Original Item: One One Available. Remember Dr. Zhivago? Imperial Russia, known as the Soviet Union after the revolution of 1917, did away with anything and everything that reminded it of an imperial past. This included markings on weapons as well as nearly everything else. This also included the legendary Shashka Sabers used by Cossack forces for centuries. However, as the Cossacks tended to support the dethroned Tsar against the Bolshevik Communists, they were able to protect their weapons from being altered later.

This is a very rare example of an Imperial Russian Cossack Shashka, which was not later destroyed or defaced after the Russian Revolution. It comes complete with a Mosin-Nagant Bayonet, which fits into special fittings on the scabbard. We have only seen a few of these in many years of business, and they are very desirable.

The 34 inch long blade is in very good condition, though it definitely does show light use. The blade has been sharpened, and there is some past pitting near the point, now cleaned off. This looks to be a sword that saw some real use during its life. The blade ricasso ha clear unit / regiment markings, and there are visible Zlatoust (Златоуст) factory markings on the blade, along with a 1911г date.

The hilt now wobbles on the tang, as most likely the wooden grip has shrunken a bit over the years. The tang nut is still present, and we have not attempted to tighten it. The hilt overall has a lovely patina, and the grooved wooden grip is still in very good shape.

The Included scabbard is the correct leather covered wood, with intact brass fittings. The scabbard also bears brass mounts to accommodate the included Mosin-Nagant 1891/30 socket bayonet, which is in very good condition. Cossack cavalryman traditionally wore this slung across his back while mounted on horseback. It could also be hung at the side, and was worn edge up for a quick draw. Overall it is in very good condition, with some damage to the leather. The fittings for the bayonet are also slightly out of line, so the bayonet doesn't quite mount correctly.

Overall a great condition rare sword with a great worn patina, just perfect for any Imperial Russian or WWI Soviet collection.

Specifications (Shashka):
Overall length: 39 3/4"
Blade Length: 34"
Blade Style: Single Edge Shashka with Fuller
Scabbard Length: 35"

Specifications (Bayonet):
Blade Length: 17"
Blade Style: Cruciform with Flathead Tip
Overall length: 20“

The Shashka (Adyghe: сэшхуэ /IPA: [saʃxʷa]/ - big knife, Russian: (шашка)) is a special kind of sabre; a very sharp, single-edged, single-handed, and guardless sword. In appearance, the shashka is midway between a full sabre and a straight sword. It has a slightly curved blade, and can be effective for both slashing and thrusting. The blade is either hollowed or fullered. There is no guard, but a large, curved pommel. The hilt is frequently highly decorated. Shashkas from the Caucausus, as opposed to Russian versions, are carried in a wooden scabbard that encloses part of the hilt. It is worn with the cutting edge to the rear, opposite to the sabre.

The shashka originated among the mountain tribes of the Caucasus in the 12th century.[citation needed] Later most of the Russian and Ukrainian Cossacks adopted the weapon. Two styles of shashka exist: the Caucasian/Circassian shashka and the Cossack shashka.

The typically Circassian (Adyghe) form of sabre was longer than the Cossack type, in fact the Russian word shashka originally came from the Adyghe word - Adyghe: сэшхуэ (Shash ko) - meaning "long knife". It gradually replaced the sabre in all cavalry units except hussars during the 19th century. Russian troops, having encountered it during their conquest of the Caucasus (1817-1864), preferred it to their issue sabres. The Russian Caucasian Corps first adopted it in the 1830s. In 1881 shashka became official weapon in Russian troops and police.

At this time they were 3 types of shashkas.

1. Caucasus type where the handle almost sits inside the scabbard, this type was used by Kuban Cossack and tribes from Caucasus. Only one problem was with this type of shashka that during rain water could go down into the scabbard, but this type of shashka was very light 300-400 grams, very flexible, strong and sharp. The best and most famous shashkas of this types were Gurda (strong and sharp like bulat), Volchek (running wolf symbol on the blade).

2. The Don Cossack shashka has straighter blade which gave Cossacks something in the middle to combine two things in one like cutting from the horse and also fence. The weight of this shashka is around 1 kilogram.

3. Terek Cossack shashka, the handle like the Don Cossack shashka does not go inside the scabbard. It is very light and strong.

The absence of the guard is inherited from the original Caucasian construction, in which the shashka is nearly completely hidden in the scabbard, together with the hilt. The hilt is slightly curved down, thus providing an additional leverage for pulling the shashka and for additional force by wrist action.

The handle of the sabre was crafted so as to have a built-in pommel and possibly a small guard, which usually extended to only one side of the hilt. Like most medieval and then imperial Russian weaponry of the time, often the shashka and its scabbard were very ornately decorated, with gold and silver engravings, embedded gems and stones placed into, and figures carved out of or into, the hilts. The blade of the sabre was generally double or triple-fullered, and due to its greater width than that of the European sabre and its unique styles of tempering, it was much stronger too[citation needed], able to deal damage to light body armor.

The shashka has the feel of a European sabre and was notable for its sharpness. There has been film footage of Tsar Nicholas II (1868-1918) using a Circassian sabre in an overhead twirling motion to horizontally cut pieces from a wooden pole