Antique weapons and ammunition items from different eras and armies. Bladed edged weapons of military, court and civil ranks Cold steel of naval officers
Military antiques - the memory of past battles, past victories and defeats.
Select a subcategory
Saber of the heavy cavalry model 1867. Sweden. The blade is steel, slight curvature, single-edged, from the combat end - double-edged, with one wide fuller on both bare blades. The hilt consists of a hilt and a guard. The handle is wooden, wrapped in thin light leather, has transverse rails..
Heavy cavalry saber model 1854 Sweden. Blade steel single-edged, small curvature, with one wide fuller. On the butt of the blade there are registration and production marks. The hilt consists of a brass guard with two wide protective arms, a pommel passing into the back of the handle, and a wooden ..
Officer's cavalry broadsword of the 1893 model. With a lanyard. Sweden. The blade is straight double-edged, with two narrow valleys. Hallmarks on the left heel: G.M., crown, E. SVALLING ESKILSTUNA. The hilt consists of a handle and a brass guard. The handle is covered with leather and wrapped along the grooves with two rows of twisted steel.
Saber officer infantry model 1859 Sweden. The blade is steel, single-edged, medium curvature, with a tubular butt and a needle point. The hilt consists of a brass guard, decorated with an openwork pattern on the front side, a protective bow, turning into a pommel, a cavilion bent to the side and a wooden ..
The gun was tormented. 19th century Algeria/Morocco..
Saber infantry soldier arr. XI years. France, early 19th century Steel, copper alloy, leather, wood. Forging, casting, locksmith operations. The blade is steel, slightly curved, single-edged, without fullers, wedge-shaped section. The blade has a brand in the form of the letter L. The hilt is copper-alloy, with a protective shackle..
Jambiya dagger. Turkey. Mid-twentieth century The blade is double-edged, of considerable curvature. The handle is metal with a small pommel, decorated with granulation. The scabbard is wooden, covered with metal and decorated with the same stones as the handle is also decorated with grain. Overall length 305 mm; blade length 170 mm. Width..
Jambiya dagger. Turkey. Mid-twentieth century The blade is double-edged, of considerable curvature. The handle is metal, decorated with two blue stones. The scabbard is wooden, covered with metal and decorated with the same stones as the hilt. Overall length 330 mm; blade length 192 mm. The width at the base of the blade is 40 mm. ..
Krises are one of the most common types of edged weapons of the inhabitants of the Malay Archipelago. It is believed that kris carries magical power and is not only a weapon, but also a talisman that protects against enemies and evil spirits. The Chrises are credited with many magical properties, such as..
Trisula is a ceremonial trident. Indonesia. On the two side blades of the trident are depicted the heads of a dragon. The handle is wooden. The scabbard is wooden, painted with paint. Overall length 515 mm; blade length 230 mm. ..
Knife in sheath. Indonesia. First half - mid-twentieth century. The blade is steel, single-edged. The number 5 is engraved at the base of the blade. The wooden handle has the shape of a squatting man. Bolster is made of copper alloy. The scabbard is wooden, consists of two halves fastened together. ..
Tombak - the tip of a spear in a sheath. Indonesia. 19th century The blade is made of laminated steel. The pamor type is indistinguishable. The scabbard is wooden. Overall length 355 mm; blade length 200 mm. The width at the base of the blade is 16 mm. ..
Knife Batak. Sumatra (Indonesia). 19th century The blade is made of laminated steel. The copper alloy handle is shaped like a human figure and adorned with a tuft of black hair. The metal scabbard is covered with the skin of an animal with light wool. The end of the scabbard is in the form of a human figure. Overall length 226 mm;..
The knife is bare. Indonesia. End of the 19th century Blade steel, single-edged, small curvature, made of laminated steel. The handle is wooden, decorated with carvings, pommel in the shape of the head of a mythological creature. The scabbard is wooden, with an asymmetrically expanding mouth. The scabbard and hilt were made in a later..
Private cavalry saber model 1822 France. a blade of steel, slight curvature, single-edged, from the combat end - double-edged, with one wide fuller and one narrow blade at the butt. The hilt consists of a handle and a brass guard. The handle is attached to the strip in a mounted way: the end of the shank..
An officer's sword with a lanyard in a scabbard. France. End of the 19th century The blade is straight, double-edged, lenticular section, with one narrow fuller. The hilt consists of a brass guard with a cavilion end lowered down on one side, a protective bow with a pommel and a wooden handle with grooves on the other. ..
Soldier's cavalry saber (in sheath). France, Chatellerault arms factory. Early 20th century Made for the Chilean army. Steel. Forging, locksmith operations. The blade is steel, slight curvature. The hilt consists of a hilt and a guard. The cross-section of the handle is oval, has transverse grooves. Garda..
Cavalry saber. Model not installed. German states. 19th century Massive single-edged blade of small curvature with one wide fuller. There is a brand on the butt of the blade. The hilt consists of a steel cup, two protective arches, a pommel passing into the back of the handle and a wooden handle. Judging by p..
Repeatedly subjected to repair and restoration. ..
The knife is bare. Indonesia. Early 20th century The blade is steel, single-edged, small curvature. The handle is wooden, decorated with carvings, pommel in the shape of a bird's head. The scabbard is wooden, decorated with carvings. Overall length: 360mm; blade length: 220 mm; blade width: 22 mm. ..
French naval officer's sword, model 1837. The blade is steel, rhombic section. The handle is made of dark bone, barrel-shaped, oval section. The head of the sword handle is conical, with a domed top. Under the head of the handle and at the bottom there are identical bushings, decorated with embossed..
Diplomatic officer's sword corps. France. 19th century Sword of an official of the diplomatic corps. France. Mid 19th century Triangular blade with etching and engraving by the manufacturer Klingenthal. The hilt has a complex structure and consists of a brass openwork cup, a protective bow, a wooden handle..
Kris dagger. Sulawesi. 19th century A small kris dagger, Sulawesi Island (Indonesia). 19th century Iron, pamor nickel, steel, wood, copper alloy. Kris with a straight but slightly curved blade as a whole. Pamor is hardly distinguishable. The wooden handle is of the ayam patah tekeh type (“broken neck chicken”), ..
Tombak knife. Indonesia. First half of the 20th century Traditionally, the tombak is the tip of a spear, although it has its own sheath. More rarely, the tombak was used, as in this case, as a knife blade. The blade is double-edged, lenticular section. The blade has inscriptions in Arabic. The handle, as well as the scabbard..
Cavalry saber. Spain. 19th century The blade is steel, slightly curved, single-edged, the fighting end is double-edged, with a single wide fuller. On the heel of the blade there is a stamp indicating the place of production (TOLEDO) and the manufacturer, as well as an army registration number stamped on top of it...
