shaft rose up in the air around 15ft. The pick was another piece of rattan, maybe 6ft long. This thing is back from the front lines 2 or 3 and it is riseing up, with the shaft slightly bending. once up, All its enemys eyes are watching it while trying to kill the people who are on its side. It could reach in around 3 rows behind our front lines. . I watched it rise and fall. It came down and NEVER hit anyone, but EVERYONE watched it. IF it HAD hit someone, I think it would have really physically hurt someone bad. I never saw it again used. I think they banned it.

I seen the time in a war with a thousand on each side thereabouts, More or less, and we had the less, that the lines was around 3 blocks long. I had a gap around 15ft between me and the one to my right. I guess our lines to the right didnt want to cxome down and tie up with us for fear that would leave their L open to flank us. I got n the middle of the line. I told my neice to stand around 10ft behind me and only come up IF they charged. I guess she came up a couple times as, they grouped up in front of me a 1/2 doz or so. Maybe they thought they might lose oone or 2 getting past us, and be trapped with too few people to get back. Finally and ive forgotten how, the lines closed and that was the end. Might have lasted 10 mins,

Ive been on my knees in a line of say 8 shieldmen with as many spearmen backing us to keep us from being overwhelmed and our ankles possibly broken when/if we were pushed back. This in front of the sallyport of a castle with enemy etermined to get in before the battle is called due to time allotment. There spearmen are trying to hook our shields and pull them forward while another waits for an opening to shove their spear into the shields owner. Their spears slideing over the tops of our helms trying to hook a face grill or going past us for a spearman behind us, or comeing down trying to shove our shield low enough to get our helm

And a hundred other sceneros over a 25yr period

I used to go up to the Lilies Wars at Smithton Lake outside of Smithville. Once they had a woods battle, Me and my neices and nephew went in at the same time, But because they had resserection battle, if we got killed, we would come out of the woods and get resserrected and could go back in around 3 times. Because of that, we got seperated. A huge storm came up. They didnt call the battle till they saw lightening, and by then, it was way to late. The storm was flipping small planes at the Kansas City airport. They told us to get out. I saie my neices and nephew were in there. They said to get them out. I decided to just wait as they were trying to get them all out. If I went back in, theymight come out from another point in the woods and miss me. Finally, they all came out. By then it was pouring rain. They had told us NOT to wear our hems,. I said hell with it and put mine on. They started hollering to take it off. I said hell with that, I seen the Green Mile, and we walked back to camp

The SCA has their big annual war here in western PA. I have driven by the camp at night because it sits beside the interstate. White tents and torches as far as you can see. It is a pretty awesome sight. Like others have said, it does take you back to a different time.

Yes, my wife and I do, and now our two small children are now getting into it. This is how my wife and I met, I was working in our 1860`s village and my wife did a double take to see who that guy was that was working here. We have a total of 13 buildings in our village, started with an 1840`s log cabin, all the way up to a late 1800`s general store. Most of the buildings are 1860`s time period, some are original and some are built to look like buildings from the time. Most all of the furnishings are donated for the buildings, and the public has done well to keep them furnished. It started out privately owned, and after the owners died the city has taken it over. I am one of the old timers now that donate their time, I do harness making, rope making and anything else they need done. Cool place anyone and everyone should stop to see it, pm me if you want the name of it. > Thanks Marc

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Never been to Pennsic. Was at 3 Gulf Wars at St Joe Miss. 75 miles Due N of NO

The wife and kids and I do some SCA. Sir Kieran is a professional jouster (not the Knights of Mayhem) and also does Civil War re-creation.

We don't 'do' Pensic either, with the boy's football schedule.

Would like to hit either Lilies or Gulf in the next couple of years, tho.

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Roger

As a self studied student of the Revolutionary War are you saying there were NO battles/conflicts/skirmishes in New Jersey (which you list as your home) or that there were no direct battles in your town??

Annie

www.sca.org

we have an encampment that we have been putting together.

Does SCA now have actual jousting? When I was there, they had what they called the Sacaracen Run. One headed out on horseback with a lance spearing rings. At the other end, he got rid of his lance, and drew his sword and went back sliceing pumpkins, watermellions ect. It was a timed event

no jousting. Never really watched any equestrian events.

I am into the archery side of it and the cooking side.

This is an old thread, but haven't Visited this one for a while and thought I'd ressurect this one. The other half and I do 18th century/colonial re-enacting (1760 thru 1800). being I live in Ohio, I became interested in everything 18th century Ohio. (It's amazing how much Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky were tied to Ohio in the 18th century) I do an Ohio Valley scout/settler/hunter persona and I also do a Blacksmith persona with the portable forge, colonial anvil, tools, etc.

It's really alot of fun and you do get to interact with lots of interesting people and kids. People can learn alot from you if you research your topics well.

That being said ....research is really important, and that correct historical knowledge is what makes re-enacting alot of fun. Avoid the buying of things that look 'old-timey' for your persona and camp. There are alot of excellent vendors and other re-enactors that have period correct goods for sale. If you stick with having those items for your persona and camp, you will learn more and understand more by doing what they did, and doing things with the right equipment the way they did it. That is the learning and enjoyment of re-enacting. Those are the little gold nuggets you are after to learn and do.
Just three more things I want to add ..... Research, research, research !!

Ohio Rusty ><>

There is no sound more lonely than a cold and quiet anvil ...........

I was watching Russel Crows Robin Hood over the weekend. It may be the 2nd or third best of all time. Felt the urge to armour up and whack someone. I guess it never goes away lol

Thanks for everyone sharing! I thought there might be a few of you fellow reenactors here on the homesteading forum...Living more 'old-fashioned' and reenacting kind of go together in my opinion.

I LOVE that one, I thought it to be very historically correct (the story can be told many ways, I'm talking about the sets & costumes). After I watch it I have to go string up my bow...

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When I was in the 172 FA we went down to Fort Pickett for a live fire once. Kind of a reenactment, I guess- the 1st NH Light Artillery had a hand in turning back George Pickett.

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Some kingdoms do (like us). The lances are foam tipped (if I remember correctly).

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Roger

Thought I'd bump this thread up - is there anyone else who does reenacting here who hasn't replied yet?!

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