Gentlemen's Steampunk Accessories

[akumabito]

Farang/i] like myself can not obtain a permit to carry, own, or manufacture firearms. In fact, going down the local shooting range with a wad of cash (5 times what the locals pay) and renting a gun for an hour is problematic enough..

[Nebutron]

I wish they did a DA version of the Schofield... sexiest revolver ever made..

Wouldn't a double action Schofield just be a Webley?

Cheers,

Neb

[akumabito]

I wish they did a DA version of the Schofield... sexiest revolver ever made..

Wouldn't a double action Schofield just be a Webley?

Cheers,

Neb

After removing 90% of the sexiness and all its manliness, yes.

[HAC]

One can make a Schofield  nicer.... with a touch of the engravers art...



Cheers
Harold


As far as Webley-Fosberry's - I had the good fortune to fire one at the range once.. Very quick action for a revolver..

Cheers
Harold

[Edgar]

Farang/i] like myself can not obtain a permit to carry, own, or manufacture firearms. In fact, going down the local shooting range with a wad of cash (5 times what the locals pay) and renting a gun for an hour is problematic enough..

Hum,  that somewhat reeks of xenophobia from their part! Don't they have hunting safaris?

But what do I know, I'm just a Westerner...
And more of a Dieselpunk, I dream of a Bullpup semi-auto pistol, with enough barrel to be considered a small carbine, so a pistol won't be useless at more than 50 Meters...

Completely unrelated:

Done the Metal piece shown in the Avatar with a Charcoal Foundry, on Aluminum, a sand cast.

Takes no more dexterity than Sand Castle building, but the molten metal needs some caution to deal with!

Now I know about Wood's Metal, a Bismuth alloy that melts...

At BOILING WATER temperature! 

And finally, to be completely frivolous... Is there a Quake II Steampunk Mod?

[christopherdelamaison]

One can make a Schofield  nicer.... with a touch of the engravers art...



Cheers
Harold


As far as Webley-Fosberry's - I had the good fortune to fire one at the range once.. Very quick action for a revolver..

Cheers
Harold

I wonder if the makers of this revolver, or the engraver who did the artwork, would ever think their wares would be coveted items for a group such as ours?

[Edgar]

I wonder if the makers of this revolver, or the engraver who did the artwork, would ever think their wares would be coveted items for a group such as ours?

What, people that, on an era of clones of clones, still have a soul, and appreciates fine workmanship?

Why not?

GUYS!

I'm an Inventor, right? That means that

A) I'm obnoxious
B) I'm absent-minded
C) I keep coming up with ideas!

Get this, an idea so ANYONE can make any Steampunk gun:

Wood's metal melts at 70º, the temperature of hot water;

Sooo...

-Make a wax mold,
-bury that on plaster, with a bit protruding for the metal going in,
-let the plaster dry,
-heat the thing on a Microwave to let the wax out,
-pour the metal in!


See "Wood's metal" here:



http://www.unitednuclear.com/chem.htm

[HAC]

did you ever read the WHMIS data for Wood's metal?

1. Product Identification
Synonyms: Wood's Metal; Fusible alloy; Bismuth, Lead, Tin, and Cadmium alloy
CAS No.: 8049-22-7
Molecular Weight: Not applicable.
Chemical Formula: Not applicable.
Product Codes: 2684

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2. Composition/Information on Ingredients


  Ingredient                                CAS No         Percent        Hazardous                                 
  ---------------------------------------   ------------   ------------   ---------   
 
  Bismuth Metal                             7440-69-9           50%          Yes                                                                 
  Tin                                           7440-31-5          13.3%         Yes                                                                 
  Lead                                         7439-92-1          26.7%         Yes                                                                 
  Cadmium                                    7440-43-9           10%          Yes                                                                 
 


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3. Hazards Identification
Emergency Overview
--------------------------
DANGER! MAY BE FATAL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED. CAUSES IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. NEUROTOXIN. AFFECTS THE GUM TISSUE, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, KIDNEYS, BLOOD, PROSTATE, AND REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM. CANCER HAZARD. CAN CAUSE CANCER. Risk of cancer depends on duration and level of exposure. DUST MAY FORM FLAMMABLE OR EXPLOSIVE MIXTURE WITH AIR.

