"MASTER AND COMMANDER" SWORDS
After reading Patrick
O'Brian's
"Aubrey-Maturin" series of Royal Navy Napoleonic War novels (from
which MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD was adapted to film in
2003) I became interested in the swords of the era, specifically the ones
used in the movie. I learned that
during the film's preproduction, Director Peter Weir haunted London dealers of
antique militaria, purchased several obscenely expensive original Napoleonic
swords, and pored over reference books such as Annis & May's "Swords
for Sea Service" and Gilkerson, Morss and Comfort's "Boarders Away:
With Steel". |
Still photo
from MASTER AND COMMANDER. On the wall of Jack Aubrey's cabin are seen (first
at top) a sabre supplied by LA custom swordmaker Tony Swatton. Below it
(second from top) is Aubrey's "Gentleman's Cutlass", (third from
top) the "Capt. Broke" spadroon used by HMS SURPRISE's first
lieutenant Tom Pullings, and (bottom) Aubrey's naval dirk -- supplied by
Craig Nannos. |
While trying to track down
the origins and present whereabouts of the MASTER AND COMMANDER swords, I
contacted sword collector James S. Aldrich. I'd been told that he'd
seen and handled these weapons. His response, edited for clarity --- The guys (I know) are
in the business of first-quality repro gear of various kinds. They tend to be
"protective" of their sources, shall we say. Last year at Mississinewa (a Civil War
Re-enactor's gathering), a friend introduced me to his friend, Beauregard,
whose surname I disremember but can obtain if you wish. Beauregard had some
hand in the design and selection of weapons for the film MASTER AND
COMMANDER, but I gather his main endeavor was getting them made and
delivered. I can say with confidence that (Capt.
Aubrey's) "Gentleman's Cutlass," the (senior lieutenant Pulling's)
RN-hilted spadroon, and likely most of the other bladed weapons were
manufactured on the Indian subcontinent. Beauregard specifically saw to it
that they didn't have INDIA or such stamped on them, a la Windlass, etc. My
friend is also confident of Beauregard's ability to get something made to
spec and with a decent standard of workmanship. A story related by the mysterious Beauregard: it seems that whoever was advising the MASTER AND
COMMANDER production crew (likely Craig Nannos of THE SENTRY POST) intended
the "Gentleman's Cutlass" for the senior lieutenant and the large
spadroon, which was actually modeled after a unique piece owned by the real
Captain Broke of HMS Shannon fame, for Jack Aubrey. When the movie mavens saw the cutlass, their
eyes lit up and they proclaimed it the only choice for the leading man.
Apparently curved blades have quite a cachet among the adventure film crowd. The quality and workmanship of the movie
swords strike me as a cut above the best INDIA stuff I have had up to now,
the better Windlass products, for example. I was especially pleasantly
surprised to see that the blade has an actual edge. Wouldn't take much to
make it downright keen, if a guy so desired. It seems clear that
the rather large and unwieldy "Captain Broke" spadroon intended for
Russell Crowe was instead used by the actor portraying Lt.Tom Pullings in the
film. The shorter "Gentlemen's Cutlass" was used by Crowe's
character, Captain Jack Aubrey. This fact was confirmed by Luke LaFontaine, a Los Angeles-based
fight choreographer employed by the film company. Custom
swordmaker Tony Swatton's Burbank, CA shop THE SWORD AND THE STONE lists
among its credits a handful of swords made for the film. I guessed that one
of these may have been employed as "set-dressing" in Jack Aubrey's
cabin. I was right. I received this note from Tony Swatton's shop... A bit of further info for you... The image in Jack Aubrey's cabin displays the ivory grip sabre based on an antique piece here in the showroom. It had originally been made for use by Russell Crowe. He had just finished making Gladiator and was too used to the technique for fighting with a gladius to be able to properly wield a curved sabre. Hence that particular sword wasn't used as Jack Aubrey's main fighting weapon. Beth Holley The Sword and the Stone Following some leads, I
discovered that Pennsylvania military historian and film consultant Col.
J. Craig Nannos
of THE SENTRY POST contributed his expertise and functioned as contractor for
the film's edged weapons. So the mysterious "Beauregard" was likely
a sub-contractor hired by Nannos to oversee the manufacture of the swords.
(Below, an excerpt from THE SENTRY POST promotional brochure) |
It's standard procedure
for a movie production to have several duplicates or "doubles" of a
key prop on hand for use in stunt rehearsals, still shots, and to replace any
that are lost or damaged. Perhaps six copies (each) of the principal swords
used in MASTER AND COMMANDER, (as well as a number of dirks, pikes, and axes)
were created for the film via Nannos and Beauregard's efforts. This was confirmed to me by an email from
the no-longer-mysterious G.C. Beauregard: Yes, (the swords) came through Craig Nannos
(Sentry Post). He runs the business end and I handle the design
and manufacturing arrangements. We have worked films, in this way, since
the first major film (Taps), over twenty years ago. There were about six of each as well as that
number for the dirks, except for the cutlasses, which were ordered in greater
quantity. The crew used the common cutlasses (US 1797 for the French and the
British Model 1804) and the boarding pikes. The officers got the swords and
the mid shipmen got the dirks. The gun crews got the cannon tools. The
Marines got the bayonets and other items of personal equipment. The "Gentleman's Cutlass" came
as rather a surprise to us. We really thought that the Broke Sword would go
to the lead but after seeing the film and the desperate combat that Crowe
had, at the end of the film, the cutlass was the perfect choice. We deal with several manufacturers in Asia but
these particular swords were, in fact, made in India. We deal with three
different suppliers in that country. While we did supply a fair number of
swords for Master & Commander, the far greater number of swords were
provided to the film "Patriot" with Mel Gibson. A good action film
(Patriot) but absolutely terrible history. Lt.
Colonel G.C. Beauregard, AUSA retired U.S.
Sword & Uniform After the film's
completion, whatever remained of these custom-made props reverted to Craig
Nannos and/or ended up in the hands of Beauregard. Beauregard had contacts in
the Civil War re-enactor community, and a number of the cast-off MASTER AND
COMMANDER edged weapons found their way to a Civil-War Re-enactment
"sutler" business (uniform and equipment vendor), SMOKING IRON
ALTERATIONS located in Indiana. James S. Aldrich put me in touch with
owner Mike Dollinger. Mike offered to sell one of the last copies of the
"Gentlemen's Cutlass" for $200. I couldn't say no. |
(Above) Today it
hangs on my wall together with a reproduction of an 1850's-era Royal Navy
midshipman's dirk. |
(Above, top),
the unique circa-1800's British "Naval Hanger" in the collection of
the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England that Craig Nannos based
Jack Aubrey's "Gentlemen's Cutlass" (beneath it) on. |