Naval sword book recommendation?

[M ELEY]

I was wondering if anyone had a copy of Michel Petard's volume 'Le Sabre D-Arbordage', Editions du Canonier 2006? Is it a good source? Does it cover boarding cutlass of only France? Time period covered?

I have yet to find a solid source on boarding cutlasses of the Age of Fighting Sail. I've seen smatterings here and there, with Gilkerson's Boarders Away at the head of the list. Petard's work is so rare that there's only one U.S. library that carries it and they won't do inter-library loan for me to take a look at it...

[M ELEY]

Here's one of Mr Petard's books as a free down-loadable PDF. You just gotta love "free stuff"!

www.reenactor.ru/ARH/PDF/Eman_02.pdf

[broadaxe]

What about Naval Edged Weapons: In the Age of Fighting Sail 1775-1865 ? Don't have it yet so no opinion. There is also Rankin's Small Arms of the Sea Service wich is quite old.

[M ELEY]

Hello Broadaxe,
Nice to talk to you again. I remember our 'axe' thread from awhile back...

Yes, I am aware of Tuite's book on naval weapons, but haven't seen a copy yet. His online article on naval pieces is exceptional. One of these days, I'll purchase the book and be able to recommend it or not.

Rankin's "Small Arms for the Sea Services" is pretty good, but the information in it is dated. Likewise, some of the opinions rendered, especially those relating to theories on what early U.S. marines ca. 1790-1800 carried has not panned out.

Has anyone out there seen a copy of Petard's book? I know it's in French, but if the pics are right :shrug: