"Dagger" and "Bronze Bird" - these two works were well known to Soviet boys. They enthusiastically read stories in which main character unraveled difficult situations and literally saved his homeland. But most of all, our boys dreamed of cold weapons, which gave the name work of art. For lack of the opportunity to hold a real dagger in their hands, they made it from wood and other improvised materials, and then proudly wore it, becoming the heroes of the whole yard. Interestingly, many teenagers could retell the content of Anatoly Rybakov's Dirk, but they would hardly have been able to give an accurate description of the weapon itself. After all, they only dreamed of seeing the legendary sea blade live and getting to know its history. Today we decided to tell readers what a dagger is. And also consider what evolutionary path he went from the beginning of the sixteenth century up to the present day.

What is a dirk?

Before starting a story about this type of edged weapon, you need to figure out what exactly it is. To do this, look at any Dictionary. What is a dagger from the point of view of specialists?

This term refers to melee weapons with a short blade. This dagger can have different sharpening options. According to its typology, the dagger is much closer to knives, but it was originally used as a weapon. Since its blade narrowed towards the end, it was very convenient for them to deliver stabbing blows. The owners of daggers chose for themselves sharpening on one or two sides. They carried this weapon in a belt or scabbard. A few centuries later, the dagger became an invariable accessory of the military, until now it is part of the dress uniform of officers. different countries. First of all, this applies to sailors, so when we first mention this weapon, we immediately think of a navy dagger.

The appearance of the dagger

This universal blade owes its appearance to the military. Historians believe that it arose due to frequent naval clashes, in which the ships of the Spaniards and the Portuguese were drawn. They were armed with rather long rapiers, which showed themselves well in battle during boarding. Since Spain and Portugal experienced serious damage from the Ottoman pirates, rapiers with long blades became a real necessity and salvation for them. During the battles, European sailors gained superiority thanks to their weapons, because the curved sabers of the Turks did not have such a range.

The British also began to use rapiers over time, but they also noticed their significant shortcomings. Long blades did an excellent job during boarding, but on the ship itself, using these weapons was extremely inconvenient. It did not allow turning around in narrow passages cluttered with various objects. In addition, during the battle, hundreds of people turned out to be nearby, which also made any actions much more difficult.

Another significant disadvantage of rapiers was their thin blade. good steel in the sixteenth century it was considered a huge rarity, so the weapon often broke at the most inopportune moment.

To alleviate their situation, sailors began to use ordinary knives and daggers in battle. Of course, their blades were too short and in many cases useless, but paired with a rapier, they made it possible to operate more widely.

It was these knives that became the prototypes of daggers, which over time acquired a completely different look.

Distribution of daggers among aristocrats

It is interesting that the fashion for various and daggers, which was introduced by sailors, quickly spread to the European nobility. They began to order beautifully decorated hunting cleavers and various knives from well-known gunsmiths, which they called "daggers". What is a dagger in the early seventeenth century?

Most often, it was a blade up to eighty centimeters long. They could carry out stabbing and chopping blows, which turned this weapon into something universal. Also popular were not only straight, but also curved blades. The hilt was a special decoration of edged weapons. It was often made of silver and could surprise with skillful chasing and carving.

By the middle of the seventeenth century, swords and rapiers remained only in the use of the military. They needed them by the nature of their service, and the aristocrats preferred light and small daggers that could save lives in a dark alley and did not interfere while riding in a carriage.

The return of daggers to the fleet

By the end of the seventeenth century, not only aristocrats, but also sailors had heard about daggers. Over time, they appreciated the advantages of short blades and began to use this type of weapon for various purposes. First of all, the British and the Dutch armed themselves with daggers, they used it for butchering carcasses on ships when preparing special jerky and in cases where it was necessary to fight the enemy in close combat.

The popularity of daggers was so great that they were used not only by sailors, but also by senior officers. It was they who first began to draw a parallel between honor and the preservation of the dagger. The officers never parted with this weapon, gradually making it a symbol of valor. They would rather die than give their blade to the enemy.

Daggers cost enough big money, and junior officers, dreaming of their own richly decorated dagger, remade it from other types of weapons. Attempts to replace the dagger with something else were not successful. Some blades turned out to be too long, others were thin and not suitable for a real fight. Only the dagger remained unchanged, which became a faithful companion of sailors in almost all European countries.

Dagger as an unofficial melee weapon of naval officers

Around the eighteenth century, the nature of naval battles. Now they were carried out with the help of artillery, so boarding battles are a thing of the past. And with them, the urgent need for daggers disappeared. They were replaced by specially made weapons with a curved shape and a long blade. However, many sailors did not like it, despite the fact that it was forged very carefully and from high quality steel.

Junior officers were especially reluctant to switch to the new kind weapons. On duty, they often had to move around the decks a lot and operate in cramped conditions, and in these situations the long blade created a lot of inconvenience. Therefore, officers everywhere began to order daggers, which were noticeably shortened - up to fifty centimeters. Carrying such a weapon on a ship was very convenient, besides, it was considered optional, which means it was not regulated in any way. The sailors made it with any hilt and pattern, and the scabbard was also decorated in any form.

Official recognition of the dagger

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the dagger was first discussed as a possible obligatory attribute of the uniform of naval officers. An English firm set up its production, but now the dagger fully complied with a certain pattern approved from above. For example, the blade of that time had to be forty-one centimeters long, and the handle was covered with shark skin.

Other European countries also had their own standards. In Germany, they changed quite often, while different types of troops and state structures had their own pattern of dagger. For customs officers, the handle was made in green, and for diplomats, an eagle with a swastika in its paws had a certain head tilt.

Dagger in Russia

It is believed that Tsar Peter I introduced the fashion for such weapons. He was very fond of his dagger and considered it an integral part of a military uniform. Since the tsar was very kind to his fleet, he ordered all officers to wear daggers. Several times the shape and size of the blade changed, but it always retained its main meaning - it symbolized the power and prowess of the Russian fleet. Peter I, by his decree, noted in the list of persons who must wear a dagger without fail, and officials related to maritime departments. It was during this period of time that a tradition was developed not to go ashore without one's blade.

