On the Question of Jamdhar Dagger Emergence in the Weapons Complex of the Mughals

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Kurochkin A. (2015). K voprosu o pojavlenii kinzhala dzhamdhar v oruzhejnom komplekse [On the Question of Jamdhar Dagger Emergence in the Weapons Complex of the Mughals]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 2, pp. 80 — 87. Kurochkin A. Abstract: The article is devoted to the circumstances by which the borrowing of probably the outstanding Indian weapon, the jamdhar dagger, by the Mughals could take place. As a result the genealogically Indian weapon became one of the most important attribute of the ruling class. Conquerors are well known to bring their own culture complex that includes the weapon one as well which is of high elitist status. The status of vanquished military complex is a priori low and it is usually left without attention by the new ruling class. The culture of the vanquished can’t be ignored totally though as it is the basis for the community existence and its relation…

On the Possible Functionality of a Mingrelian Stabbing Dagger in the Light of Analysis of Documented Precedents of Dagger Fighting

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Kiziria V. (2015). O vozmozhnoj funkcional’noj prinadlezhnosti mingrel’skogo kinzhala v svete analiza zafiksirovannyh precedentov kinzhal’nyh [On the Possible Functionality of a Mingrelian Stabbing Dagger in the Light of Analysis of Documented Precedents of Dagger Fighting]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 2, pp. 63 — 79. Kiziria V. Abstract:The author makes an attempt to put a type of a Mingrelian stabbing dagger of the 19th century in the cultural context. It is done on the basis of the historical data and specific circumstances of putting into practice both stabbing and cutting in the Caucasus communities, as well as on the experience of modern reconstruction of possible ways of the dagger use in a close fight. Historically the stabbing and the cutting were differentiated in the Caucasus cultural tradition. In the fights between the members of the community the stabbing, as a more mortal blow, was prohibited while the cutting was…

On the Manufacturing of the Sabers and Swords in the Pavlovsk Steelworker’s District

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Zavorotko I. (2015). O proizvodstve sabel’ i shashek v Pavlovskom staleslesarnom [On the Manufacturing of the Sabers and Swords in the Pavlovsk Steelworker’s District]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 2, pp. 53 — 62. Zavorotko I. Abstract: The author analyses the data on the manufacturing of arms blanch (saber and cavalry sword blades) in the Pavlovsk steelworker’s district which was a part of both Nizhniy Novgorod and Vladimir provinces in the second half of the 19th century. The information was got from the primary sources – special and public periodic editions and catalogues of industry exhibitions organized from 1829 to 1914. Besides, the author managed to systematize the data on the types of goods in the field of arms blanch and the main producers – Varipaev, Zavjalov, Koritsev, Korobkov, Buslaev, Beljaev, Tsvetov, Kondratjev, in whose workshops saber, cavalry sword, broad sword and dagger blades were made. There were introduced…

Long-bladed Weapons of the Turkic Cavalry

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Gorbunov V. (2015). Klinkovoe oruzhie tjurkskoj [Long-bladed Weapons of the Turkic Cavalry]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 2, pp. 28 — 45. Gorbunov V. Abstract: The article presents twenty pieces of Turkish long-bladed weapons found during archaeological excavations in the Central Asia. Notwithstanding the small number of the discovered items, it is possible to state the long-bladed weapons to have been spread widely amongst the Turkish tribes as they were often depicted on the steles. On the basis of the analysis of the preserved samples, the author traces the main tendencies of these weapons development among the Turkish cavalry. During the formation of the Turkish ethnicity, that is 460-552 A.D., the cavalrymen were armed with straight single-edged swords with hook-like pommel and sometimes rectangular cross-guard. In the times of the first Turkish Kaganates (552-657 A.D.) there were used both single-edged and double-edged straight swords with straight handles without any…

The Unique Bronze Dagger from Primorski Territory

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Dobriden S., Barczewski S. (2015). Unikal’nyj bronzovyj kinzhal iz Primor’ja [The Unique Bronze Dagger from Primorski Territory]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 2, pp. 46 — 52. Dobriden S. Barczewski S. Abstract: The article is devoted to the unique bronze dagger of antenna type which was found in Primorski Territory. Its dimensions, weight, and decoration are presented in details. The dagger’s handle was provided with the so called “antenna pommel” that is formed by two withstood heads of griffins, birds or other beasts. The appearance of this type handles is explained as the influence of Scythian-Siberian animal style on the territory of the Chinese province of Ljaonin and the Korean peninsular. Another detail, helping to determine the context the dagger functioned in, is the ornamental design put on its handle. The particular design is identical to the one decorating the bronze mirrors that are often found along with daggers…

