Category Archives: Articles

Talantov S. (2016). Razbornyj kinzhal raboty Geurka Jeliarova iz Tiflisa [A Dismountable Dagger by Geurk Eliarov from Tiflis]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 4, pp. 51 — 61. Talantov S. Abstract: The article is devoted to a dagger with scabbard and knife and fork attached which was made by Geurk Eliarov, a famous bladesmith who lived in Tiflis in the first half of the 19th century and who founded the whole Eliarov dynasty of bladesmiths. Different weapons made by the master are preserved in The State Hermitage Museum, in The Arsenal of the Tsarskoe selo State Museum, in The State Historical Museum and The Dagestan Combined Historical and Architectural Museum in Makhachkala as well as in private collections. Objects by Eliarov are considered to be among the best samples of Caucasus weaponry. The distinctive feature of this particular dagger is its ability to be taken into two parts and…

A Brief Review of the Soviet Cavalry Sword of 1927 Year Pattern

Samgin S. (2016). Kratkij obzor sovetskoj shashki obrazca 1927 goda [A Brief Review of the Soviet Cavalry Sword of 1927 Year Pattern]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 4, pp. 37 — 50. Samgin S. Abstract: Despite the large number of samples of the soviet cavalry sword of 1927 year pattern year pattern, preserved in the museums and private collections, the history and features of this Russian long-bladed weapon have been studied poorly. The little available information is scattered across the focused primary sources, which were put out in limited editions though, and electronic media. The present situation obstructs not only the studying of the weapon history, but even the attribution of several its systems. The main idea of this review is to summarize and systematize all the available information on this weapon. The review includes the general data on the cavalry sword of 1927 year pattern, the structural dynamics, its…

Typology of Shamshir Hilts

Miloserdov D. (2016). Tipologija rukojatej sabli-shamshir [Typology of shamshir hilts]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 4, pp. 22 — 36. Miloserdov D. Abstract: The article deals with Persian sabers, the so called “shamshir”, dating back to the end of the 18th- the beginning of the 20th century. The author defines the territory of these sabers usage as quite vast including not only Persia, India, Afghanistan and Turkey but the countries of Northern Africa and the Arabian East as well. Such a wide circulation of shamshir is stressed to be a result of large export of Persian blades which were of higher quality than the local ones. Outside of Persia the blades often acquired hilts made in local traditions presuming both special constructive principles and the materials used which permit to trace the place of a shamshir usage. In India for instance the “classical” shamshir blades were often mounted in…

Two Pairs of the Short Ritual Swords of Vietnam

Barczewski S., Vetukov V. (2016). Dve pary korotkih ritual’nyh mechej iz V’etnama [Two Pairs of the Short Ritual Swords of Vietnam]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 4, pp. 5 — 21. Barczewski S. Vetukov V. Abstract: The article is devoted to the description of two pairs of short swords preserved in a private collection. These swords are marked with features specific to both the Vietnamese and Chinese traditions of weapon making. Some of their details permit to qualify the weapons as ritual objects used by peoples inhabiting the mountains of Northern Vietnam. Thus the blades of all daggers were engraved with images of tendrils of different clambering plants. This decorative motive symbolizes the virility or literary struggle for the place in the sun in the Vietnamese culture. Another specifically Vietnamese blade detail is an ornately cut plate of copper alloy put on the base of the one pair blades.…

Saber Blades and Pole Arms with “Rolling Pearls” in the Collection of the Moscow Kremlin Museums

Chubinsky A. (2016). Sabel’nye klinki i drevkovoe oruzhie s «zhemchuzhinami» v sobranii muzeev Moskovskogo Kremlja [Saber Blades and Pole Arms with “Rolling Pearls” in the Collection of the Moscow Kremlin Museums]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 3, pp. 86 — 101. Chubinsky A. Abstract: The paper is devoted to a group of cold weapons reposited in the Armoury Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin museums. These are saber blades and spear heads that were provided or used to be provided with “rolling pearls” inserted to the fullers, two iron-cut maces, and an axe which because of the audible sound of clattering elements inside, on the author’s opinion, could be corresponded to the weapons with “rolling pearls”. The author states the weapons with “rolling pearls” to have been made in Russia in the first half-first third of the 17th century while the range of their types was as wide as it…