The death of the great Russian tsar, who built a fleet and proved its viability to all of Europe, became a period of decline for the dagger. The subsequent years of decline greatly reduced the prestige navy and a convenient short dagger eventually migrated to other troops. From a symbol, it turned into an ordinary edged weapon, which was worn everywhere by both soldiers and officers.

At the end of the eighteenth century, it practically ceased to be used in battles, which means that it lost its significance even more. He became for officers rather a personal weapon than a mandatory element of uniform. Many have moved away from wearing a dagger and even completely forgot about it. However, the nineteenth century made its own adjustments to the fate of these weapons.

Dirk Making Standard

Until the beginning of the nineteenth century, this type of edged weapons was made in any form, but the situation has changed. The royal dagger acquired its own standard, which returned interest to it from naval officers. Now the blade had to be no more than thirty centimeters long, and its handle became a real work of art made of ivory. It was considered an honor to carry such a thing with you, it was carefully protected, and often even made the item that was passed down from generation to generation from father to son.

Absolutely all officers began to wear the dagger again, including those who served in different departments. Literally in eleven years, the dagger turned into an object of envy that many wanted to possess. Approximately three years before the overthrow of the tsarist regime, the blade changed seriously. Its handle was now made of cheaper material, and the blade itself became shorter - twenty-four centimeters. These changes made it possible to introduce the dagger into all types of troops. Even the huntsmen wore it, which could not but cause discontent among the sailors.

The revolution of the seventeenth year drove the dagger into the shadows for several decades. He practically ceased to be an obligatory edged weapon in the army, although the leadership of the Red Army often carried intricate daggers with Soviet symbols. However, it was rather a tribute to tradition, which was considered a relic of the past.

On state level the dagger was remembered on the eve of World War II. The Soviet-style Navy dagger became a very important attribute of the command, and therefore had its own standard. Historians argue that this option was very different from everything that existed before, and was highly valued by officers.

The daggers of the USSR of the fortieth year were a ceremonial model. The blade of the dagger was twenty-one and a half centimeters long, the blade was made of alloyed steel, but it was rather thin. The handle had a collapsible design and from a distance looked very much like ivory. However, in fact, the material was ordinary plastic, but quite good quality. The sheath had a wooden insert, and special tucks firmly held the dagger inside, despite the position and movements of the officer.

Most of the small details of the decor were made of brass. It was covered with gold, but quickly erased. It was also considered mandatory to apply special symbols (for example, an anchor).

To date, the entire officer corps, from ensigns to generals, is armed with daggers. This dagger is part of the dress uniform, but representatives have a number of privileges. They are the only ones allowed to carry a dagger as a personal weapon. You can get it only after graduating from the military academy or on the occasion of the assignment of the next rank.

Types of daggers

To date, several types of daggers are produced in the Russian Federation, differing in their characteristics. These include the length of the blade, for example, or the composition of the steel. To date, there are six types of daggers:

  • Nautical. Its standard comes from the first quarter of the nineteenth century. According to him, the length of the blade should not exceed twenty-seven centimeters. This option is considered the shortest of all.
  • Officer. This type of blade is richly decorated with precious stones and genuine leather.
  • front door. The dirk is somewhat reminiscent of the first option we mentioned. Common features can be traced in size, but this type of edged weapon is much richer decorated.
  • General's. The dagger is distinguished by a narrow blade and skillful engraving, made using inlay and gold filigree.
  • Admiral. This dagger can be called unique. The fact is that his first sample had absolutely no prototypes. It contains the largest number of precious stones and gold.
  • Award.

It is a great honor for every officer to have any of the listed types of dagger, because it is still considered a symbol of valor. Interestingly, as a reward for valor and service to the homeland, an officer can receive a dagger and a watch with a name inscription. Both presentations are very expensive and symbolize a special disposition towards a person.

Dagger classification

We have already specified that today this edged weapon is an integral attribute of the dress uniform. However, we can give another classification of daggers depending on their purpose:

  • Personal weapon. Such daggers are received by all graduates of military schools. The issuance of weapons takes place in a solemn atmosphere in the circle of colleagues and close people. Outside of special events, it is forbidden to carry a dagger with you, however, graduates sacredly adhere to the tradition of washing their weapons in a restaurant. IN last years it is customary to consecrate blades within the walls of the temple.
  • Named weapon. In this capacity, daggers are presented as a gift. Honorary guests of the country and people who have done something important for Russia can become its owners. Also, the dagger can become the key to a long and productive cooperation between the two powers.

We think that after everything we have stated above, you understand why the well-known story by Anatoly Rybakov, “Kortik”, is called this way. This name alone aroused great interest in her at one time. And after that she appeared in a pair with Dirk and Bronze Bird. By the way, we would like to say a few words about these works.

Conclusion

Since it was with the mention of these stories that we began our article, we cannot finish it without Rybakov's Kortik. If you are interested in the history of this type of edged weapons, then we advise you not to ignore this work. After all, it has long been known that writers can reflect the fate of whole country. And "Bronze Bird" and "Kortik" are a story about us and our past. It will help to look into the times when everything around was completely different, and people lived by ideals and thought in other categories. Therefore, we advise all our readers to pick up Rybakov's Kortik and immerse themselves in a fictional, but such a real world.

Illustration: waprox.com Dagger

Amendments to the Law on Weapons, allowing Navy officers to leave their dress weapons after retirement, have been developed and are going through the necessary stages of voting.

SIMFEROPOL, May 19, 2016, 18:20 - REGNUM The issue with the preservation of ceremonial weapons (daggers) for retired Navy officers is being resolved, but this takes time. Corresponding amendments to the law "On weapons" have already been prepared, a REGNUM correspondent was told in the press service and information department of the President of Russia.