Traditional Bladed Weapons of Vietnam. The Problems of Terminology

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Vetyukov V. (2015). Tradicionnoe klinkovoe oruzhie V’etnama. Problemy terminologii [Traditional Bladed Weapons of Vietnam. The Problems of Terminology]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 2, pp. 12 — 27. Vetyukov V. Abstract: The article describes the problems of terminology in such a very little-studied field as the Vietnamese weapons. The development of Vietnamese military tradition faced intense Chinese influence. Major weapon types as well as the terminology for their designation were borrowed from China, which acted both as a cultural contributor and a ravenous aggressor seeking to regain the control over the lost southern territories. Having creatively elaborated the Chinese borrowings and accepted Japanese, Thai-Burmese and later even European elements, the Vietnamese craftsmen gradually developed a specific local set of weapons. In the article there is made an attempt to define a correct terminology for the Vietnamese bladed weapons, to mark out its main types and trace back the history…

Vietnamese Bladed Melee Weapon of 19th – first half 20th Century. The Problems of Attribution

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Barczewski S. (2015). Klinkovoe holodnoe oruzhie V’etnama XIX- pervoj poloviny HH vv. Problemy atribucii [Vietnamese Bladed Melee Weapon of 19th – first half 20th Century. The Problems of Attribution]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 2, pp. 5 — 11. Barczewski S. Abstract: The article is devoted to the problems concerning the attribution of the Vietnamese bladed melee weapon of 19th – first half 20th century. The objects of this time span can’t be estimated as extremely rare as they are preserved in the museums and private collections while quite often they are wrongly described as the Chinese ones though. Notwithstanding their evident outward similarity rooted in the strongest multicultural influence of China on its southern neighbor the Vietnamese bladed weapon had got its distinguished features in its construction, materials and ornamentation elements that were used. The author accents these features and proposes to use the most characteristic ones as…

An Attempt to Develop a Lecture Course Titled «Introduction to Historical Weaponology

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Samgin S. (2015). Opyt razrabotki lekcionnogo kompleksa «Vvedenie v Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie» [An Attempt to Develop a Lecture Course Titled «Introduction to Historical Weaponology]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 1, pp. 124 — 135. Samgin S. Abstract: For the longest time Historical Weaponology has been recognized as an auxiliary historical discipline. However in Russia it has not been developed into a separate branch of science yet because of the interruption in professional studies, lack of activities in academic publishing and translating of foreign works during the Soviet period. Today Historical Weaponology in Russia is successfully winning the lost ground though the problem with training of future experts in this field exists and still there are no educational programs on Historical Weaponology in Russia. Meanwhile, such programs would be able not only contribute to the increase of interest in historical weapons, but lay the ground for the specialization of professional historians as…

The Self-made Submachine Guns Used by Belorussian Soviet Partisans During World War II

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Loparev A. (2015). Samodel’nye pistolety-pulemety v belorusskom sovetskom partizanskom dvizhenii perioda Velikoj Otechestvennoj vojny [The Self-made Submachine Guns Used by Belorussian Soviet Partisans During World War II]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 1, pp. 70 — 81. Loparev A. Abstract: The article concerns the manufacturing process of submachine guns, both copies and true weapon systems during the guerilla fighting in Belarus in 1941-1943. In the days of World War II the strongest in Europe anti-Nazi guerilla stir was active on the occupied territories of the Belarus Soviet Republic. By 1943 scattered groups of fighters had been organized in a strong well developed structure and to fill in the automatic firearms shortage submachine guns manufacturing was started. It is these weapons the emphasis first of all was made on because the guerilla tactics of “attack-stepback” sought high intensity automatic fire in a short span of time. Mechanical workshops fitted for…

“Southern” and “Northern” Bows in the “Hunting weapons” Collection of the State Darwin Museum

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Miloserdov D. (2015). «Juzhnyj» i «severnyj» luki v kollekcii «Orudija lova» Gosudarstvennogo Darvinovskogo muzeja [“Southern” and “Northern” Bows in the “Hunting weapons” Collection of the State Darwin Museum]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 1, pp. 101 — 111. Miloserdov D. Abstract: Two different types of bows from the collection of the State Darwin Museum are described in the article. The first one is the voghul bow or the “northern bow” as the author calls it. The “voghul” is a legacy name of the Mansi, a low-numbered indigenous community of the Khanty-Mansi autonomous District in Russia. The bow belongs to the composite type. Its long arms (totally 185 cm long) consists of the back and the inner plate glued together and fixed additionally with tendinous fiber wrapped in six points. The wood is of different species. The technology of string manufacturing permits to attribute the bow to the Mansi. The…