Sword of officers of military justice and gendarmerie model 1853 with a lanyard. Steel, brass, gilding, engraving. The blade is straight, double-edged, with two narrow valleys. On both heels of the blade there are hallmarks and engraved inscriptions - the name of the manufactory-manufacturer: Klinengtal. Cast brass handle..
Tibetan travel knife with chopsticks. The blade is straight single-edged, the handle is bone. The scabbard is wooden, with a ring for fastening on the belt, covered with metal. The sheath has two additional holes for sticks. Overall length: 210mm; blade length: 120 mm. ..
Cavalry saber sample 1904 Austria-Hungary. A blade of slight curvature, with a tubular butt and a needle-shaped end. The tip is displaced to the butt line. The hilt consists of a handle and a steel guard. The handle is covered with rough leather, has seven transverse grooves. The back of the handle is covered with steel..
Qatar, poked Indian dagger of the 19th century. The blade has a reinforcing "rib" on both sides. The end of the dagger has a special extension for piercing chain mail. Qatar - Indian poke-type dagger. Another variant of the name is jamadhar ("blade of the god of death" or "language of the god of death"). Designed for..
Wakizashi short sword. Japan. 19th century The blade is in the sheath of the shirasaya. Literally Shirasaya is translated as "white scabbard". These are special scabbards that were used for transportation and long-term storage of the blade. At first, shirasaya were made in the form of a box, where the entire ..
Kris dagger. Indonesia. 19th century Krises are one of the most common types of edged weapons of the inhabitants of the Malay Archipelago. It is believed that kris carries magical power and is not only a weapon, but also a talisman that protects against enemies and evil spirits. Chris is credited with many magic..
Officer's sword. Early 19th century France. The blade is steel, double-edged, straight, lenticular section. The blade has gilded needle etching. The hilt consists of a brass guard, one cavillon, a protective bow and pommel; and a wooden handle with spiral grooves. The end of the morning cabillon..
Saber officer uhlan arr. 1889 Mecklenburg (Germany). The blade is steel, single-edged with one wide fuller. There is etching on both holomens of the blade. The name and number of the regiment are etched on one golomeni, and on the other, a drawing of a military theme. There is also etching on the butt of the blade..
Sword. France. Mid 19th century The blade is steel, single-edged, straight, with one fuller. The hilt consists of a brass guard with a protective bow and pommel; and a horn handle with transverse grooves. Leather scabbard with brass end and mouth. There is a peg at the base of the scabbard. Overall length: 885mm; length..
Pistol pocket, capsule. France. Mid 19th century Steel barrel, Damascus. A floral ornament is engraved on the lock box. The handle is wooden with inlaid ornaments. Overall length: 190mm; barrel length: 75 mm; caliber: 13.6 mm. ..
Alemang Bugiensis. Indonesia. 18th - 19th centuries The blade is straight, single-edged, made of laminated steel. The handle is made of black wood. The scabbard is leather, the ending is missing. The hilt and scabbard were made in a much later period than the blade. Overall length: 600mm; blade length:..
Sword. Sumbawa Island (Indonesia). 19th century or earlier. Blade steel, small curvature, has a so-called "one and a half" sharpening (the cutting edge of one of the sides starts from half the length of the blade). The number 1790 is engraved at the base of the blade. The handle is made of black wood, greatly expanded..
Golok. Indonesia. First half of the 20th century The blade is steel, single-edged, small curvature. The blade is artificially darkened with a black composition. The handle is wooden, decorated with carvings, the pommel is in the shape of the head of an animal of the cat family. The scabbard is wooden, decorated with carvings. Overall length: 450mm; blade length:..
Golok. Indonesia. 19th century A very unusual specimen with a blade from kris. The blade is made of layered steel, pamor is visible. The handle is carved, wooden, in the shape of a parrot's head. The scabbard is wooden, covered with snakeskin. The mouth of the scabbard is made of white metal with a chased ornament. Overall length: 420mm; blade length: 295..
Kunjang. Indonesia. 20th century Kunjang is a weapon originally from West Java (Sundanese region). Not having the necessary equivalent in Russian, we will call it a sickle, despite the fact that its shape is significantly different from the shape of an ordinary sickle. The sickle's name is actually "chelurit" in Indonesian..
Sword. Germany. 18th century Sword. Germany. 18th century The blade is steel, double-edged, lenticular section straight. Despite the elegance, the blade is quite strong and reliable, but at the same time light, which makes this sword a good weapon in the hands of a skilled swordsman. The hilt consists of a hilt, ..
Cavalry saber. Sweden. 19th century The blade is steel, single-edged, small curvature, with one wide fuller. The hilt consists of a brass guard with three protective arches, a pommel passing into the back of the handle, and a wooden handle with transverse grooves. There are registration marks on the hilt. Steel scabbard..
Austrian sword of military officials, model 1878. The blade is straight, double-edged with one wide fuller. Etching on the blade. The hilt consists of a handle with a brass bent lion head and a brass guard. The hilt is formed by two mother-of-pearl cheeks fastened with two brass ornaments.
Sword infantry officer arr. 1867 Saxony. The swords of this model were in service with the German army until the beginning of the twentieth century. The blade is nickel-plated, double-edged, straight, with two narrow fullers. The blade has gilded etching in the form of an imperial monogram under a crown. The hilt consists of a brass fold..
Saber officer infantry model 1821 France. The blade is steel, single-edged, medium curvature, with one wide fuller. Half of the blade on each golomen with blue and gilded military-themed drawings made by needle etching. The hilt consists of a brass guard with two protective bows.
The traditional weapon of the inhabitants of the Malay archipelago is the kris dagger. This type of kris is typical of Mindano Island (Southern Philippines). The blade is steel, double-edged, with a wavy cutting edge. The handle is wooden with a pommel bent at a right angle. The blade and handle are connected by a copper ring.
Cleaver, Philippines/Luzon. First half of the 20th century The blade is steel, single-edged, small curvature. The guard and bolster are made of brass alloy, the handle is made of ebony. The pommel is made in the shape of the head of a mythological animal and finished with copper alloy inserts. Wooden scabbard...
Heavy cavalry saber model 1864 Sweden. Massive steel blade, single-edged, small curvature, with one wide fuller. Industrial hallmarks on the heel of the blade. The hilt consists of a brass guard with two protective bows, turning into a pommel and a wooden handle with transverse grooves, ..
Artillery saber arr. 1831 Sweden Artillery saber pattern 1831 Sweden. Massive wide blade, single-edged, of small curvature, with one wide fuller and one narrow segment. The hilt of the so-called Blucher type has a D-shaped shape. On the blade and hilt there are industrial and..
Artillery saber model 1831 Sweden. Massive wide blade, single-edged, of small curvature, with one wide fuller and one narrow segment. The hilt of the so-called Blucher type has a D-shaped shape. On the blade and hilt there are production and registration marks. Steel scabbard with two ..