J.T. Baker SAF-T-DATA(tm) Ratings (Provided here for your convenience)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Health Rating: 3 - Severe (Cancer Causing)
Flammability Rating: 0 - None
Reactivity Rating: 0 - None
Contact Rating: 1 - Slight
Lab Protective Equip: GOGGLES; LAB COAT; PROPER GLOVES
Storage Color Code: Blue (Health)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Potential Health Effects
----------------------------------

Inhalation:
The physical size of the alloy sticks makes inhalation or ingestion rather unlikely. The principal inhalation hazard would be the fumes or fine particles from the alloy when heated much above its melting point. These would be of indefinite composition, but it may be assumed that the highly toxic elements lead and cadmium would be present.
Lead can be absorbed through the respiratory system. Local irritation of bronchia and lungs can occur and, in cases of acute exposure, symptoms such as metallic taste, chest and abdominal pain, and increased lead blood levels may follow. See also Ingestion.
Cadmium absorption is most efficient via respiratory tract. Inhalation of dust may produce irritation, headache, metallic taste and/or cough. Severe exposures may produce shortness of breath, chest pain, and flu-like symptoms with weakness, fever, headache, chills, sweating, nausea and muscular pain. Can cause pulmonary edema, liver and kidney damage and death. Symptoms from inhalation may be delayed for as much as 24 hours.
Ingestion:
Difficult, due to the size of the sticks. Small pieces or particles of Wood's Metal, if ingested, should be assumed to be toxic, though the degree is uncertain. It is recommended that the precautions appropriate to lead metal ingestion be taken.

The symptoms of lead poisoning include abdominal pain and spasms, nausea, vomiting, headache. Acute poisoning can lead to muscle weakness, "lead line" on the gums, metallic taste, definite loss of appetite, insomnia, dizziness, high lead levels in blood and urine with shock, coma and death in extreme cases.

Ingestion of cadmium can cause a flu-like illness with chills, headache, aching and/or fever. High exposure may cause nausea, vomiting, cramps and diarrhea. Bismuth is poorly absorbed. Should absorption occur, symptoms may include loss of appetite, headache, skin rashes, kidney damage, and rarely mild jaundice. Large doses of tin may cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Skin Contact:
May cause mild irritation. Lead and lead compounds may be absorbed through the skin on prolonged exposure; the symptoms of lead poisoning described for ingestion exposure may occur. Contact over short periods may cause local irritation, redness and pain.
Eye Contact:
Fine particles may cause abrasive irritation with pain or inflammation.
Chronic Exposure:
Prolonged contact with Wood's Metal or its fumes may lead to some degree of heavy metal poisoning, especially the accumulation of lead in the body. Lead is a cumulative poison and exposure even to small amounts can raise the body's content to toxic levels. Muscle weakness and central nervous system irregularities may be noted. Chronic exposure to cadmium, even at relatively low concentrations, may result in kidney damage and an increased risk of cancer of the lung and of the prostate. Decrease in bone density, renal stones, and other evidence of disturbed calcium metabolism may be observed. Prolonged inhalation of tin dust or fumes may result in a benign pneumoconiosis, producing distinctive changes in the lungs with no apparent disability or complications. Repeated or prolonged ingestion of bismuth may cause black spots on the gums, foul breath, and salivation. Chronic exposure may affect kidneys and liver.
Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions:
Persons with pre-existing skin disorders or eye problems, or impaired liver, kidney or respiratory function may be more susceptible to the effects of the substance.

Just a thought...

Cheers
Harold

[Edgar]

I thank you for your foresight and warning, heath is no small mater,  but, you're not going to chew your props, are you? 

But, even so:

Ingestion:
Difficult, due to the size of the sticks. Small pieces or particles of Wood's Metal, if ingested, should be assumed to be toxic, though the degree is uncertain. It is recommended that the precautions appropriate to lead metal ingestion be taken.

