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The Weapons of Steampunk

The Weapons of Steampunk 
Steampunk is a fantasy, science and speculative fiction sub-genre. Though it existed in some form or another, prior to the 1980s and 1990s, it became especially popular during this time. Today, fans of the genre dress-up, role play and construct outlandish looking weapons.

The weapons of Steampunk aren’t actual weapons. They are constructed based on an individual’s imagination and speculation of what weapons would have looked like during the Steampunk era and how people who lived during that time might have imagined futuristic weapons to appear.

Steampunk related forums, blogs and websites are great places to check out weapons created by fans. There are a lot of really cool ones. Many of the sub-genre’s enthusiasts are extremely creative and are very serious about crafting, imaginative, unique and high quality weapons. 

Steampunk weapons are often, though the always, made from materials that would have been common during the era. For example, leather, polished brass, wood and iron are often used to construct weapons. These materials are combined with designs that are prototypical Victorian, typically British Victorian. Individuals may use materials from old guns, other weapons, household tools, essentially whatever they deem useful in creating great looking Steampunk weapons.

Steampunk fans tend to be very passionate. Many enjoy role playing with weapons they’ve designed and crafted themselves. Roll-playing and similar types of events are often announced online at popular Steampunk blogs, websites and forums. These are also very good places to learn about appropriate tools and materials for Steampunk weapons and find cool looking designs.

When it comes to constructing Steampunk weapons, the only thing a person is limited by is their knowledge and imagination. Once they become familiar with the sub-genre, they’ll have a good idea about what types of weapons to craft.

Using ones imagination to create weapons that may have been used by those in the British Victorian era or in which those in living during the era would have speculated weapons in the future to look like, will become easier and easier the more experience a person has. The thrill and imagination required, often gets people “hooked” and building weapons, buying (or making costumes) and meeting with other Steampunk fans, becomes a way of life. 

Guns are popular Steampunk weapons but they aren’t the only ones. Swords are pretty well-regarded as well. When constructing weapons, a person should consider creating both guns (revolvers and pistols are popular) and swords. The bigger a person’s stash of weapons is the better.

After you’ve create a new weapon, consider taking pictures of it (or them) and uploading them online. Steampunk enthusiasts love to check out other people’s weapons and designs, make comments and ask questions. Be sure to give back to the community by sharing what you’ve created and perhaps help someone who is new to the sub-genre or who is interested in your particular design(s).

Charles Dickens - Driven Genius

Jules Verne and H. G. Wells are often cited as the grandfathers of Steampunk. They both deserve the title but so too does Victorian Charles Dickens,
 
According to those who have a great affection on Charles Dickinson, the life of this person is simply a mixture wisdom, best of times, worst of times, and age of foolishness. Charles is one of the most popular and most well-loved novelists of all time (he wrote A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist, etc.) and learning some interesting facts about this superstar of the nineteenth century England and US will truly make you love him more. Below is a list of some of the interesting things that you may not know,
 
Obsessive-Compulsive
 
Dickens was often right in front of the mirror combing his hair even a hundred times all throughout the day? If he felt that a certain thing wasn't in the right place then he could not concentrate. He was also obsessed with the Earth’s magnetic fields so he would always see to it that his bed pointed north-south. He was also known to be a person who was obsessed with tidiness and orderliness and he would touch a certain thing three times to attract good luck. He was was a person who loved cleaning not only his own home but other homes as well.
 
Nickname-iac (Nickname-lover)
 
Charles was an author who would give nicknames to the characters of his novels like PIP in his Great Expectations; in the same way, he also gave interesting nicknames to each of his ten kids; Plorn and Skittles are examples.
 
Charles was Epileptic
 
Doctors of the period were amazed by the way Charles described the epileptic characters in his novels; the secret was that he was a writer who  had suffered epilepsy.
 
Charles was a Practical Joker
 
Charles was a practical joker. He had a study room that had a secret door that was designed as a bookshelf filled with books but these books were all fake. They had witty titles and they usually came in great volumes.
 
A Fair-Weather Friend
 
Christian Andersen was his closest friend and most mutual influence in his life.  Hans even dedicated one of his books in 1853. However, this did not stop Charles from letting Hans know that he had overstayed in his home. Charles printed a sign and left it right on the mirror and the sign says that Hans had stayed in that room for 5 weeks which seemed to him and his family like ages.
 
Mesmerist
 
Charles was a mesmerism devotee; mesmerism is a technique that allows the practitioner to impose his will on a subject.It is usually performed with the use of hypnotism. Dickens used this technique on his wife and kids and he claimed that he was able to heal people with this technique.

From the Steam Table

When you want to entertain a la Steampunk, pirate fare is one path to take. And pirates like to get out  that rusty hibachi, brush it off a bit, give it a splash of salt water, and fire it up right there on the deck if the sea is not too rough.

Aeflint provides us with a barby recipe for some sauce she tells us is from the good Captain Robert, lead singer of Abney Park. It is, she states,  for “the meat of something that died.”

Captain Robert’s Infamous Pyrates Blood Sauce

1 cup stolen red wine (dry)

1 shot of rum (cook drinks)

4 tbs Red Wine Vinegar

1/2 cup molasses

1 cup ketchup

2 tbs Dijon Mustard

1 ts Chili Powder

2 tbs Worchestershire Sauce

1 ts Celery Seeds

1 ts Kosher Salt

1/2 ts Curry Powder

1 ts Ground Cumin

1 tbs Cayenne Pepper (
optional)

1 tbs cooks own blood

1 diced habanero

“Simmer till thick, spread on the meat of something that died, that you then cook over an open flame. Eat, receive praise.”

Thanks Captain Robert!

Steampunk Landing is getting closer

yes it is

The Name She Bore Was FLORA ....

Lauren's collages

Hi Old Goat,
Here are a few of my mixed media photo collages for your site.  Let me know if they come thru OK.
:) Lauren
P.S. Feel free to mention that signed prints are for sale!

http://www.LaurenCurtisArt.com (commercial & fine art)
http://www.laurencurtisart.mosaicglobe.com (fine art, photography, art updates)
http://www.laurencurtis.imagekind.com (cards, T-shirts, photography, illustration)
http://laurencurtis.wordpress.com  (my Blog!)

(download)

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Farewell to a Good Friend

Eat Drink and Be Mary ... Well, some of you will have to dress different to be Mary ,,, or just be Merry

I'm ..... ... ...... I am