For Stabbing or for Cutting? The Ways of Dagger Use by the Caucasus Peoples in the 19th century

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Sheremetyev D. (2015). Kolot’ ili rubit’. Primenenie kinzhala u narodov Kavkaza v XIX veke [For Stabbing or for Cutting? The Ways of Dagger Use by the Caucasus Peoples in the 19th century]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 1, pp. 30 — 56. Sheremetyev D. Abstract: The article is devoted to different aspects of dagger use in the Caucasus region in the 19th century. The technique possibilities of cutting and stabbing were analyzed in depth as well as the cultural norms connected with these ways of dagger use. Indeed, contemporary ethnologists and linguists document it is cutting that must be practiced by a warrior attached to his dignity while stabbing was considered to be “too easy” to exercise. Consequently in accordance with the cultural norms and rules a warrior mustn’t have aimed to win a combat using the methods which were the easiest and strongest ones. The fight was probably…

On the Use of Indian Terms for Identification of Weapon Types

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Kurochkin A. (2015). Ob ispol’zovanii indijskih terminov dlja identifikacii vidov oruzhija [On the Use of Indian Terms for Identification of Weapon Types]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 1, pp. 57 — 69. Kurochkin A. Abstract: The European nomenclature describing Indian edged weapons was already developed in the 19th century and since then has not undergone any change or thinking over or critical analysis. By the way the nomenclature includes Indian terms perceived by European scholars as authentic names of different weapon types. More to the point these definitions were often referred to any type of edged weapon regardless their meaning while a final variant presented by the Europeans as a regional name depended usually on the geographical place the word was heard. Most words used in India to determine edged weapons are generic terms based on the verbs “to kill”, “to cut”, “to slash”, “to hurt”, “to split”, etc. In…

Undocumented Russian Fascine Knife of the Shuvalov Observation Corps

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Zakharov D., Terekhov E., Ustyanov A. (2015). Neopisannyj russkij tesak Shuvalovskogo Observacionnogo korpusa [Undocumented Russian Fascine Knife of the Shuvalov Observation Corps]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 1, pp. 112 — 117. Zakharov D. Terekhov E. Ustyanov A. Abstract: Russian arms of the Empire Period despite of many published pieces have been studied insufficiently. Hence the appearance of yet unknown models is quite understandable.  The article deals with a Russian fascine knife which hasn’t been listed in any catalogue of Russian edged weapons. The samples of the weapon are kept in the collections of the Artillery museum in Saint-Petersburg and in the Tula Museum of arms and armor. The authors attribute it not as a modification of a well-known engineer fascine knife of the 1797 version but as its previous model of the 1756 which is an infantry fascine knife of the Shuvalov observation corps. Shuvalov Observation Corps was…

The “Paren’ knife” – Legends and Facts

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Arkhangelsky L. (2015). Paren’skij nozh. Legendy i byl’ [The “Paren’ knife” – Legends and Facts]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie. — 2015. — № 1. — S. 82 — 100. Arkhangelsky L. Abstract: In the article L. Arkhangelskiy reconstructs and describes the manufacturing technique of the so called “paren’ knives” – the knives which were forged in the village of Paren’ on the north of Penjinskiy district of the Kamchatka Region (Kamchatka Krai). The village seems to have sprung up in the 18th century and got its name from the river Paren’ which banks it was situated on. Now the village is almost extinct. The knives which were manufactured by the koryaks from Paren’ used to be very common in the whole north-west of the Russian state. The local reindeer breeders, hunters and fishermen appreciated these knives higher than any other because of their form fitting perfectly the local necessities and conditions and their…

Mineral Surveyor V.F.Ludlov’s Small Sword

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Anikin K. (2015). Shpaga markshejdera V.F. Ludlova [Mineral Surveyor V.F.Ludlov’s Small Sword]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 1, pp. 118 — 123. Anikin K. Abstract: The article deals with an interesting sample of an edged weapon from the collection of the Sverdlov Regional Museum of Local Lore. It is a small sword with a made-to-order blade which belonged to a mineral surveyor V.F.Ludlov. The weapon is of good provenance. It appeared in the museum in March 1913. Gottlib Wilhelm Ludlov was born in 1779 in Turingia, got an education in “mining&quarrying” and entered into the Rusian service in 1805. The last reference to him dates back to 1825. The blade of the small sword which is an officer infantry sword of 1798 production year was specially made in Zlatoust, one of the Russian centers of edged arms manufacturing in the beginning of 1820s. The attribution is based on an…