The principal inhalation hazard would be the fumes or fine particles from the alloy when heated much above its melting point.

Does anyone of you want to heat metal above it's melting point? Not me!

And anyhow, there's always the PURE Bismuth, (melts at 271 °C), let me quote form the Site:

Bismuth Metal
chemical element: Bi
( small disks )
Very high purity (99.99%) Bismuth metal in small disk form. The small disks are about 9mm in diameter x 4mm thick and weigh approximately 3 grams each.
Bismuth is a chemical element; atomic number 83. You won't believe the unusual things you can do with this metal. Click Here for more info on this item.
Because Bismuth is so heavy and completely non-toxic, it is rapidly becoming a popular replacement for Lead in many applications.
The price on Bismuth can vary from day to day.
It has been rapidly increasing in value.

[HAC]

Hey, I'm not going to stop you from doing anything, I do believe you should always check on the stuff you are going to be working with.  ANY heavy metal in elemental form can cause heath problems.
  At least wear eye protection, if you ever decide to cast stuff with it..

Cheers
Harold
 
 

 
 

[Edgar]

I know you mean well, and thank you for it. 

Of course, any work on metal should be done with care.

But if you always wanted to see you ideas come to life, you should have a go at it, the sense of achievement is like nothing else!

Cheers,

Edgar

[HAC]

  One thing you might want to check would be the viscosity of whatever low temp alloy you use when its molten.
You might need more pressure to get the metal into fine details of your mold, than can be generated by gravity alone.
I know that with gold, and small castings, the use of a casting centrifuge is often the only way to go..

Cheers
Harold

[akumabito]

It's not all that hard to cast aluminium you know.. Though I'll be te first to say I have never seen a pretty prop weapon made of cast metal. At least not without a LOT of machining afterwards to smoothen it up. It's really not worth the trouble if you ask me..

[Edgar]

One thing you might want to check would be the viscosity of whatever low temp alloy you use when its molten.

Harold, I learned that the hard way, a metal cookie came out!
But I bought the late Gingery's "The Charcoal Foundry", and the solution is simple: A sprue, i.e. a thick column of metal that pushes the metal on the mold into submission.

Though I'll be te first to say I have never seen a pretty prop weapon made of cast metal.

akumabito, I beg to differ! It's far easier to mill those final touches out than to is to mill the whole thing from a block of metal...

Even the poor man's lathe, a a hand drill and a file, can do a smashing job of it. Not so with complete milling...

[Dr Flonker]

Let us not forget the pipe and cigarette case.  I tend to carry my cigarette case wherever I go, even though I gave up smoking a year ago.  I keep business cards in it now.  And speaking of which calling cards (business cards) is a must for any gentleman!

Don't forget cigarette lighters!!

Found this one Googling out trench lighters:



WW1 trench lighters were made from spent cartridge cases, shouldn't be hard if you have a couple spent cartridges laying around and a cheap fluid or butane lighter for use as a donor...

[Dr Flonker]

While I'm thinking somewhat coherently, what would the proper Victorian era gentleman carry in his pocket in the way of a pocket knife?  I'm in the habit of packing a Swiss Army knife every where I go.  Would a Victorian pack a simple two-blade folding jackknife or what?

[Dusza Beben]

While I'm thinking somewhat coherently, what would the proper Victorian era gentleman carry in his pocket in the way of a pocket knife?  I'm in the habit of packing a Swiss Army knife every where I go.  Would a Victorian pack a simple two-blade folding jackknife or what?

Victorian + Victorinox?
I think the most common for a proper gent would be a single or double bladed pen knife.  They actually get their name from their function as they were intended to cut new tips on quill pens.

DB

[Kew]

I just asked my hubby "What the heck is a Webley-Fosberry?" and the first thing he said was "The 'automatic pistol'? Odd things....don't want to 'limp wrist' 'em." I guess the action that makes them automatic makes them jerk a bit. This is from a guy who packs a 1911 every day and routinely shoots a Walker Dragoon..