Cleaver infantry model 1848 with a lanyard. Sweden. The blade is steel, straight, without fullers, single-edged. The hilt consists of a hilt and a cross. The cross-section of the handle is oval, smoothly curved towards the edge of the blade, formed by two black wooden cheeks, fastened to the blade shank with two ..
Hussar saber. Bavaria. Mid 19th century Blade steel single-edged, medium curvature with one wide fuller. The blade has needle etching - the monogram of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. There is an inscription on the butt of the blade, probably the signature of the master. The hilt consists of steel guards with three protective bows.
Artillery saber arr. 1822 without scabbard. Bavaria. Blade steel single-edged, medium curvature with one wide fuller. The hilt consists of steel guards with three protective arches, one end bent down - kavillon, pommel, back and wooden handle. The handle is covered with leather and has a cross..
Infantry saber model 1845 without scabbard. France. The blade is steel, single-edged, with a needle point. The blade has one wide fuller and one narrow slice. The hilt consists of a brass guard with a cavilion end lowered down on one side, a protective bow with a pommel and a wooden guard on the other side.
Kukri in sheath. India. Early 20th century The blade is steel, single-edged, of considerable curvature. The edge of the blade runs along the inside of the curve. At the base of the blade there is a "cho" notch. The handle is made of rosewood. The scabbard is wooden, covered with black leather. Kukri (kukri, another trans..
Unique Buryat knife. The wooden parts of the hilt and scabbard are made of walnut, the metal parts of the scabbard and hilt are silver. The scabbard is decorated with precious stones. The coat of arms of the USSR is on the scabbard. Gift signature on the blade. Length 40cm. Prepayment 100%. Shipping at buyer's expense...
Bebut, early 20th century, Chrysostom. the hallmarks on the blade have been cut down into a civilian one, for obvious reasons, but the circle of the word "Chrysostom" is still quite readable. Acceptance marks are visible on the scabbard clip. Prepayment 100%. Delivery at the expense of the buyer. ..
Eastern bebut, the so-called "tiger fang". 19th century, horn hilt, staves and glass on scabbard - silver. Prepayment 100%. Delivery at the expense of the buyer. ..
Bavarian parade saber, 19th century. Excellent condition. Blade Solingen, brand worn. Bilateral etching. Advance payment 100% Delivery at the expense of the buyer Delivery by business lines or other transport company..
Original original. Medal in original plexiglass box and carton. The carton says in Japanese and English: Designed by Seibo Kitamura Hard physical and mental training is a prerequisite for championship athletic performance. The beauty of young people ex..
Original original. Payment token (wertmarke, Wertmarke) part with field mail number 37282 Dienststelle Feldpostnummer -37282-. 50 pfennigs. Zinc, diameter 30.2 mm, weight 5.34 g. Super condition, shiny surface. Shipping only within Russia at the expense of the buyer. I don't ship overseas.
Original original. Medal in original box with original booklet. The booklet in Japanese and English says: The Tokyo Olympics Commemorative Medal is sponsored by the Japan Athletic Promotion Foundation. Material: gilded copper. Obverse design: Scene e..
Original original. Akita Prefectural Police Desktop Commendation Medal. Diameter 65 mm, weight 156.16 g. Obverse: Akita Prefectural Police Headquarters against the backdrop of a Japanese butterbur leaf (giant butterbur, in Japanese Akitabuki 秋田蕗) Reverse: 賞 Sho > award; 秋田県 Akita-ken 警察 K..
The blade is steel, slight curvature, single-edged, with one wide and two narrow valleys on both golemens. The combat end is double-edged. The hilt consists of a handle with a head and a brass guard. The guard is formed by the front bow, extending from the outer part of the handle and smoothly turning into a cross. ..
Shashka of the Kuban-Caucasian region of the second half of the 19th century. Russian empire. Perfectly balanced for horse felling. General characteristics: total length: 994 mm, blade length 835 mm, blade width 31 mm. On the butt end of the blade there is a marking stamp in the form of a stylized crown and numbers.
Bebut artillery model 1907. Steel blade, two-edged, with two narrow valleys. The handle of the bebut is wooden and is attached to the handle of the blade with two brass rivets. Without scabbard. - sheathed length 64 cm - bebut length 59.5 cm - blade length 44 cm - blade width 3.6 cm...
The problem with the hairpin. The enamel is intact...
Reproduction of red table wine for the German armed forces in 1941. Label inscription Nur fur die Deutche Wehrmacht Only for the German Armed Forces. Controlee NSDAP party control of the NSDAP. Red table wine of 1941, 9-11%, volume 0.7. Made in Europe Excellent collectible..
Breastplate and helmet of a Carabinieri officer of the Second Empire, France, 1852 - 1870 Excellent condition, no dents. There are no side straps. ..
Nicholas II. Without pad. ..
Nicholas II. St. George medal with a block. ..
Europe. Pipe diameter 12cm. Brass, leather. ..
Germany 1920-1945 Dimensions: total length 20.5 cm, blade length 17 cm...
Germany. Dimensions: total length 20.5cm; blade length 10.5 cm. 1940-1950.
Norway, 1960 Silver details. Total length 22 cm; blade length 10.5 cm. ..
The Second World War. This knife was awarded to the pilots of the Japanese kamikaze units in order to save themselves from torment during the approach to the ram. Dimensions: total length 19cm; blade length 11cm...
Dimensions: total length 108 cm, blade length 83 cm...
Desktop souvenir: Cannonball on a cast-iron stand. 18 century. Stand-support with a surface decorated with embossed patterns. Product of the Kasli masters. Cast iron cannonball from a 4-pound cannon from the era of the Napoleonic wars. Items are connected to each other by a brass bolt. Real historical desktop..
Original original. Silver, diameter 27 mm, weight 5.69 g. Obverse: portraits of newlyweds, above them two shaking hands. Circular legend: OMNIUM RERUM NEXUS NOBILIOR, bottom Fides 1654 Reverse: coat of arms of the groom, circular legend CL GALLAND Sr DE BEAUSABLON ET DAME C GUYON S ESP Private badge, poetic..
So, summing up the results of the first, introductory part at the beginning of the second part of the historical excursion, we recall that by the 18th century in Russia, knives were divided into a number of types according to their purpose, the main of which are: kitchen, hunting, dining (knives for eating), various craft and special knives and combat knives. Themselves combat Russian knives were of four types: underside, belt, boot and field. But we didn’t say a word about long-bladed items, so in this article we’ll talk about them.
