On occasion, I often wonder if my wife TRULY knew what she was getting into with me...

Now, the double-decker bus has become a dream of the family, but this is not what I asked for as a Christmas gift from her... mostly because I'm reasonably sure that she doesn't have $20,000.00 for Christmas gifts... at least, not this year.

Nope, her significant other has asked for...

...a weapon.

A Pattern 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sword. Yup... I want this sword.

Granted, I want it... but I would hope to have Sue engrave something on the blade for me...

Oh, if you're a new reader... do remember I'm a War of 1812 re-enactor... but it's not like I'd EVER get to use this sword with those events... to be honest, I ain't an officer (I WORK FOR MY MONEY!) and they're pretty strict about "edged weapons" on the field.

That said, I told Sue if not 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sword, I'd be thrilled to get...

...an 1803 Pattern British Infantry Sabre.

C'mon now... it's purdy...

To be honest, I'd prefer this for my "special gift", but there's just SOMETHING about the Heavy Cavalry that I like... but this is the one I want for Christmas...

Of course, there is...

The 1796 Pattern British Infantry Sword... which is nice... but the two above are eventual "musts".

Granted, I won't really be able to go back in the field until I get my firearm back...

*Sigh*... I used to own the above... a Baker Rifle... To be honest, much as my commanding officer (Norfolk Militia) would KILL me for getting the short Baker, I've found providence of them being in Upper Canada in 1813... meaning it IS accurate to the period... but they'd prefer me to have...

The Short Land Pattern "Brown Bess" musket.

This is really the "staple" weapon for British re-enactors... but I do miss my Baker... stupid poverty forcing me to sell it!

I mean, check out the Baker Bayonet!

A mini-sword!

...and yes, I had the rifle, the bayonet, and the appropriate slings.

To be honest, however, I think I managed to fire exactly five cartridges with it before being forced to sell the whole thing. Perhaps this is why I miss it so much.

Hey, it's not like Sue isn't completely into this... she's "kitted out" as a red-coat soldier!

...to be honest, though, she has a thing about wanting to play a femal guerilla... she has an empire dress and has "hinted" that she'd like... well...

...or...

Yup, she wants to be "armed"... sometimes, I don't know if that's such a good idea... even if it is a flintlock pistol.

In some cases, if the shot didn't carry, hit the target, or more likely, she had a misfire, she's the type that would decide "hand-to-hand" would be fine...

...do I want to unleash this on one of the fields?

Well, for myself, one day I hope to own the Pattern 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sword, the 1803 Pattern British Infantry Sabre, a Baker Rifle with bayonet, and out of necessity, a Brown Bess.

...but for now, the 1803 sabre is the one I want ASAP...

(HINT! HINT! FOR DECEMBER 25TH, SUE!!!)

Sue, of course, will eventually have one (or more) of her pistols... so don't tick her off! After all, with a misfire rate of about 70%, accuracy only assured at about ten yards maybe, and taking about twenty or thirty seconds to load... she'd be moderately possibly dangerous... after all, when the damned thing doesn't work, she'll probably toss that little bugger right at your noggin and they're heavy!

*Sigh* I need to get back into the field... My swash is in desperate need of buckling!

Did I mention that I hope Sue noted the subtle, gentle hint about the 1803 Pattern British Infantry Sabre as a Christmas gift idea?

...just keepin' it subtle.

Oh, and here's a link to where it can be purchased...

The standard last note on the old blog... PLEASE SUPPORT THE DREAM!

This blog is here to help promote a dream that an entire family shares... that dream is to rescue an old London Double-Decker bus.

Please, if you have a few minutes, take some time to find out more about this bus and the kooky dream by clicking here.

This bus is VERY special to myself and the whole family, and any help any person can lend us would be most gratefully accepted.

If you or someone you know might be interested, there's our pixel ad site, HelpCoverTheBus.Com and a PayPal donation button (see the upper-right hand side of the blog) and, of course, a Cafe Press shop for T-Shirts and shtuff!
(...and who doesn't need some shtuff!)

Please help us make this dream a reality and save a piece of history!

We thank you for your support!

Please Note: We are also hoping for help from a public relations/marketing standpoint... If you might be able to assist OR know someone who might be willing to, please click here and read this entry...