Plated Chain Mails from Count Sheremetev’s Collection

Schindler O. (2016). Kol’chato-plastinchatye dospehi iz kollekcii Sheremeteva [Plated Chain Mails from Count Sheremetev’s Collection]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 3, pp. 102 — 112. Schindler O. Abstract: Plated chain mail is an armour made of metal plates connected with separate rings and ring chains. This type of armour often fitted with mail sleeves and laps was widespread in Rus in the 16th-17th centuris. The specificity of its construction permitted more or less effective combination of the mail flexibility and the hardness of coat-of-plates. Today about two hundred samples of the armour type of both Russian and foreign (oriental) origin are reposited in the Russian arms and armour storages. The paper is devoted to five plated chain mails from the private collection of count Sheremetev. These pieces are a perfect example of the armour used in the times of Moscow Rus. Today they are not at display and kept out…

Dragoon Office Cavalry Sword – the Golden Weapon of Emperor Alexander III

Talantov S. (2016). Oficerskaja dragunskaja shashka, Zolotoe oruzhie Imperatora Aleksandra III [Dragoon Office Cavalry Sword – the Golden Weapon of Emperor Alexander III]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 3, pp. 76 — 85. Talantov S. Abstract: The article tells the story of a cavalry sword, presented by the officers of the 13th Life Grenaderial Erivan regiment to Alexander III who was its most august colonel in chief. The weapon was presented to the Emperor on his visit to Caucasus. This is the cavalry sword mounted with the guard of the dragoon office cavalry sword of the 1881 pattern. Its blade demonstrating an unspecified for cavalry swords type was forged earlier and according to the available sources used to belong to the family of Mengrelian ruling princes of Dadiani. The scabbard hasn’t preserved. After the revolution of 1917 the cavalry sword was lost and only several years ago the author…

Scientific Legacy by Eduard von Lenz

Samgin S. (2016). Nauchnoe nasledie Jeduarda Jeduardovicha Lenca [Scientific Legacy by Eduard von Lenz]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 3, pp. 63 — 75. Samgin S. Abstract: Eduard von Lenz is one of the outstanding weapon historians who lived in Russia at the end of the 19th – the beginning of the 20th century. He was interested in a good variety of themes in the field of the weapon studying, starting from the systematization and description of the Russian collections of weapons to the analysis of arms and armour found during archaeological excavations. He studied the weapon manufacturing centers as well and popularized the weaponology in general. Today most of his papers are unknown even for the specialists. The most important period of Lenz’s creative life was the time from 1899 to 1919 when he served as the curator of the imperial collection of arms at the Hermitage. This collection…

Shashkas of Afghanistan

Miloserdov D. (2016). Afganskaja shashka [Shashkas of Afghanistan]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 3, pp. 48 — 62. Miloserdov D. Abstract: The article is devoted to shashkas that used to be very popular on the territory of present-day Afghanistan. The article presents the analysis of the primary sources containing references by different observers to the ways of shsashka usage in the above mentioned region. Using indirect indicators the author substantiates shashkas to have been used in Afghanistan as early as from the beginning of the 19th century and refered to under the name of “shashka” already in the second half of the 19th century. Three main types of shashkas used in Afghaistan were pointed out in the article. The first one is the so called Central Asian shashka which is marked with wide and slightly curved blade. The handle of this shashka was usually made of two horn or bone…

