Russian Sword for I D and Comment

Lee · 16th June 2009, 12:58 AM

In leafing through Eugene Mollo's Russian Military Swords: 1801-1917 this saber appears to follow the overall pattern of a dragoon (mounted) shashka, soldiers (ordinary grunt), "system of 1881". - however, I have never seen one with a cast brass grip before; the grip is usually wood.

Yours would clearly be later (hammer and sickle mark) and the markings leave me wondering if it were made in one of the outlying Soviet era republiks; for a while several decades ago newly made examples with serial numbers as modern Arabic numerals were showing up, but these also had wooden grips.

I recall having really wanted an old one of these when I was in college - I never did get a proper one, but ultimately satisfied the itch with a very, very battered 1841 model with the quillon pierced to mimic the later model.

Hopefully someone who knows their militaria better will be able to be more specific about your example.

16th June 2009, 12:58 AM	#2
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	Soviet, probably made in an Outlying Republik In leafing through Eugene Mollo's Russian Military Swords: 1801-1917 this saber appears to follow the overall pattern of a dragoon (mounted) shashka, soldiers (ordinary grunt), "system of 1881". - however, I have never seen one with a cast brass grip before; the grip is usually wood. Yours would clearly be later (hammer and sickle mark) and the markings leave me wondering if it were made in one of the outlying Soviet era republiks; for a while several decades ago newly made examples with serial numbers as modern Arabic numerals were showing up, but these also had wooden grips. I recall having really wanted an old one of these when I was in college - I never did get a proper one, but ultimately satisfied the itch with a very, very battered 1841 model with the quillon pierced to mimic the later model. Hopefully someone who knows their militaria better will be able to be more specific about your example.