“The issue is being worked out - both by the Ministry of Defense and the Government Russian Federation. However, it will take time to resolve this request as the regulation on nautical cutlass is regulated federal law No. 150 "On weapons." At the moment, amendments to the law, allowing Navy officers to leave parade weapons after retirement, have been developed and are going through the necessary stages of voting, ”the press service of the President of the Russian Federation reported in response to a request from REGNUM news agency.


Recall that Vladimir Putin supported the proposal of retired Sevastopol officer Sergei Gorbachev to return the right to wear daggers to naval officers in reserve. With such a request, Sergei Gorbachev addressed the President during his big press conference on December 17, 2015. Then he told Putin that the officers who retired with the right to wear uniforms began to withdraw officer daggers.

“The fleet is a conservative organization, it rests to a large extent on traditions. There is such a tradition, this is a privilege, an incentive system, when an officer who was transferred to the reserve was dismissed with the right to wear a uniform, and at the same time, the naval uniform provided for a naval dagger. Approximately during the last two years, the naval dagger from the officers began to be withdrawn. So I served 36 years in the Navy, I don’t quite understand who needs my dagger with the coat of arms Soviet Union? the officer asked.


“Officers' daggers must be returned,” Vladimir Putin replied.


However, six months after the press conference, Sergei Gorbachev told a REGNUM correspondent that nothing had changed: officers Black Sea Fleet they do not count on financial and other types of allowances when they are transferred to the reserve until they "hand over their daggers to the warehouse."

March 4th, 2013

A dagger is a cold piercing weapon with a straight short, two-edged (rarely single-edged) narrow blade and a bone handle with a cross and a head. Faceted daggers are distinguished: trihedral, tetrahedral and diamond-shaped.

A dirk appeared in late XVI century as a boarding weapon. In the first half of the 16th century, the leading maritime powers - Spain and Portugal - armed their sailors with long thin rapiers, perfectly adapted for operations on the upper deck against the main opponents of European sailors - the Ottoman pirates. The Turks, armed with relatively short curved sabers and even shorter scimitars, could not resist the Spaniards with long rapiers. Following the Spaniards, the famous privateers armed themselves with rapiers, usually trophy ones - “ sea ​​wolves» Elizabeth I. From the middle of the 16th century, the British began to push back the “hated papists” from the sea routes. The sea robbers of the time of Elizabeth fell in love with the rapier because this weapon, like no other, was suitable for the fight against the Spaniards chained in iron. A straight thin blade passed well through the articulation of armor, which was difficult to do with a curved saber. Sailors did not like metal armor - in the event of a fall overboard, they preferred to have less weight on themselves.

The British were the first to notice the shortcomings of this weapon. If long- blade weapon great for the upper open deck, then near the masts, shrouds, and even more so in cramped ship spaces, the excessive length of the blade was a hindrance. In addition, during boarding, two free hands were required to board an enemy ship, and then it was necessary to instantly draw a weapon in order to defend against enemy attacks. The large length of the blade did not allow it to be quickly removed from the scabbard. In addition, the thin blade did not have the necessary strength. There were very few high-quality Toledo blades and they were fabulously expensive. If the blades were made thicker, then due to the increased severity, it was difficult to fence with them. The British, in cramped quarters during boarding, tried to use daggers and knives, but those, on the contrary, were too short, and therefore almost useless against sabers and scimitars. The dagger is good as an auxiliary weapon to the rapier and sword, but it was suicidal to fight with it alone against an armed opponent.



At the end of the 16th century, a weapon called a hunting cleaver, a deer knife, or a dagger spread among European aristocrats. From the beginning of the 16th century, a boar sword was also used, which was almost not used by the end of the century. In the 17th century, they began to distinguish between a hunting cleaver, as longer, and a deer knife, or dagger, as shorter; there were no exact parameters, and therefore the same weapon was often called both a cleaver and a dagger. The length of this weapon ranged from 50 to 80 cm. The blades were straight and curved, suitable for both stabbing and chopping. The most remarkable thing about these weapons were figured cast or chased, often silver hilts. Only wealthy people allowed themselves to spend time hunting. They ordered whole scenes on the handles of these weapons from carvers and jewelers. Among them are the figures of dogs gnawing a lion, a rearing horse, nymphs dancing in an embrace. The scabbard was also richly decorated.

Since the beginning of the 17th century, daggers have become very popular. Swords, sabers, swords and rapiers remained only with the military. In everyday life, the nobles preferred to wear and use a rather short, relatively light, comfortable and beautiful dagger instead of a long and heavy combat sword. They defended themselves on the streets and on travels from robbers, armed for the most part with axes and knives. In addition, with a long sword it is more convenient to move on horseback, with a dagger you can comfortably sit in a carriage, a pleasure boat. It was also more convenient to move on foot with short-bladed weapons.

dagger "Andrew the First-Called"

In Spain, and especially in France, daggers did not become widespread, because men often sorted things out in duels, where the rapier and sword were still preferable. In war, long-bladed weapons were more lethal in field conditions. For battles in narrow ship spaces, the dagger proved to be the most suitable weapon.

The first sailors armed with daggers were the British and the Dutch. In the Netherlands, such weapons were made especially a lot. The daggers themselves got on the ships thanks to the buccaneers. For butchering the carcasses of dead animals and cooking smoked meat (bukan), hunting cleavers were the most suitable weapons. Daggers were also loved in other European countries.

In England, daggers were used not only by sailors and officers directly involved in naval battles. Until the second half of the 18th century, even the highest command staff preferred this weapon. Heroes died from wounds in naval battles, but did not part with a dagger, which made this weapon popular among senior officers. Baroque swords introduced in the 18th century for naval commanders were not successful. Unlike the old rapiers, they were too short to hold the enemy on the upper deck, and a little too long for the interior. In addition, unlike daggers, they had a thin blade that could not be cut. The baroque sword is almost useless in combat conditions, and, as far as possible, it was replaced with a dagger. Junior officers, who did not have sufficient funds to purchase such weapons, converted ordinary broken cavalry sabers and broadswords into daggers. Only in Spain, in the second half of the 17th century, a shortened, heavy piercing-chopping sword was created for the fleet, which was quite suitable for battles in shipboard conditions.