The Weaponry Complex of Indian Warrior-ascetics

Kurochkin A. (2016). Kompleks vooruzhenija indijskih asketov [The Weaponry Complex of Indian Warrior-ascetics]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 3, pp. 27 — 47. Kurochkin A. Abstract: The article deals with analyzing of the edged weaponry complex used by Indian warrior-ascetics. The complex was unified for all the ascetics units and hence it was quite conservative and invariable. For the time-span of the 17-18th century Indian ascetics units could be corresponded to the knightly orders in the medieval Europe. The ascetics controlled the trade of the precious stones, corrals, raw silk, gold and silver. As mercenaries they changed the service of all great and minor rulers of India including the British. The sanniyasis-nagas mercenaries had a reputation of warriors especially effective as assault infantry and close combat troops and notwithstanding their active usage of firearms they were often equipped with solely edged weapons. The yogas were the first ascetic group who…

On the Problem of the “Amur Swords”

Dobriden S. (2016). K probleme amurskih mechej [On the Problem of the “Amur Swords”]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 3, pp. 5 — 26. Dobriden S. Abstract: The author devoted the article to the specific type of edged weapon which could be defined as the “Amur swords” before the special complex investigation is carried on. These are long swords used by the Tungus-Manchurian tribes. On the moment the article was written the author was not aware of any entirely preserved sword either in a museum or a private collection. The most well-preserved item is now in the collection of the American Museum of Natural History. The predominant attitude toward these swords presumes them to be a variant of famous “emus” of the Ainu. In the article the author substantiates the hypothesis about the local, Tungus-Manchurian, manufacturing of these swords, especially as the Amur peoples and their neighbors practiced the…

A Center of Gunmaking in Iran

Khorasani M.M., Shafeian H. (2015). A Center of Gunmaking in Iran. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 2, pp. 120 — 144. Khorasani M. Shafeian H. Abstract: Persian manuscripts on firearms reveal valuable information on casting bronze cannons, using rockets in warfare, the function of howitzers, mortars and cannons, cannon formation, etc. The barrels of Persian muskets show a variety of beautiful patterns of welded steel. But there are almost no period Persian manuscripts which report about the making of these beautiful pattern welded steel barrels and also their corresponding names in Persian. There is one Persian manuscript titled Tārix-e Delgošā-ye Ewaz (The Delightful History of Ewaz) which provides valua-ble information on some types of welded steel patterns. The following article deals with the chapter on firearms in the mentioned manuscript. Keywords: Persian guns, Persian muskets, pattern, welded steel, crucible steel, patterned crucible steel, patterns of welded steel on barrels, Ewaz…

Two 18th Century Sabers of the Balkan Origin from the Collection of Poltava Regional Museum

Toichkin D. (2015). Dve sabli balkanskogo proishozhdenija XVIII v. iz kollekcii Poltavskogo oblastnogo kraevedcheskogo muzeja [Two 18th Century Sabers of the Balkan Origin from the Collection of Poltava Regional Museum]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 2, pp. 109 — 119. Toichkin D. Abstract: The saber occupies a prominent position in the history of the Ukrainian Cossacks. This weapon having come to stay firmly and decisively on the territory of The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, already in the 16th century was used not only as a true arm but also as a sign of a definite social standing. The saber was an essential element of a uniform and a full dress, a symbol of family- and self-respect, a marker of high material status, and, finally, a luxury good and remunerable investment. It was the saber having been praised in folk songs and poetry that for centuries preserved a position of a favored…

“Non-standard” Soviet Cavalry Swords of the 1927 Year Pattern

Samgin S. (2015). Nestandartnye sovetskie shashki obr. 1927 g. [Two 18th Century Sabers of the Balkan Origin from the Collection of Poltava Regional Museum]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 2, pp. 102 — 108. Samgin S. Abstract: A soviet cavalry sword of the 1927 year pattern was one of the last models of fighting long-bladed weapon, sharing the place with a polish saber of 1934 version and another soviet cavalry sword of 1940 year pattern designed for the combatant commanding stuff. The history of the weapon was not limited with Zlatoust and its service in the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army though. This cavalry sword was manufactured for 18 years (from 1928 to 1946), mostly at the plant in Zlatoust. During this time the construction of the cavalry sword wasn’t considerably changed, and today the most differences presume the materials (metals) being used for its manufacturing, decoration scheme of the…

The Question of the Relevance of the Term “Karud”