Halberd and berdysh
Speaking about the cold long-bladed weapons of Russia of the 17th-19th centuries, we should first of all remember halberds and reeds. Halberd - a "cross" between spears and axes, a weapon of piercing and chopping action. Halberds came to Russia from Europe at the beginning of the 17th century. Until the very end of the 17th century, such weapons were used by the royal guards. In the XVIII century (under Peter I), sergeants (as a weapon - a distinctive sign) and artillerymen were armed with halberds. In the 19th century, the Russian army abandoned halberds, they began to arm the lower ranks of the police, and since 1856 halberds were completely abolished.
Berdyshes (from the Polish berdysz) appeared in Russia as early as the 15th century and were used until the 18th century. True, for the last century they have been used only as weapons for police officers and parade weapons for palace guards. The berdysh itself is an ax with a long curved blade on a shaft. Berdyshes could have small shafts (from 1 meter) and long ones - 2–2.5 meters long.
An interesting moment: in the popular comedy film by Leonid Gaidai "Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Profession", one of the palace guards threw a halberd, which, piercing into the time machine, closed the time passage. At this point, there is a double blooper. Firstly, Shurik calls this weapon a reed, and this is quite a classic halberd. Secondly, in Russia in the 16th century there were no halberds (they appeared later, during the period of False Dmitry the First). The berdysh themselves are also used in Gaidai's comedy, they were armed with the royal archers.
Saber
The most respected long-liver in the history of Russian blades is the saber. Sabers first appeared in Russia in the 9th century and by the 14th century they had become the most popular and widespread army melee weapons, completely replacing swords. Note that in the south of Russia, sabers appeared earlier and took root faster than to the north, closer to Novgorod. From the 15th to the 17th centuries, sabers served as the main weapon of archers, Cossacks, and cavalry warriors. In the 18th century, the saber became the personal weapon of light cavalry and officers in almost all military branches. At the end of 1881, the saber was replaced by a sword in the Russian army. It was preserved only in the guards as a ceremonial weapon, and also as a weapon to carry outside the ranks among the officers of some military branches.
Infantry and cavalry sabers
The word "saber" comes from the Hungarian szabni - "to cut". The saber consists of a blade and a hilt. The blade is curved, with a smooth cutting edge on the convex side. The handle could be wooden, bone, pewter, leather, and so on. For the first time the saber appeared in the countries of the East (VI-VII centuries). Eastern sabers had a hilt with a crosshair, European sabers had guards of various shapes. Sabers were completed with scabbards: wooden (covered with leather, velvet, morocco) or metal. The latter appeared only in the XIX-XX centuries. Metal scabbards were burnished, chrome-plated or covered with silver or gold (expensive ceremonial sabers).
Eastern saber
Eastern sabers have a large blade curvature, weight up to 1 kg and blade length up to 75–85 cm. European (including Russian) sabers have less curvature, blades up to 90 cm long and weighing up to 1.1 kg without sheath. European-style sabers are equipped with large, if not cumbersome, bowl-shaped hilts or in the form of several bows (from one to three).
Russian sabers were widely used in cavalry and infantry. Cavalry sabers were longer and heavier than infantry sabers. The sabers of the hussars and light cavalry had an average curvature of the blade. The blades of the sabers of the hussar regiments had a statutory form, but nevertheless they were often decorated in random order, had individual details and signs, as they were ordered by the hussars at their own expense (at that time it was considered bad manners among the hussars to receive official weapons).
Officer's saber
Until 1874, Russian sailors used a special marine subspecies of a shortened saber - a half-saber with a blade up to 60 cm. Later, the half-saber was replaced by sea sabers (they reached 82 cm in length) and daggers. In various armies of the world, sabers were in service until the end of World War II. Later, they began to be used almost everywhere exclusively as ceremonial weapons.
Half-saber
Talking about sabers, one cannot ignore such a phenomenon as “saber etiquette” - saluting with weapons. It is generally accepted that saluting with a saber appeared in the East. The junior in rank salutes the senior with a saber, at the same time covering his eyes with his hand raised to his face (acting out a kind of “blindness” by the sun-faced authorities). There is a version that raising the saber blade to the face comes from the ritual of the knights of the Crusades. On the hilts of swords and sabers, a crucifix or a cross was often depicted, which Christian soldiers kissed before the battle. At present, the ritual of saluting with a saber is divided into two stages: raising the saber with the hilt to the face (“raise”) is a modern interpretation of the rite of kissing the cross, lowering the blade of the saber with the point down is a sign of recognition of submission to a superior.
checker
Checkers (from the Kabardino-Circassian "sashkho" - "big knife"), as mentioned above, came to replace sabers in Russia. Outwardly, the checker is very similar to the saber, but it also has a number of differences. The blade of the checker is only slightly curved, it can both stab and chop. The blade of the checker has a one-sided sharpening, the tip is double-edged. The hilt of the checker does not have a guard (with rare exceptions).
Cossack officer's checker
Checkers were equipped with wooden scabbards covered with leather, which were hung on belt belts by rings (two or one) placed on the convex side of the scabbard. The checker is worn in the Caucasian manner, with the cutting edge up. This is also a difference from the saber (the saber is always worn with the butt up and the suspension rings are placed on the concave side of the scabbard). A saber is usually worn on a shoulder harness, and a saber is worn on a belt.
There are Caucasian and Central Asian checkers. Caucasian checkers have a very weak blade curvature. It was the Caucasian drafts that became the prototypes for the Cossack drafts of the Terek and Kuban Cossacks. The checkers of the peoples of the Caucasus have minor differences in the details and ornamentation of the decorations. The blades of the mountain checkers are hidden in the sheath up to the head of the handle, while the handle of the Cossack checkers is not removed into the sheath at all.
caucasian checker
Central Asian checkers are equipped with almost even blades with a very slight curvature and a very sharp tip. The handles of such checkers have a noticeable thickening at the top. The scabbard is usually wooden, covered with leather, with a steel device. There are Tajik, Turkmen, Bukhara, Kokand and Khiva drafts. These types of Central Asian checkers differ in the material of the handle, decorations, decoration, and details of the harness.
Bukhara drafts
In the Russian army, checkers have been used since the 18th century by the Cossacks, and since the 19th century, checkers have been adopted by cavalry and horse artillery soldiers. By statutory order in 1834, the form of a military checker was approved. As a basis, an Asian-type checker with a solid black horn handle was taken. In 1839, the exterior of the Cossack charter checkers was approved. She had a handle with brass fittings on the back and head (handle). The brass fitting was connected to the lower ring. In 1881, the saber was adopted as a combined arms edged weapon of cavalry units of all types, artillerymen, officers and officer army corps, gendarmes and police. For various branches of the military, statutory drafts standards were adopted, but the differences were insignificant.
Dragoon soldier's checker
Dragoon checkers had one fuller, a bow-shaped guard, a wooden scabbard, and a brass device. The scabbard of the dragoon checkers had additional clips for the bayonet. The officer's checkers were 9-10 cm shorter than the dragoon ones. The blade of the officer's checker had three lobes. The device was brass, gilded, with certain adaptations for harness belts. Artillery checkers were similar in size and shape, but with one fuller. Cossack checkers (since 1881) had a handle without a handle, a blade with one fuller and a sheath similar to the sheath of officer's checkers.