From the second half of the 18th century boardings, fights on decks and in ship premises almost ceased. After artillery duel the ships diverged, sank or lowered the flag. But it was then that in European countries they began to produce special weapon for sailors - boarding sabers with curved and broadswords with straight blades, similar in striking properties and methods of action to hunting weapon. Their handles, unlike daggers, were simple, usually wooden. Sometimes the guard was made in the form of a shell. Similar cleavers were used in the 16th-19th centuries, and they were called duzeggi or scallops. Unlike casually made boarding weapons, they were forged very carefully. For officers in some countries sabers were installed, in others - swords, for admirals - only swords. Edged weapons were made with marine symbols. Most often, an anchor was depicted, somewhat less often - ships, sometimes - Neptune, triton, nereids.

With the introduction of statutory weapons, senior officers preferred to wear what they were supposed to. The junior officers, who especially had to run around the ship's premises a lot, did not want to part with their daggers. Relatively long swords and sabers somewhat hampered the movement of their owners in the cabins, cockpits, corridors, and even when descending the ladders - steep ship ladders. Therefore, officers ordered daggers, which were not mandatory weapons, and therefore did not have any regulation. Boarding battles are a thing of the past, daggers began to be made shorter, within 50 cm, and therefore more comfortable to wear. Moreover, with the uniform, the officer was recommended to have edged weapons.

Around 1800, the dagger was first officially recognized in Great Britain and began to be made for naval officers according to established patterns by Tatham and Egg. Its length was 41 cm, the handle was covered with shark skin, and since 1810 the pommel was made in the form of a lion's head holding a lanyard ring in its mouth. There were acorn-shaped thickenings at the ends of the cross, and the shield in the middle of the guard was decorated with an anchor topped with a royal crown. The scabbard was covered with black leather. The tips and the mouth of the scabbard with rings for attaching to the belt were made, like the metal parts of the hilt, from gilded silver.

Over the years, the daggers became even shorter and were used only as a costume weapon - an attribute of the officer's uniform. And for hand-to-hand combat, sabers were intended for officers and boarding broadswords and sabers for sailors. Due to the short size of daggers, a legend arose that they were invented and used as a left-handed weapon, paired with long blades of daggers and rapiers in the 16th century.

In Yugoslavia, the length of the dagger blade was 290 mm, and the handle was black with a metal tip.

Dagger "Admiral"

In the German Navy until 1919, the tip of the handle had the shape of an imperial crown and a spiral shape of a handle wrapped in wire, with a spherical tip. In the former German army V air force ah, a dagger of the 1934 model with a flat cross, the ends of which are bent to the blade, was adopted for service, for the non-commissioned officers and officers of the army - a dagger of the 1935 model with a cross in the form of an eagle with outstretched wings and a handle tip in the form of a crown, decorated with oak leaves. The handle is plastic, from white to dark orange, wrapped in wire. It was replaced by a 1937 Air Force dagger, the handle was covered with light blue leather, had the shape of a spiral and was wrapped around with silver wire. The tip of the handle was disc-shaped. In 1937, a new model of dagger appeared: the crosspiece looked like an eagle with a swastika in its paws, the shape of the handle tip was spherical, the handle was plastic, wrapped in wire, and on the bottom of the scabbard there was an oak branch with leaves.

Customs officials had a similar dagger, but the hilt and scabbard were covered with green leather. Almost identical daggers were worn by members of the diplomatic corps and government officials. In the last variety of daggers, the direction of the eagle's head distinguished the occupation of its owner. So, if the eagle's head was turned to the left, then the dagger belonged to an official.

The dagger of the 1938 model differs from it only in the tip of the handle in the form of an eagle carrying a swastika in its paws. In Russia, the dagger became widespread at the end of the 16th century, and later became traditional weapons officers of the navy. For the first time, historians mention a dagger as a personal edged weapon of officers of the Russian fleet in the biography of Peter I. The Tsar himself liked to wear a naval dagger in a sling. The dagger, which belonged to Peter the Great, was kept in the Budapest National Museum. The length of its double-edged blade with a handle was about 63 cm, and the handle of the blade ended in a cross in the form of a horizontally lying Latin letter S. The wooden scabbard, about 54 cm long, was sheathed in black leather. In the upper part they had bronze clips with rings for a harness 6 cm long and about 4 cm wide each, and in the lower part they had the same clips about 12 cm long and 3.5 cm wide. The dagger blade on both sides and the surface of the bronze scabbards were richly ornamented. On the lower metal tip of the scabbard is carved double-headed eagle, topped with a crown, on the blade - decorations symbolizing the victory of Russia over Sweden. The inscriptions framing these images, as well as the words placed on the handle and blade of the dagger, are, as it were, a laudatory hymn to Peter I: “Vivat to our monarch.”

As a personal weapon of naval officers, the dagger has repeatedly changed its shape and size.

In the post-European period, the Russian fleet fell into decay and the dagger, as an integral part of the naval officer's uniform, ceased to be the prerogative of this type of troops. In addition to naval officers, some ranks wore it in the 18th century. ground forces. In 1730, the dagger replaced the sword for non-combatants in the army. In 1777, the non-commissioned officers of the chasseur battalions (a type of light infantry and cavalry) instead of a sword were introduced a dagger of a new type, which before hand-to-hand combat could be mounted on a shortened muzzle-loading rifle - fitting. In 1803, the wearing of daggers as a personal weapon of officers and midshipmen of the Russian navy was streamlined. Cases were identified when a dagger could replace a sword or a naval officer's saber. Later, a special dagger was introduced for couriers of the Naval Ministry. The presence of a dagger among persons not included in military formations was not at all uncommon. In the 19th century, civilian-type daggers were part of the uniform of some ranks of the repair telegraph guard: the department manager, assistant manager, mechanic and auditor.



