Presents for Pirates: A Short Gift Buying Guide

There are many holidays in the course of the year such as Christmas, birthdays, Valentines day, or even November 22 (the date of Black Beards death, god rest his soul) that provide amply opportunity to buy that special Pirate in your life a present. Many people ask me "Hey Captain, what do you want for (insert special occasion here)?" and I usually reply "Pirate Stuff!" (The same answer I give when someone asks me "What are you doing?") I don't make it easy for my friends and loved ones. But I do want to make it a little bit easier for you. So I will make a list of some decent pirate gifts that will make the pirate in your life smile.

Rum or Other Alcohol
I have seen very few Pirates who were not happy to open a bottle of good Rum. But Rum is not the only beverage we drink. Through history Rum has been paired with pirates but the fact is that pirates would also drink wine and Ales (beer). You can get a little creative with your gift giving and tie a black ribbon around the bottle, or a small flag to say "This is PIRATE alcohol!". You can also purchase a pirate or nautical themed bottle opener or cork screw, or even a flask to pair with the alcohol.

Bottles and Casks
If your pirate likes to go to festivals there is one thing that they will need: SOME WAY TO HOLD WATER. Most authentic Pirate costumes are hot and sticky, especially during mid year festivals. I learned early that every pirate needs to stay hydrated and most festival goers will carry water with them (if allowed). But pirates can't be seen with plastic bottles of Evian in hand, it's just not right. The quick fix for this dilemma is the trusty Rum bottle, Leather canteen, or a Rum Cask, all very appropriate for the hand of a Pirate.
Now you don't have to spend a lot of money on a bottle and you can cut your cost if you are a bit crafty. If you can find an unique looking bottle you can wrap it in leather or rope to make it look very pirate like. I have made two bottles currently for my own use one is a simple Sake Bottle warped in hemp twine with a Skull stopper on top, Rope Bottle , and the other is a smaller bottle wrapped in leather with a skull and crossbones on it, Leather Bottle . Making a specialized bottle on your own adds a little bit of you into the gift. Your pirate will always have you in mind when they are in a inebriated state and have rum spilling down their beards and staining their puffy shirts.

Casks are also a good way for a pirate to carry their drink of choice. The look of a hard wood cask looks awesome on a pirates hip, but it can be to heavy when filled with their favorite libation. The look of a hard wood cask on a pirates desk in his cabin is quite the site though. Casks can be expensive but I don't know any pirate that wouldn't want one to show off. Wooden Cask

You can also pair a nice pewter mug or shot glass with any of these gifts also. I do hear of some Pirates that seem to think drinking directly from the bottle is not proper. I for one think that the quickest way to drink is directly from the source.

Baubles, Rings, and Jewelry A successful pirate is always adorned with the booty they have claimed. I for one have a ring, which makes me a not so successful pirate. But Pirates want to show off their bling just like everyone else. Now you can go broke buying real gold or silver jewelry for your pirate (No pirate will reject the gift of gold or silver) but it is important to note that modern day pirates may not wear jewelry every day. So costume jewelry can work just as well as the real deal. A simple bauble to hang around their neck or in their hair adds a bit a flair to their costume. A hoop earning or two may just make their day. A bunch of bracelets and chains clinking at the wrist has such a delightful tone. Rings for all the fingers shows everyone that they are successful in their endeavors.

Bags and Pouches I always have a problem with carrying my modern things while wearing my pirate gear. Cell phones, keys, camera, and other items rarely fit into the pockets of my costume. Leather bags and pouches help easy the burden of living the pirate life in a modern world. Pouches and Bags can come in many sizes and can be worn over the shoulder or attached to belts without ruining the authentic look. Their are many styles and types to chose from but make sure it matches the pirates outfit. They also provide a place to store pirate items such as coins, flags, maps, or the picture of your mother that you left long ago to seek adventure and fame (sniff,sniff).

The Little Things
At some point in any pirates career they will be approached by a young pirate to be. A young lad or lass will look up at them with wide eyes and big smiles and say "Are you a for real pirate?" It is the duty of any true Pirate to keep the Pirate Lifestyle alive, so make sure you give them a shot of rum and let them hold your cutlass!!! WAIT DON'T DO THAT! Please! I learned the hard way, kids can't handle neither rum nor a sword. Instead I like to give them a little pirate styled gift like a fake pirate coin, a map, a small compass, or a flag. Kids love that stuff and the pirate in your life will be glad to pass these things out to the next generation of pirates. I find that fake Pirate Coins are always a big hit with kids, but not so much with bartenders. The price of these small items tends to add up over a while. So you can help them spread the Pirate Lifestyle and give them the gift they can give to others.

Clothing
Understand that every pirate is different and the Pirate Life has many styles. I do not necessarily condone buying clothing for a pirate because most of them have a certain look they are going for. A POTC pirate has a different look than a Golden Age pirate, a Swashbuckler of the 50's has a different look from a Historical pirate, and of course there are steampunk pirates, space pirates, and anime pirates also. If you want to buy clothing please work with the person you are buying for.

Swords, Knives, Guns, and Other assorted Weapons This is a problem area when buying a gift for a pirate. The problem stems from laws and regulations of cities, states and festivals. I for one have no legal problem if I want to wear my cutlass while walking my dog because my state allows it. But I do have a problem wearing a flintlock on my belt when trying to get into most festivals. Most festivals will not allow you to carry even a toy gun in. Festivals also require that all weapons be peace tied or secured in such a way that they can not be pulled put. There have been incidents were drunk festival goers have harmed others with weapons. It can get tricky. So if you are buying a weapon for someone please make sure you know they can wear it. If you are buying a weapon for them to hang on the wall then you are good to go. Any weapon, from the smallest knife to the largest boarding axe is a responsibility, your pirate must must treat their arms and all laws concerning them with respect.

Parrots
NO! Just NO. Do you know how long those darned things live? I have a friend who bought one in his mid 30's not knowing that he would have to will it off to someone after he dies. To much of a pain.

Hopefully this has given you some ideas on the perfect gift for the special pirate on your gift list. There are many other Pirate and Nautical themed presents that you can give that I have not mentioned. Any pirate will gladly except any gift from a loved one so you can't screw it up to much.