Dragoon checker 1881
The Russian army also used checkers of other designs. In 1903, in parallel with the checkers of the 1881 model, Asian checkers of the 1834 model were again used. In 1904, for the Caucasian national units and units, a Caucasian-type saber was approved, with a handle of two overlays, fixed to the shank with three rivets. The blade of this checker was sheathed along with the handle to the very pommel.
Artillery saber 1868
After the revolution of 1917, Cossack checkers of the 1881 model began to be used in the Red Army. Along with them, checkers of the Caucasian type were used in the Caucasus. The command staff of the Red Army used the dragoon saber. In 1927, a new checker was adopted by the cavalry, created according to the type of the Cossack and practically no different from it. In 1940, for ceremonial use by the highest command staff, a special checker was adopted, which was replaced in 1949 with a dagger. Since the 50s of the twentieth century in the USSR, the saber began to be used exclusively as a ceremonial weapon.
Officer's saber 1940
Dirk
A dagger (cold weapon of a piercing type) first appeared in Russia during the time of Peter I. Daggers have a straight, not very long, most often double-edged narrow blade. The handle is made of bone with a pommel, the guard is cruciform, small. In cross section, daggers are trihedral, tetrahedral and diamond-shaped. Daggers have been known since the 16th century, they were used as a boarding weapon, and later as a personal weapon of naval officers. In Russia, starting from the 18th century, officers of some land military branches began to use daggers. In 1730, non-combatant ranks of the army began to wear a dagger instead of a sword. In 1777, non-commissioned officers of the Jaeger regiment were armed with daggers instead of swords. These daggers could be mounted on muzzle-loading fittings for bayonet fighting. Since 1803, the rules for wearing daggers as personal weapons have been defined for officers and midshipmen of the Russian Navy. These rules delineated the wearing of stays, sea sabers and daggers. A little later, a special dagger was created, which was adopted by the couriers of the Naval Ministry. In 1903, naval engineer conductors were allowed to wear daggers, and since 1909 this right has extended to all naval conductors.
19th century sea dagger handle
The Russian naval dagger of the 19th century had a square-section blade 30 cm long with a double-edged tip. The handle was made of ivory, the guard was made of steel. The scabbard was made of wood and covered with black leather. Clips with rings and a tip were made of bronze and gilded. Half a century later, double-edged daggers with diamond-shaped blades became widespread, and at the end of the 19th century, daggers with four-sided needle-type blades began to be used. The sizes of dagger blades used at different times varied significantly. We also note the presence of decorations - most often images of a marine theme.
For Russian naval officers, wearing a dagger outside their ship was mandatory, with the exception of appearing in full dress, then they had to wear a naval saber or broadsword. Naval officers serving on the coast also had to wear a dagger without fail. On the ship, only the watch officer wore a dagger without fail.
Since 1914 daggers began to be used by aviators, military aeronautic troops, officers of automobile units and mine companies. Army daggers of aviators had black handles. In 1916, daggers replaced the drafts of military officials, military doctors and chief officers. From the spring of 1917, daggers began to be worn by the highest officer ranks, officers and all military officials, with the exception of those on horseback (while on horseback, they had to wear a saber). In the same year, 1917, daggers began to be handed over to officers - graduates of military institutions.
Sea dagger 1917
After the October Revolution of 1917, the wearing of daggers for all officers was abolished. Subsequently, the wearing of a dagger was returned to the command staff of military sailors (from 1924 to 1926, and from 1940 - finally approved).
At the end of World War II, the shape of the dagger in the USSR army was changed. The new dagger received a flat diamond-shaped blade, 21.5 cm long. The total length of the dagger of the new sample is 320 mm. The handle made of plastic (under the bone) was equipped with a latch-fuse from falling out of the wooden scabbard covered with leather. The dagger received decorations with the symbols of the USSR and the marine theme. The presentation of daggers to graduates of naval academies has been preserved.
Dagger 1940
We also note that civilians also used daggers in Russia. At the beginning of the 19th century, daggers were allowed to be worn by former naval officers serving in the merchant marine. And from the middle of the 19th century, the commanding staff of the courts also received this right. In the 19th century, certain ranks of the repair telegraph guards and postmen also wore daggers for some time.
In 1904, a marine-type officer's dagger (distinguished by a wooden black handle) was allowed to be worn by the supervisory ranks of shipping, fishing and fur farming. The dagger was worn on a belt belt. In 1911, the dagger was allowed to be worn by port officials and navigation inspectors.
During the First World War, daggers were also worn by members of the Sogor and Zemgor unions (organizations created in 1914-1915 to assist in supplying the army, medical assistance to the military, helping refugees, etc.). But such use of daggers was episodic and short-lived.
Soviet naval daggers
The daggers of naval officers are a Russian custom and tradition polished over the centuries. It was Russia that became a kind of trendsetter for wearing daggers. At the end of the 19th century, the wearing of a dagger by naval officers was borrowed from the Russians by the Japanese, and at the beginning of the 20th century by the Germans. In just a few decades, the dagger - as a personal weapon of a naval officer and part of the uniform was adopted in the fleets of almost all countries of the world.
Sword
Broadsword (from Polish Palasz and German Pallasch - sword, dagger) - a weapon of stabbing and chopping type, a cross between a sword and a sword. The broadsword is equipped with a long straight narrow blade (length up to 85 cm) with a double-edged, one-sided or one and a half sharpening. The handle of the broadsword is massive, with a protective cup and temples. The broadsword appeared in Western Europe in the late 16th and early 17th centuries as a heavy cavalry weapon. The first broadswords were brought to Russia from Europe, and under Peter I, their mass production and widespread use were established. Early broadswords had a slightly inclined handle for the convenience of delivering chopping blows from a horse. In the first half of the 18th century, dragoons were armed with broadswords. In addition to Russian-made broadswords, products from Germany (masters of the city of Solingen) were also used to arm the dragoon regiments. In 1730, broadswords were adopted by the cuirassier regiments of Russia. Horse artillerymen were also armed with broadswords. Under Catherine II, the crown and monogram "E II" were engraved on the broadswords of her loyal dragoons.
Dragoon broadswords, 1700–1732
In the 18th century, dragoon, cuirassier, carabinieri, army, guards, officer and soldier broadswords were adopted by the Russian army. All of them had a long, heavy blade of approximately the same shape and similar dimensions. The differences were in the shape of the scabbard and hilt. The handles were the most diverse: they could have a protective cup of various sizes and shapes, various arms, up to weaves, nets and shields. The tops of the handles could be round, oval, flat or in the form of the heads of animals or birds. The sheaths were covered with leather and bound with metal, or they were set into clips of various appearance. In the 19th century, hilts became much simpler, as were scabbards. Broadswords were preserved in the Russian army until the end of the 19th century, after which they were abolished, leaving only in some units as ceremonial weapons.