Fireman's Dagger

In the 19th century, the dagger also appeared in the Russian merchant fleet. At first, former naval officers were entitled to wear it. In 1851 and 1858, when the uniforms of employees on the ships of the Russian-American Company and the Kavkaz and Mercury Society were approved, the right to wear a dagger by the command staff of naval officer ships was finally secured.

In 1903, the right to wear daggers was obtained not by officers - naval machine conductors, but in 1909 by the rest of the naval conductors. In 1904, a naval officer's dagger, but not with a white bone, but with a black wooden handle, was assigned to the class ranks of the state shipping, fishing and animal supervision. A civilian naval dagger was worn on a black lacquered waist belt. IN early XIX century, the blade of the Russian naval dagger had a square section and an ivory handle with a metal cross. The end of the thirty-centimeter blade was double-edged. The total length of the dagger was 39 cm.

On a wooden scabbard covered with black leather, in the upper part were mounted two gilded bronze clips with rings for attaching to the harness, and in the lower part for the strength of the scabbard - a tip. The harness made of black layered silk was decorated with bronze gilded lion heads. Instead of a plaque, there was a clasp in the form of a snake, curved like the Latin letter S. The symbols in the form of lion heads were borrowed from the coat of arms of the Russian tsars of the Romanov dynasty.

The Russian naval dagger was so beautiful and elegant in its form that the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, bypassing the crew of the newest Russian cruiser Varyag in 1902, was delighted with him and ordered to introduce a dagger for the officers of his "High Seas Fleet" according to a slightly modified Russian sample. In addition to the Germans, back in the 80s of the XIX century, the Japanese borrowed the Russian dagger, making it look like a small samurai sword.

Dagger Chinese

In the middle of the 19th century, double-edged diamond-shaped blades became widespread, and with late XIX century - tetrahedral blades of the needle type. The sizes of blades, especially in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries, varied greatly. Blade decorations could be different, often they were images related to the marine theme.

Over time, the length of the blade at the dagger slightly decreased. The Russian naval dagger of the 1913 model had a 240 mm long blade and a metal handle. Somewhat later, the handle was changed, and the metal on it remained only in the form of a lower ring and a tip.

On January 3, 1914, by order of the military department, daggers were assigned to officers of aviation, mine companies and automobile units. These were naval-style daggers, but not with a four-sided blade, but with a double-edged one. The wearing of daggers in the Russian Navy with any form of clothing, except for the ceremonial uniform, the obligatory accessory of which was a naval saber and broadsword, was considered mandatory in some periods, sometimes it was required only in the line of duty. For example, for more than a hundred years in a row, until 1917, the descent of a naval officer from the ship to the shore obliged him to be at the dagger. Service in the coastal institutions of the fleet - headquarters, educational institutions - also required naval officers serving there to always wear a dagger. On the ship, wearing a dagger was mandatory only for the chief of the watch.

Since 1911, such a dagger was allowed to be worn with an everyday uniform (frock coat) by the ranks of port institutions; when visiting ports - to officials of the department of commercial ports and inspectors of merchant shipping of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. During normal official duties, the ranks of the main department of merchant shipping and ports were allowed to be unarmed.

Nominal dagger of an officer of the Navy

In the 19th century, the dagger was even part of the uniform of Russian postmen. During the First World War, daggers were worn by members of the "Union of Cities" ("Sogor") and the "Joint Committee of Unions of Zemstvos and Cities" ("Zemgor") - all-Russian organizations liberal landlords and bourgeoisie, created in 1914-1915. on the initiative of the Cadet Party with the aim of helping the government in the First World War in the areas medical care, helping refugees, supplying the army, the work of small and handicraft industries.

Army aviation daggers differed from marine handles in black. In August 1916, for all senior officers, except for cavalry and artillery, daggers were introduced instead of checkers, and in November of the same year, for military doctors. Since March 1917, all officers and military officials began to wear daggers.

In November 1917, the dagger was canceled and for the first time returned to the command staff of the RKKF until 1924, but two years later it was abolished again, and only 14 years later, in 1940, it was finally approved as a personal weapon of the command staff of the Navy. Since the beginning of the 20th century, officers of some army units have also worn daggers. Later, daggers again became an accessory exclusively to naval officer uniforms.

After the defeat of Germany in the First World War, the German state was forbidden to have a significant navy and army. The entire available fleet was interned in the British naval base of Scapa Flow, where it was flooded by German sailors in 1919. Not so long ago, united Germany experienced such a shame and humiliation very painfully. Thousands of naval officers were out of work. But for the non-commissioned officers and officers of the "temporary" fleet who remained in the service, a new dagger without imperial symbols was required. The economy was in ruins, the country was experiencing wild inflation, and most likely there was simply no money to create a new model. For some time they continued to wear the old dagger, and then a simple solution was found. They took a Brazilian sea dagger from the reign of Emperor Pedro II (1831-1889). The head of the handle from the first naval German dagger arr. 1848 screwed onto the Brazilian model. It turned out a stylish and elegant "new" dagger arr. 1919, which retained both the "continuity" and the memory of the great flooding of the fleet - the mourning black color of the handle.

