Original Soviet WWII Cossack Shashka Saber - Dated 1931 & Marked CCCP

Original Item: Only 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.

The Shashka saber, and there are varied spellings of the name, was developed in the 13th century. and there is a well known photograph of the Russian Tsar Nicholas the Second wielding one during military exercises in the 1890s. With the close of WW1 in 1918 the Cossacks tended to support the dethroned Tsar against the Bolshevik Communists. The new Soviet army immediately banned any Cossacks from entering it's military forces in 1918 and this ban remained in force until 1936 when Cossack units were again introduced.

This is a classic Soviet WWII Production Cossack Cavalryman’s Shashka Saber that bears the "Hammer & Sickle" Soviet insignia and "C.C.C.P." cast into the once plated brass hilt pommel. This model saber was never fitted with any hilt or cross guard. The slightly curved Saber Blade has Cyrillic markings on each side, but they are extremely worn and difficult to read, but we could make out 18 KP on one side. The brass crossguard is stamped on both sides, one side with a maker mark over a 1931r date, and H / 150 on the other.

Condition is good overall but the blade shows extremely heavy oxidation from years of being without its scabbard, and the hilt is a bit loose to the blade.

This is an extremely scarce original Soviet item to find today! Ready to add to your collection and display!

Specifications:
Overall length: 37”
Blade Length: 31 ½"
Blade Style: Single Edge Shashka with Fuller