Broadsword, 1763
Cuirassier officer's broadswords, 1810
Separately, the sea broadsword should be considered. It is similar in appearance to the cavalry, but it also has some characteristic features. A marine broadsword may have a slightly curved blade (or straight), wide enough and without fullers. The length of the blade is less than that of a cavalry broadsword. The last third of the blade of the marine broadsword (near the tip) has side ribs located asymmetrically with respect to the axis of the blade. They are a continuation of the butt and reach the point. Marine broadswords for the needs of the Russian navy have been manufactured in large quantities in the city of Zlatoust since 1852. They were used until 1905 (in recent years, sea broadswords were worn by sailors of the guards naval crews), after which they were replaced with cleavers. Until 1917, midshipmen of the Naval Corps, Naval College and cadets of special midshipmen classes wore broadswords. Since 1958, naval broadswords have been used only as ceremonial weapons.
Naval broadsword, 1855
Sword
A sword (from the Spanish spada) is a cold weapon of a stabbing (less often piercing-chopping) type, atypical for Russia. The sword is equipped with a narrow and long blade, which can be flat or faceted, double-edged or sharpened on one side, with or without valleys. The hilt of the sword is symmetrical, with good protection of the hand in the form of a bowl, crosses and bows of various shapes. In the countries of Western Europe, the sword gained immense popularity among the nobles in the 16th century.
In Russia, swords appeared in the 17th century, first with spearmen and reiters, and by 1708 with all infantrymen. Later, by 1741, swords were replaced by sabers and semi-sabers, and only officers and guards musketeers remained. In the 17th-18th centuries, Russian swords had double-edged blades, and in the 19th century the blade was sharpened on one side and wide fuller. The hilts of the swords were copper (for officers - with gilding). Swords were worn on a harness, in a sword sheath.
Officer's infantry sword, 1798
In the 19th century, swords acquire the significance of ceremonial, out-of-combat weapons. By the middle of the 19th century, the sword had become the prerogative of the high command and was gradually being mastered by civil officials. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the sword was completely removed from the military and civilian departments.
Military official's sword, 1870
Dagger
The dagger (from the Arabic "khanjar") has been known since ancient times. Dagger - a bladed weapon of piercing or piercing-chopping action with a double-edged blade. The blade of a dagger can be straight or curved. The length of the dagger blade can reach 40–50 cm, but more often it does not exceed 30–35 cm. The dagger is worn in a sheath. In the Russian army, daggers were not used for a long time, with the exception of military units that took part in the Caucasian campaign. It was in the Caucasus that daggers were very popular and widespread. Daggers of various shapes and sizes were used in the Caucasus. It is known about the existence of Caucasian daggers with blades up to 80 cm long.
Caucasian dagger of the 19th century
In the 19th century, serial production of daggers was established in the city of Zlatoust. The leadership of the Russian army appreciated the effectiveness of daggers in hand-to-hand combat, and in 1908, the Bebut dagger, equipped with a short curved blade, adapted for stabbing, cutting and cutting blows, was adopted by machine gun crews, artillerymen and scouts. Bebut was also actively used during the First World War in trench battles.
Bebut, 1815
If we turn to the first part of the article, then we can easily draw a parallel between the dagger and the Russian combat belt knife. Therefore, it is worth noting that there were still dagger-like weapons in Russia.
In the next part, we will talk about rare Russian bladed items, follow the development of the bayonet, describe civilian knives of the 17th-19th centuries, and come close to the Russian knives of the First World War.
At the beginning of the XIX century. in the Urals, in Zlatoust, a new factory was created, which received a very characteristic name: the Zlatoust factory of white weapons. Soon she gained the widest fame for the manufacture of various types of edged weapons - sabers, checkers, broadswords, bayonets, daggers, etc. Damascus steels of the Ural craftsmen were in no way inferior to the best foreign samples. Everything forged here was called “white weapons” at that time. Since the middle of the 19th century, another term has finally been firmly established in Russia - “cold weapons”. The most ancient combat melee weapons with a short blade among sailors were daggers, intended to defeat the enemy in a boarding battle. They became widespread at the end of the 16th century. Later, the dagger became the traditional weapon of the officers of the navy. Its very name was taken from the Hungarian word “ card”- sword.
The dagger had a blade of either a triangular or tetrahedral section, or a rhombus shape with a very small fragility at the sharp ends, which are kind of blades. This shape of the blade gives it great rigidity.
For the first time, a dagger as a personal edged weapon of officers of the tsarist fleet is mentioned by historians in the biography of Peter I. The tsar himself liked to wear a navy dagger in a sling. The Budapest National Museum has a dagger, which for a long time was considered to belong to Peter the Great. The length of its double-edged blade with a handle was about 63 cm, and the hilt at the blade ended in a cross in the form of a horizontally lying Latin letter S. The wooden scabbard, about 54 cm long, was sheathed in black leather and had bronze clips with rings for a harness 6 cm long in the upper part. and about 4 cm wide each, and in the lower part - the same clips about 12 cm long and 3.5 cm wide. The dagger blade on both sides and the surface of the bronze clips of the scabbard were richly ornamented. On the lower metal tip of the scabbard, a double-headed eagle topped with a crown is carved, and on the blade there are decorations symbolizing Russia's victory over Sweden. The inscriptions framing these images, as well as the words placed on the handle and blade of the dagger, were, as it were, a laudatory hymn to Peter I: “Vivat to our monarch”.
The dagger, as a personal weapon of naval officers, has repeatedly changed its shape and size. In the post-Petrine period, the Russian fleet fell into decay, and the dagger, as an integral part of the naval officer's uniform, lost its significance. In addition, they began to introduce it into the uniform of the ground forces.
Since 1730, the dagger replaced the sword for some army non-combatant ranks. In 1777, the non-commissioned officers of the chasseur battalions (a type of light infantry and cavalry) instead of a sword were introduced a dagger of a new type, which could be mounted on a shortened muzzle-loading rifle-fitting before hand-to-hand combat.
Since 1803, the dagger again becomes an indispensable accessory of only one naval officer's uniform. At that time, the dagger blade had a square section and an ivory handle with a metal cross. The end of the 30 cm blade was double-edged. The total length of the dagger was 39 cm. On a wooden scabbard covered with black leather, two gilded bronze clips with rings for attaching to a harness were mounted in the upper part, and a tip was placed in the lower part for the strength of the scabbard. The black layered silk harness was adorned with gilded bronze lion heads. Instead of a plaque, there was a clasp in the form of a snake curved like the Latin letter S. The symbols in the form of lion heads were taken, most likely, from the coat of arms of the Russian tsars of the Romanov dynasty.