In 1921, this dagger was returned to the scabbard from the naval officer's dagger of 1901. And in 1929, the color of the handle was changed to white - as a sign of hope for the creation of a new navy and the revival of the former naval power of Germany. However, the Brazilian gunsmiths, creating a sea dagger for Emperor Pedro II, almost completely copied it from the Dutch model, which was very popular in the 1820s. Then in Holland, and in other European fleets, the fashion changed, and this pattern remained in the 19th century. only in Brazil. With the end of World War II in the defeated states, they tried to destroy all manifestations and signs of fascism. First of all, this concerned Nazi symbols, including the dagger, as the personification of militancy and prestige of the militaristic aspirations of the nation. Japan and Germany completely abandoned the use of the dagger in their armed forces and navies. Italy left the dagger only for the cadets of its numerous military schools. Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia, having fallen into the zone of socialist pressure, adopted daggers created under the strong influence of the Soviet naval officer's dagger mod. 1945

Only East Germany, which was also part of the socialist bloc of the Warsaw Pact, created for its armed forces a dagger of a completely unusual modern design, but in German weapons traditions.

With the end of the Second World War, the "golden era" for the gunsmiths of Solingen ended. Germany was demilitarized, and weapons factories lost their main state order from the military and paramilitary organizations. Many industries went bankrupt, but large firms found a way out, focusing on the foreign market.

IN Latin American countries violent transformations of the state took place. Ambitious juntas regularly coming to power ordered new uniforms for the reformed armed forces as an indispensable sign of new power and an attribute of their prestige. The presence of very expensive tooling, dies and injection molds used in the production of edged weapons was taken into account in the development of experimental Latin American samples.

Thus, the Venezuelan naval cadet dagger appeared, very similar to the German one. marine pattern 1921, daggers of students of the military and police academies of Venezuela and Colombia, almost indistinguishable from the German naval mod. 1929 And on the basis of the German air force dagger arr. In 1937, a whole family of almost identical daggers was created for officers of the air forces of Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay. Naturally, Nazi signs disappeared from them and the symbols of these states appeared. Great help in keeping the Solingen arms firms afloat was provided by orders from countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, which were actively liberated in the 1950s and 1960s. from colonial rule.

For the newly created armed forces of these countries, a new uniform was introduced. And along with it, as an integral symbol of independence, a dagger pattern was often developed. The ubiquitous German gunsmiths here used either ready-made equipment for weapon parts, or the entire design of the dagger was developed in recognizable outlines.

Thus, the vast majority of daggers used in the countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East after the Second World War were German-made, which, of course, had a very strong influence on the style of dagger design in these countries. Only in some countries, such as Argentina, Mexico, China and Uruguay, the appearance of naval daggers was influenced by the style of the English naval cadet dagger mod. 1901

After the war 1941-1945. a new form of dagger was adopted - with a flat steel chrome-plated blade of a diamond-shaped section 215 mm long (the length of the entire dagger was 320 mm). On the right side of its handle there was a latch that prevents the blade from falling out of its sheath. The four-sided handle is made of ivory-look plastic. The lower fitting, the head and the crosspiece of the handle are made of non-ferrous gilded metal. A five-pointed star was superimposed on the head of the handle, and an image of the coat of arms was applied on the side. The wooden scabbard was covered with black leather and varnished. The device of the scabbard (two clips and a tip) is made of non-ferrous gilded metal. An anchor is depicted on the upper clip on the right side, on the left - sailing ship. The upper and lower clips had rings for the harness. Harness and belt were made of gilded threads. An oval clasp made of non-ferrous metal with an anchor was fastened to the belt. Buckles for adjusting the length of the belt were also made of non-ferrous metal and decorated with anchors. A belt with a harness was worn over the dress uniform so that the dagger was on the left side. Persons on duty and watch service (officers and midshipmen) wore a dagger over a blue tunic or overcoat.

Now sea daggers are allowed to be worn only when dress uniform and on duty. And therefore, the wonderful expression of the officers of the imperial navy disappeared: “I felt out of sorts all day long,” which in land language meant: “I was out of my element.”

Traditions have been preserved to this day. At present, in Russia there are naval daggers and daggers of other branches of the armed forces, which differ only in emblems. Now admirals, generals and officers wear a dagger in a sheath on a belt naval forces, as well as midshipmen of extended service in dress uniform and during duty and watch service.

A dagger, as a personal weapon, and lieutenant's shoulder straps are solemnly presented to graduates of higher naval schools along with a diploma of graduation from higher educational institution and the assignment of the first officer rank.

Zlatoust masters of damask steel creation also did not ignore the dagger. They created the famous Wave dagger, released for the 300th anniversary of the Russian fleet. In its manufacture, 999.9 fine gold and silver were used, and 52 dark blue topazes, 68 small rubies, garnets and alexandrites were used to finish the scabbard and handle. The dagger blade itself is painted with gold patterns. The daggers "Admiralsky" and "Generalsky" were made to match him in terms of the level of craftsmanship of decoration, but without precious stones. Artists D. Khomutsky, I. Shcherbina, M. Finaev and master A. Balakin can rightly be proud of these real works of art.








The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy is made -

The officer's dagger is a symbol of courage, military prowess and nobility of the Russian officer corps. In addition, he has always served as an attribute of a certain social status, especially in those days when service in the army and navy was considered prestigious.

Why did sailors need a dagger?

There is no consensus on the origin of the dagger. Some consider it a kind of dagger, others argue that it appeared as a shortened version of the sword. The combat ancestors of modern officer daggers had larger size because they are regularly used for their intended purpose. Only one thing can be said for sure: the dagger was required for boarding.

The boarding tactic appeared as a simple capture of a ship for the purpose of robbery. She dominated naval battles from ancient times until the decline of the sailing fleet. Navy sailors usually took captured ships as a trophy and included them in their fleet.

One version says that British sailors were the first to use the dagger. With this weapon, they could pierce the plate armor of the Spanish soldiers, who were part of the teams of warships as marines and transported the valuables of the galleons. It was practically impossible to cut such armor with a saber, therefore, in fights they were stabbed with rapiers or into unprotected places or joints of armor.

Nevertheless, in a close boarding battle, sometimes there was not enough space for a sword strike - but the existing daggers and knives were a bit short. Therefore, in the second half of the 16th century, a weapon is gaining popularity, which is either a large dagger or a shortened sword. This was the dirk.