Not quite. The reason is due to the action though. They actually have lower recoil than many other revolvers of similar caliber. However, they're automatic because when it's fired, the recoil moves the entire barrel and cylinder back, rotating and recocking the weapon. If the handle isn't supported, it'll move as well, and the action won't go.

That's not quite clear. Basically, if you aren't holding it firmly enough, the barrel won't move enough relative to the handle, and it won't reload. Make sense?

[Hyren von Henry]

so maybe some fort of clockwork aided re-loading device may be in order?

[Dr Flonker]

While I'm thinking somewhat coherently, what would the proper Victorian era gentleman carry in his pocket in the way of a pocket knife?  I'm in the habit of packing a Swiss Army knife every where I go.  Would a Victorian pack a simple two-blade folding jackknife or what?

Victorian + Victorinox?
I think the most common for a proper gent would be a single or double bladed pen knife.  They actually get their name from their function as they were intended to cut new tips on quill pens.

DB

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Maybe a steamed Swiss Army for the gentleman-adventurer/inventor?  Say, replace the cheesy red plastic with wood inlaid with some brass, possibly (might want to do this on a practice knife FIRST!!) replace the frame with machined brass, and of course a lanyard to carry it with...  Or, a leather carrying case to clip onto your belt, simular to the one I saw in the Pocketwatch threat, with a recoiling lanyard?

My mind is kicking into high gear here, someday maybe I'll get the chance to make this...

[Magnus]

hmm... Personally i carry a watchmakers swiss army knife everywhere... doesn't look steamy at all... but, lets me take pretty much anything apart wherever i am.

however, something rather steamy looking i am rather fond of that i also carry is a pocket watch style cased analogue volt meter, still works great too. 

[Head Wreck]

ah, another fan of the webley fosbery.

of course it has to be in .455 not the ickle .38

[Steamtinker]

For the Gentleman:

Charged Projectile Dragoon

This weapon is based on Dr. Lemat's famous hand cannon, with some notable changes. The shotgun component has been scrapped in favor of the Leyden Capacitor which is slung beneath the barrel and fed through the charging coil. When fired, the silver-copper alloy round obtains a high voltage charge as it passes across the contacts embedded in the barrel, delivering a one two punch which has proved quite sucessful against supernatural adversaries. As the firing process generates quite a bit of heat, a cooling ridge has been added to the top of the barrel.




For the Lady:

Rubidium Beam Dragoon

At just over 13 inches, it's formidable without being unweildy, and the unique death's head accents let your gentleman caller know that lack of manners could quick lead to a lack of certain precious body parts.




Regards

-Steamtinker

[cuchlann]

Re: all the pocket knife stuff.  I carry a Victorinox "Tinker" -- which has scissors and a philips screwdriver along with the typical Swiss army knife stuff.  And I went looking:  Victorinox was founded in 1884, and started supplying knives to the Swiss military in 1891. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorinox

So it's late, but it does qualify for our particular historic area of interest.

The red is for people out in the snow -- if you drop it, red is the brightest, most unnatural color, making it easier to find.  That idea seems pretty steamy to me, at least in the Arctic expedition sort of way.  Though the company makes knives with all sorts of side panels.  The Swiss military doesn't actually carry knives with red panels. 

Also, many men carried penknives at the end of their watch chains, in one pocket of their waistcoat with the watch in the other.  I have a nice watch with a penknife, and I carry it in this way to formal occasions. 

Years ago my father bought me a very cheap knock-off multitool knife, and I've been recently considering replacing its side panels, though I haven't been sure what to do with it.  They're plain, boring aluminum or steel (I'm not sure which). 

[christopherdelamaison]

Small pen knives were very much a gentleman's accessory, with many being attached at to watch chains - opposite the pocket watch. They were used to cut the end off of cigars, etc. I have seen several of these small, slender pocket knives at assorted antique shops, some in reasonably decent condition.

of course, for our purposes.....we would need to carry pocket knives that sport additional features. Just the nature of steampunk.