Wearing a dagger with any form of clothing - except for the ceremonial uniform, the obligatory accessory of which was a naval saber or broadsword - was considered absolutely mandatory in some periods, and at times it was required only in the line of duty. For example, for more than a hundred years in a row, until 1917, the descent of a naval officer from the ship to the shore obliged him to be at the dagger. Service in the coastal institutions of the fleet - headquarters, educational institutions, etc. - also required naval officers serving there to always wear a dagger. Only on the ship, wearing a dagger was mandatory only for the chief of the watch.
The Russian naval dagger was so beautiful and elegant in its shape and decoration that the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, bypassing the crew of the newest Russian cruiser Varyag in 1902, was delighted with him and ordered to introduce daggers for the officers of his “High Seas Fleet” somewhat modified Russian pattern.
In addition to the Germans, back in the 80s of the XIX century. our dagger was adopted by the Japanese, who made it look like a small samurai sword. By the beginning of the XX century. The Russian dagger has become an accessory of the uniform of officers of almost all fleets of the world.
In November 1917, the dagger was canceled and for the first time returned to the command staff of the RKKF in 1924, but two years later it was abolished again and only 14 years later, in 1940, it was finally approved as a personal weapon of the command staff of the Navy.
After the Great Patriotic War, a new form of dagger was adopted - with a flat steel chrome-plated blade of a diamond-shaped section 21.5 cm long (the length of the entire dagger is 32 cm).
On the right side of its handle there is a latch that prevents the blade from falling out of its sheath. The four-sided handle is made of ivory-look plastic. The lower fitting, the head and the crosspiece of the handle are made of non-ferrous gilded metal. A five-pointed star is superimposed on the head of the handle, and an image of the coat of arms is applied on the side. The wooden sheath is covered with black leather and varnished. The device of the scabbard (two clips and a tip) is made of non-ferrous gilded metal. An anchor is depicted on the upper clip on the right side, a sailing ship on the left. The upper and lower clips have rings for the harness. Harness and belt are made of gilded threads. The belt has an oval clasp made of non-ferrous metal with an anchor. The buckles for adjusting the length of the harness are also made of non-ferrous metal with anchors. A belt with a harness is worn over the dress uniform so that the dagger is on the left side. Persons on duty and watch service (officers and warrant officers) are assigned to wear a dagger over a blue tunic or overcoat.
Daggers as a personal edged weapon, along with lieutenant shoulder straps, are awarded to graduates of higher naval schools (now institutes) in a solemn atmosphere simultaneously with the presentation of a diploma of graduation from a higher educational institution and the assignment of the first officer rank.
I would also like to mention the so-called semi-saber that existed in the Russian army in the 19th century, introduced into the infantry regiments of the Russian army since 1826. It differed from the saber in a somewhat shortened and straightened blade and was worn in a wooden scabbard covered with lacquered black leather. A lanyard made of silver galloon with two stripes of black and orange silk along the edges was tied on its hilt, the width of the lanyard was 2.5, and the length was 53 cm. We mentioned half-sabers because since 1830 they were introduced for officers and admirals of the Russian of the navy and were a mandatory attribute of the dress uniform - with a uniform with orders. Since 1874, half-sabers in the fleet were replaced by sabers, which differed only in a slightly longer length and had a blade length of about 82 cm. The blade of a naval officer's saber was almost straight and only slightly curved at the very end. With the introduction of the saber in the fleet, the custom of saluting with it appeared.
|
“Saber etiquette” was originally considered to have come from the East, where the younger, saluting with a saber, at the same time covers his eyes with his raised hand, blinded by the magnificence of the elder. However, later studies indicate that the "etiquette of the saber" came from the crusaders. The image of the crucifix and the cross on the hilt of the sword and on the hilt of the saber was common during the time of chivalry. On the dagger of the English sailors, it has survived to this day. In those distant times, there was a custom to kiss the cross or crucifix before the start of the battle.
In the modern salute of military honor with a saber or a saber, the history of the distant past is reflected, as it were. Raising the saber “lift up”, that is, with the hilt to the chin, is like performing the ancient ritual of kissing the cross on the hilt. Lowering the blade point down is an act of ancient custom of acknowledging one's submission.
In England, another curious custom associated with the saber has survived to this day. During the trial of a naval officer, the accused, having entered the courtroom, unfastens his saber and puts it on the table in front of the judges. Before passing the sentence, he retires and, when he returns again, already by the position of the saber he knows the result: with the tip towards him, it means he is accused, with the hilt towards him, it means he is acquitted.
In the XVI century. as a boarding weapon, a broadsword was also used, a chopping and piercing edged weapon, consisting of a long (about 85 cm) and certainly a straight blade with a hilt having a safety guard. Until 1905, the sailors of the Guards Naval Crew wore broadswords, later replaced by cleavers. Until 1917, midshipmen of the Naval Corps wore the broadsword as an accessory to the naval uniform. Marine Engineering School. Emperor Nicholas I and Separate midshipmen classes. In our Navy, the wearing of broadswords by cadets of higher naval schools was introduced on January 1, 1940. Since 1958, it has become only the subject of uniform equipment for assistants at the Naval flag or banner.
In the Russian army and navy, one of the highest awards for officers, admirals and generals was the salary of those who distinguished themselves with award weapons.
Directly related to the military order of St. George was the so-called Golden weapon. Golden the saber differed from the ordinary one in that the metal device, in addition to the blade, was made of gold of the 56th test and there was an inscription on both handles of the hilt of the saber: "For bravery." On such a saber, the silver lanyard was replaced by a lanyard from the St. George ribbon of the 4th degree of this order, with the same tassel at the end as the silver lanyard. Persons who had sabers with diamond decorations did not wear a lanyard on such sabers. Persons to whom golden sabers with or without diamonds were complained of also had a dagger with a golden handle and the inscription: "For bravery." A small enamel cross of the Order of St. George was attached to the top of the saber and dagger. These two awards - the Golden Arms and the Order of St. George - were so close in spirit that in 1869, in connection with the centenary of the order, those awarded with the Golden Arms were ranked among its holders. In 1913, this award received the official name St. George's weapon.
We already know that a saber and a dagger with the Order of St. Anne of the 3rd degree attached to them from 1797 were also included in the award weapons, and with the addition of the 4th degree in 1815, they began to wear his sign in a similar way, that is, they attached it at the top of the neck of an ordinary saber, and at the top of the dagger handle. Since 1828, the weapon, on which the sign of the Order of St. Anne was reinforced, was relied on a lanyard made of a red sash with a yellow border, and it received an unofficial name Anninskoe weapons.
