Before I purchase my first practice sword - there is something else I need to purchase. I need to put together a true to period (late 16th century) mess kit - tankard, spoon, fork, some sort of durable dish to hold food. I have spent most of this day doing searchs on the internet. Tankards are plentiful. The rest is difficult. Are pewter plates true to period? I know salt glazed ceramics are, but not as durable. Am looking for guidance.

You are probably going to have to specify a region or culture that you are trying to fit in with. Although they were starting to make appearances in courts and then shops very quickly, things like forks are not necessarily common place "mess kit" items at late 16th century. Your trusty multi purpose dagger, drinking horn, some sort of basic dish might have been more like it. I am not even sure that the dish would have been taken care of by the individual (finger foods......!)

Historic Enterprises has some goods you might want to look at. http://www.historicenterprises.com/cart.php?m...t&c=32

Think about a small general purpose belt knife, a horn cup (much more practical than a tankard! not a 'horn' horn) and a wooden small trencher or very shallow bowl. Oh, and don't forget your fingers. Also, consider, you are on foot. Every item your carry weighs something and you have to lug it around for miles upon dusty mile. Lighter, simpler is best.

Leo Todeschini (aka Tod) of Tod's Stuff sells things through a variety of his own websites:

http://www.todsstuff.co.uk/
http://www.theenglishcutler.co.uk/

Wooden bowls, plates, and cups are on his Tod's Stuff site, while he has eating sets through the English Cutler site:

Medieval eating set:
[ Linked Image ]

17th century eating set:
[ Linked Image ]

I will second chad's recommendation,

Tod makes very nice things. I am a customer and I can only say the best of his works.

Jeremy