Click any photo to make it larger!

     This page is also an example of why some in the reenacting community have developed anger towards associates of the CWSMMA.  The regular associates and friends have participated for over a decade in boxing matches, duels with pistol, stadick and cutlass as well as conduct fist fights for the crowds and spectators.  Safety crews with trained advisors are always present as they are on Hollywood sets.  Extensive, multi-million dollar insurance policies are had for the event, corporation and individuals.  Medical and death advisory releases are conducted with our lawyers.

     The CWSMMA does not impose dictates on other reenacting groups.  We operate ourselves for the thrill of the profession and hobby only.  We spend little time attempting to control people.  The most exciting events are developed with the spectator in mind and with the assistance of pyrotechnic devices, safety experts and blocking directors.  The large number of landlubbers whom currently reenact, "Navy or Marines," do not understand what life at sea is actually like.  A large number of them have never been in the Navy and do not truly understand it's factual history.  They spend decades in books - vice having spent time on the oceans of the world.

     Such is also the case of illegal dueling with pistols, cutlass and sword.  For many years Captain John Paul (known to most Americans as John Paul Jones) hid from England and Scotland (born in Arbigland, Kirkbean, Kirkcudbright, Scotland, 6 July 1747) where he was wanted for murder.  He later changed his name to avoid these problems.  One of the fist towns he raided was the very town who wanted to hang him!  He also wrote of avoiding another Officer who constantly lurked for him, in the dark to, "run him through with cold steel."  It was not uncommon to use and fight with cutlass (enlisted) or sword (officer) in the Civil War during battle.  Infrequently, a fight would break out aboard ship or ashore and instruments would be used.  More often than not, all cutlasses for enlisted men were locked up tight, awaiting issue for battle only - then the rattle would sing and the Master at Arms would issue pistols and cutlasses.  Enlisted men did not normally walk around with weapons on all day long - at sea.  Cutlasses were carried aboard ships in full strength (thousands for issue) into the 20th century - with the Great White Fleet.

     Ultimately: This is not to say that a civilian who is reenacting a sailor or marine cannot participate with us.  Even if they have never served a single day in the Navy.  We really don't care what a lady or gentleman has done.  We only care about, "attitude."  We welcome folks with open arms and friendship to our events.  We just do not have time for control freaks, manics who get to dress up and, "play Officer for the weekend," and those who do not enjoy doing what sailors actually did.

     Some of the events we have held or are planning, include:

• Wooden stadick training and CWSMMA Academy classes with certificates issued and Continuing Education Hours credits (CEH - acceptable for transfer).
• Edged weapon duels with foils, cutlasses and swords.
• Black powder discharge and weapon firing with standard western style street fights - only done from ship to ship via grappling hooks and boarding parties.
• Fist fighting in camp with Court Martial and imprisonment. 
• Black powder discharge and weapon firing in camp with subsequent arrest and trial.  Doctor needed to amputate the sailors leg and a calf's leg was used with a pan of blood at the Gettysburg Museum.
• Men blown out of the rigging of ships - falling, airborne into the water.  This technique has been done for a number of years with our many full-sized ships.
• Men coming ashore after the ships battle is over with huge wooden splinters in their legs, screaming aloud and wailing as people in the crowd gape and are shocked.  They are carefully taken out of rowboats after rowing ashore.  Alarms are sounded that the wounded are, "coming in." 
• Synchronized explosive devices that shoot plumes of water into the air after cannon firing from opposing ship occurs.
• Split and falling masts that crash into the water after an explosive round rips into the ship.  Sails fall into the water as well with the, "losing," ship that ALWAYS takes the beating.  Having a dedicated LOSER SHIP that can be rigged up and destroyed each year is helpful.  Sinking her and then re-floating an hour after the crowd leaves with ballast bags is effective.
• Whippings and corporal punishment handed out with backs stripped wide open and shirts torn.  Seeing this first-hand is a sight even reenactors never forget.  Although widely outlawed in the middle of the Civil War - this practice was not uncommon.  Typically we use light weight cat-o-nine tails lines and these are dipped in red ketchup or food dye to show blood across the back.
• We have five other programs, such as these.  They are presently being developed and maintained, "quiet," as we fine tune them for a Hollywood production company.

I'm interested, let me sign up now for your free CWSMMA Magazine and Events list.

I'd like to read more about cutlass dueling, broadswords and more in the CWSMMA!

Home - Why Us? - The Exchange - Logbook/Voting - Duel
Awards -  Cooking - Writings - Contact Us