Mr A E G Hunt
Gosport, Hampshire
You have occasionally written to me asking my advice on “Naval Swords”.
I would like to bring to your attention for the benefit of your readers a two-volume catalogue of “Naval Swords” written by Sim Comfort an American friend of mine who now resides in Wimbledon, London.
Sim was stationed in the Communications branch of the US Navy in London.
He acquired an interest in Naval history and Naval weapons of the Nelson period and now has the finest collection of naval swords of this period apart from the collection at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
The two-volume work of his collection is a superb production and will no doubt become a standard work on Naval Swords.
I attach a brochure on the work also a review that has appeared in “The Kedge Anchor” the newsletter of the 1805 Club, of which I am a member.
NAVAL SWORDS & DIRKS: A Study of British, French and American Naval Swords, Cutlasses and Dirks used during the Age of Fighting Sail. 2 Vols. Catalogued by Sim Comfort. London: Sinn Comfort Associates, 2008. List price: £150/US$300 plus postage. Hardcover. 559pp.
Naval Swords and Dirks reflects the weapons that a naval officer and his men would have used to gain their fame and is written as a companion to both Boarders Away and Swords for Sea Service. The object is to provide for 231 British, Dutch, French, Spanish and American hangers, cutlasses, officer's swords and dirks several colour images for each weapon including all maker's scabbard cartouches and details of blade design and marks. In addition, the text provides a lively commentary by a collector written for fellow collectors and curators which includes a detailed description of each piece and biographical information to the many provenanced swords. A Glossary and comprehensive Index are also provided. Included in this collection are
* Captain Broke's fighting sword which he used when he and his men from HMS Shannon boarded and took USS Chesapeake. The shortest frigate action on record (15 minutes).
* Captain Harding's fighting sword which he wore when killed during the action between HMS San Fiorenzo and La Piémontaise. The longest frigate action on record, (three days).
* The sword surrendered to Captain Edward Pellew of HMS Nymph when she captured La Cleopatre, the first frigate action of the French Revolutionary Wars.
* The sword surrendered to Captain Edmund Palmer of HMS Hebrus when she captured L'Etoile, the last frigate action of the Napoleonic Wars.
The limited edition of 750 boxed sets is printed on Regency Klassica 100 gsm paper and bound within two volumes small quarto (28.5 cm / 11.25 inches x 22 cm / 8.65 inches) complete with dust wrappers and a fine slip case.
About the cataloguer Sim Comfort formed Sim Comfort Associates with his wife Mary in 1974 with the intention of producing fine quality books about Fighting Sail (1793 1815). Among their books are facsimile reprints of David Steel's Elements and Practice of Naval Architecture (1805/1997 with 38 draughts and many engravings), Elements and Practice of Rigging and Seamanship, (1794. 1998 with 95 plates) and James Jenkin's Naval Achievements of Great Britain 1793 1817 (1817/1998 with 57 coloured plates). Sim' s first authored work, Forget Me Knot: A Study of Naval and Maritime Engraved Coins and Plate (1745-1918) appeared in 2004.
Naval Swords & Dirks is available from: Sim Comfort Associates, website: www.simcomfort.demon.co.uk email: sim@simcomfort.demon.co.uk tel: +44 (0)20 8944 8747 or 127 Arthur Road, Wimbledon Park, London, SWI9 7DR, UK.