Daggers of the "saber" type are known - with a slightly curved blade and sharpened only on one side. They are said to be descended from cleavers. Moreover, in the English fleet, "saber" daggers became so popular that they began to be called "English", and daggers with a straight blade - "French".

One of the daggers of that time, which belonged to some English sailor, had a double-edged straight blade 36 cm long, which could be used for stabbing, chopping and cutting blows, with a wide groove (for rigidity), and a combined guard of rather impressive size. Its owner apparently took great care of his fingers. But there were no strict standards at that time - they were ordered individually, observing the approximate accepted length, and the shape of the guard and handle depended on the imagination of the future owner. However, since the 17th century, all daggers have only a transverse guard: straight (cruciform), S-shaped, bent forward or backward, in the form of figures (for example, outstretched wings). The officer's daggers were richly decorated, and their sheaths were carefully gilded and sprinkled with stones. But daggers were also made for sailors - after all, then it was still military weapon, not a decoration of a uniform. Daggers were most popular with pirates, especially English ones: every self-respecting gentleman of fortune sought to acquire them.

Kortik vs Russia

At first, the dagger was used by military officers and sailors, who had to move around the ship a lot, and the long blades of the sabers constantly clung to something in the narrow hold spaces. But by the second half of the 18th century, the commanding staff also armed themselves with them. became not just a weapon, but a symbol of honor and courage.

In the Russian Navy, the dagger first appeared at the time as an official naval weapon, an element of the dress uniform of officers. The length and shape of the blade of the Russian dagger changed many times during the 17-19 centuries. There were two-edged diamond-shaped blades, and tetrahedral needle-shaped ones. Blade decoration was most often associated with a marine theme. The dagger blade of the 1913 model was 240 mm long, and in 1945 a diamond-shaped blade 215 mm long was adopted with a latch on the handle from falling out of the scabbard. In 1917, the wearing of a dagger was canceled, and only in 1940 was it re-approved as a personal weapon of the fleet command.

Who is being handed a dagger at the present time?

A dagger, as a personal weapon, is solemnly handed over to graduates of higher naval schools along with a diploma of graduation from a higher educational institution and the assignment of the first officer rank.

On the square, the boys, chasing a step in a military way, get out of order, kneel, and the officer touches their shoulder with a dagger. Newly minted cadets are given shoulder straps and a certificate. From that moment on, they officially become sailors.

The Fyodor Ushakov Baltic Naval Institute in Kaliningrad prepares for the graduation of officers of the Russian Navy every year. At the solemn formation, the head of the faculty presents lieutenant shoulder straps and the main item of parade uniform - naval daggers.

A dagger is a wonderful and symbolic gift!

To this day, the dagger remains an element of the dress uniform of admirals, officers, midshipmen of the Russian Navy and, of course, one of the most beautiful details of uniforms along with white gloves and an embroidered “crab”. During parades, officers and other branches of the military are supposed to be at the dagger. Nevertheless, in the mass consciousness, the dagger is primarily associated with the fleet, and this is not accidental: only officers of the Navy receive a dagger along with lieutenant shoulder straps.

Such as a dagger is a wonderful decoration for its owner. The dagger should be selected individually according to the needs of the buyer. Our consultants will help you choose the best option and answer all your questions in a convenient way for you!


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So, summing up at the beginning of the second part of the historical excursion the result of the first, introductory part, we recall that to XVIII century in Russia, knives were divided into a number of types according to their purpose, the main of which are: kitchen, hunting, dining (knives for eating), various craft and special knives, as well as combat knives. Themselves combat Russian knives were of four types: underside, belt, boot and field. But we didn’t say a word about long-bladed items, so in this article we’ll talk about them.

Halberd and berdysh

Speaking about the cold long-bladed weapons of Russia of the 17th-19th centuries, we should first of all remember halberds and reeds. Halberd - a "cross" between spears and axes, a weapon of piercing and chopping action. Halberds came to Russia from Europe at the beginning of the 17th century. Until the very end of the 17th century, such weapons were used by the royal guards. In the XVIII century (under Peter I), sergeants (as a weapon - a distinctive sign) and artillerymen were armed with halberds. In the 19th century, halberds were abandoned in the Russian army, they began to arm the lower ranks of the police, and since 1856 halberds were completely abolished.

Berdyshes (from the Polish berdysz) appeared in Russia as early as the 15th century and were used until the 18th century. True, for the last century they have been used only as weapons for police officers and parade weapons for palace guards. The berdysh itself is an ax with a long curved blade on a shaft. Berdyshes could have small shafts (from 1 meter) and long ones - 2–2.5 meters long.

An interesting moment: in the popular film comedy by Leonid Gaidai “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Profession”, one of the palace guards threw a halberd, which, piercing into the time machine, closed the time passage. At this point, there is a double blooper. Firstly, Shurik calls this weapon a reed, and this is quite a classic halberd. Secondly, in Russia in the 16th century there were no halberds (they appeared later, during the period of False Dmitry the First). The berdysh themselves are also used in Gaidai's comedy, they were armed with the royal archers.

Saber

The most respected long-liver in the history of Russian blades is the saber. Sabers first appeared in Rus' in the 9th century and by the 14th century they had become the most popular and widespread army melee weapons, completely replacing swords. Note that in the south of Rus', sabers appeared earlier and took root faster than to the north, closer to Novgorod. From the 15th to the 17th centuries, sabers served as the main weapon of archers, Cossacks, and cavalry warriors. In the 18th century, the saber becomes personal light weapons cavalry and officers in almost all branches of the military. At the end of 1881, the saber was replaced by a sword in the Russian army. It was preserved only in the guards as a ceremonial weapon, and also as a weapon to carry outside the ranks among the officers of some military branches.