On infantry swords and naval half-sabers, these lanyards ended in a round red pompom, which received the name “cranberry” in army jargon, which also passed into the navy. Since 1829, the inscription was placed on the hilt of the Anninsky weapon For bravery and officially the award became known as Order of St. Anne 4th degree with an inscription For courage. It was the most massive military officer order. Most of the officers who fought had weapons with "cranberries". So, for example, the Order of St. Anne of the 4th degree “For Courage”. Anninsky weapons and a letter were granted to midshipman of the Guards naval crew Nikolai Shcherbatov " in honor of the distinction given to
bringing fireships to Turkish warships and bridges being built near the Silistria fortress...” during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878.
The tradition of awarding those who especially distinguished themselves in military operations with the Golden Weapon was preserved after the October Revolution. Honorary revolutionary weapon, or, as it was usually called during the Civil War, golden weapon, was in the period 1919-1930. the highest award. It was awarded exclusively to the highest command staff of the Red Army for special combat distinctions. The right to award the Golden Weapon belonged to the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (VTsIK), its Presidium and the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic (RVSR). According to the decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of April 8, 1920, the honorary revolutionary weapon was a saber (dagger) with a gilded hilt. The Order of the Red Banner of the RSFSR was superimposed on the hilt.
The first awards of the Honorary Revolutionary Weapon (checker) called Combat golden weapon with the sign of the Order of the Red Banner took place before its official approval on August 8, 1919. The Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee awarded the Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Republic Sergey Sergeevich Kamenev with the Combat Gold Weapon for military merits and organizational talent shown by him in the fight against the enemies of the Republic, and Commander Vasily Ivanovich Shorin - for military merits shown in battles against the forces of Kolchak, and the skillful leadership of the 2nd Army of the Eastern Front. The third knight was the commander of the Cavalry Corps Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonny (November 20, 1919). The fourth to receive weapons was the commander of the 5th Army, Mikhail Nikolaevich Tukhachevsky (December 17, 1919). After the decree on the establishment of the Combat Golden Weapons, they were awarded to 16 more prominent military leaders of the Civil War on January 18, 1921, two cavaliers of award edged weapons - S.S. Kamenev and S.M. Budyonny - were also awarded the firearms of the Honorary Revolutionary Weapon.
By a decree of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR of December 12, 1924, an all-Union honorary revolutionary weapon was established: a saber (dagger) with a gilded hilt and the Order of the Red Banner superimposed on the hilt, a revolver with the Order of the Red Banner attached to its handle and a silver lining with the inscription: “To an honest soldier of the Red Army from the Central Executive Committee of the USSR in 19 ....”. On April 23, 1930, the well-known Soviet military leader, hero of the Civil War, holder of four orders of the Red Banner, Stepan Sergeevich Vostretsov, was awarded the All-Union Honorary Revolutionary Weapon (saber) on April 23, 1930 “ for distinction in the liquidation of the conflict on the Chinese Eastern Railway in 1929”, where he commanded the 18th Rifle Corps. This was the last award of the Honorary Revolutionary Weapon. In total, 21 people were awarded the Honorary Revolutionary Weapon, including 2 people - twice. In the future, in connection with the establishment in 1934 of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, the awarding of the Honorary Revolutionary Weapon was not carried out.
In 1968, the Presidium of the Supreme Council again introduced the award of honorary weapons with a golden image of the State Emblem. Marshals of the Soviet Union I.Kh. Bagramyan, F.I. Golikov, I.S. Konev, K.A. Meretskov, V.I. Chuikov, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union S. G. Gorshkov and other military leaders.
H Let's start, perhaps, with the famous dagger. Who does not know this very characteristic appearance?
It was created by the need to have a weapon that allows you to fight in a close scuffle during boarding, when you can’t swing much with longer sabers, broadswords or swords, but you need to have something longer than an ordinary knife in your hand. Daggers originally appeared in the English and French fleets, which had a close relationship with piracy :) And it was also very convenient for them to pierce the armor of Spanish sailors, and who carried the most gold on their galleons?
By the way, I have repeatedly heard that a Soviet dagger, thrown vertically from chest level, pierced a Soviet penny through and through. But he did not dare to check it himself. Is there a little...
It was the French that was distinguished by the direct form of a double-edged blade, they could chop, cut, prick - whatever the client wanted. It was brought to Russia, of course, by Peter I. The dagger was modernized several times until it took its final form in 1945.
Here in the picture is my dagger with two types of equipment - ceremonial and everyday, which one is which, I think anyone can guess:
An anchor is depicted on the scabbard on one side, and a sailboat under full sail on the other. Sheath made of wood covered with leather. Metal parts anodized. At one time the handle was made of ivory. But then they began to make ivory-colored plastic, but over time it darkened, by the degree of darkening one can judge the age of the weapon. Mine is 1971:
Here is the hook on the chain so that the dagger can be given a vertical position and it does not interfere with walking along the ship's narrowness. I have now tried to cling to the upper ring on the sheath, but this does not cardinally solve the problem. But if you pick up this curl on the guard, then just right. The blade is 21 cm long, nickel-plated, the weight of the dagger is 270 grams. By the way, everywhere they write that the length is 215 mm, but I specifically measured it now - 215 is obtained with a guard, and so - exactly 210.
When they were introduced to wear in the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Fleet in 1940, People's Commissar N.G. Kuznetsov established that he should be worn like this:
But then the rules changed several times, here are just the graduates of my time:
Let's move on to the broadsword.
The broadsword of the 1940 model was ordered to be worn by cadets of naval schools outside the territory of the school in all cases. Since 1952, broadswords began to rely only on those on duty in the company. In 1974, the wearing of broadswords was also canceled for them. From 1940 until the mid-1990s, broadswords were also worn by assistant flag bearers in parades.
On duty in the company, I managed to vilify him several times. Somehow I didn’t like it, especially the metal, which is rather plain. We amused ourselves by sticking it into the floorboards in the barracks.
Broadswords, if necessary, were used by cadets in fights, though in a sheath, like a club. There were stories that seemed to be pulled out of the scabbard, but something is doubtful, chopping someone up, this is a 100% prison.
It's funny that such personal belongings were introduced specifically for the sailors, and not the army guys, although it would seem to whom, if not them, to wear this symbol. This, as I understand it, is a sketch for the film "Khrustalev, the car!" I wonder what chishi the cadet could visit the restaurant for? It will most likely pass :)
Oh, and a military knife. We were not given bayonets for machine guns, so we armed ourselves with this knife on a watch or on a patrol:
Nothing could be more primitive. The metal is of low quality, which can be seen even in the photo.
And this is the entrance to our barracks in the school. On the left is the orderly, with this knife on my belt, in a light, well-worn robe next to him - I am.
I have always been thin, and to this day I have not acquired a belly. But now I tried on the equipment for the dagger for myself, and for the last time I put it on as a senior lieutenant over a jacket. And here is the result:
And it could be worse :)