Infantry and cavalry sabers

The word "saber" comes from the Hungarian szabni - "to cut". The saber consists of a blade and a hilt. The blade is curved, with a smooth cutting edge on the curved side. The handle could be wooden, bone, pewter, leather, and so on. For the first time the saber appeared in the countries of the East (VI-VII centuries). Eastern sabers had a hilt with a crosshair, European sabers had guards of various shapes. Sabers were completed with scabbards: wooden (covered with leather, velvet, morocco) or metal. The latter appeared only in the XIX-XX centuries. Metal scabbards were burnished, chrome-plated or plated with silver or gold (expensive ceremonial sabers).


Eastern saber

Oriental sabers have a large blade curvature, weight up to 1 kg and blade length up to 75–85 cm. European (including Russian) sabers have less curvature, blades up to 90 cm long and weight up to 1.1 kg without scabbard. European-style sabers are equipped with large, if not cumbersome, bowl-shaped hilts or in the form of several bows (from one to three).

Russian sabers were widely used in cavalry and infantry. Cavalry sabers were longer and heavier than infantry sabers. The sabers of the hussars and light cavalry had an average curvature of the blade. The blades of the sabers of the hussar regiments had a statutory form, but still they were often decorated in random order, had individual details and signs, as they were ordered by the hussars at their own expense (at that time it was considered bad manners to receive state-owned weapons among the hussars).


Officer's saber

Until 1874, Russian sailors used a special marine subspecies of a shortened saber - a half-saber with a blade up to 60 cm. Later, the half-saber was replaced by sea sabers (they reached 82 cm in length) and daggers. In various armies of the world, sabers were in service until the end of World War II. Later, they almost everywhere began to be used exclusively as parade weapons.


Half-saber

Talking about sabers, one cannot ignore such a phenomenon as “saber etiquette” - saluting with weapons. It is generally accepted that saluting with a saber appeared in the East. The junior in rank salutes the senior with a saber, at the same time covering his eyes with his hand raised to his face (acting out a kind of “blindness” by the sun-faced authorities). There is a version that raising the saber blade to the face comes from the ritual of the knights of the times crusades. On the hilts of swords and sabers, a crucifix or a cross was often depicted, which Christian soldiers kissed before the battle. At present, the ritual of saluting with a saber is divided into two stages: raising the saber with the hilt to the face (“raise”) is a modern interpretation of the rite of kissing the cross, lowering the blade of the saber with the point down is a sign of recognition of submission to the superior.

checker

Checkers (from the Kabardino-Circassian "sashkho" - "big knife"), as mentioned above, came to replace sabers in Russia. Outwardly, the checker is very similar to the saber, but it also has a number of differences. The blade of the checker is only slightly curved, it can both stab and chop. The blade of the checker has a one-sided sharpening, the tip is double-edged. The hilt of the checker does not have a guard (with rare exceptions).


Cossack officer's checker

Checkers were equipped with wooden scabbards covered with leather, which were hung on belt belts by rings (two or one) placed on the convex side of the scabbard. The checker is worn in the Caucasian manner, with the cutting edge up. This is also a difference from the saber (the saber is always worn with the butt up and the suspension rings are placed on the concave side of the scabbard). A saber is usually worn on a shoulder harness, and a saber is worn on a belt.

There are Caucasian and Central Asian checkers. Caucasian checkers have a very weak blade curvature. It was the Caucasian drafts that became the prototypes for the Cossack drafts of the Terek and Kuban Cossacks. The checkers of the peoples of the Caucasus have minor differences in the details and ornamentation of the decorations. The blades of the mountain checkers are hidden in the sheath up to the head of the handle, while the handle of the Cossack checkers is not removed into the sheath at all.


caucasian checker

Central Asian checkers are equipped with almost even blades with a very slight curvature and a very sharp tip. The handles of such checkers have a noticeable thickening at the top. The scabbard is usually wooden, covered with leather, with a steel device. There are Tajik, Turkmen, Bukhara, Kokand and Khiva drafts. These types of Central Asian checkers differ in the material of the handle, decorations, decoration, and details of the harness.


Bukhara drafts

In the Russian army, checkers have been used since the 18th century by the Cossacks, and since the 19th century, checkers have been adopted by cavalry and horse artillery soldiers. By statutory order in 1834, the form of a military checker was approved. As a basis, an Asian-type checker with a solid black horn handle was taken. In 1839, the exterior of the Cossack charter checkers was approved. She had a handle with brass fittings on the back and head (handle). The brass fitting was connected to the lower ring. In 1881, the saber was adopted as a combined arms edged weapon of cavalry units of all types, artillerymen, officers and officers. army corps, gendarmes and police. For various branches of the military, statutory drafts standards were adopted, but the differences were insignificant.


Dragoon soldier's checker

Dragoon checkers had one fuller, a bow-shaped guard, a wooden scabbard, and a brass device. The scabbard of the dragoon checkers had additional clips for the bayonet. The officer's checkers were 9-10 cm shorter than the dragoon ones. The blade of the officer's checker had three lobes. The device was brass, gilded, with certain adaptations for harness belts. Artillery checkers were similar in size and shape, but with one fuller. Cossack checkers (since 1881) had a handle without a handle, a blade with one fuller and a sheath similar to the sheath of officer's checkers.


Dragoon checker 1881

The Russian army also used checkers of other designs. In 1903, in parallel with the checkers of the 1881 model, Asian checkers of the 1834 model were again used. In 1904, for the Caucasian national units and units, a Caucasian-type saber was approved, with a handle of two overlays, fixed to the shank with three rivets. The blade of this checker was sheathed along with the handle to the very pommel.


Artillery saber 1868

After the 1917 revolution Cossack drafts sample 1881 began to be used in the Red Army. Along with them, checkers of the Caucasian type were used in the Caucasus. The command staff of the Red Army used the dragoon saber. In 1927, a new checker was adopted by the cavalry, created according to the type of the Cossack and practically no different from it. In 1940, for ceremonial use by the highest command staff, a special checker was adopted, which was replaced in 1949 with a dagger. Since the 50s of the twentieth century in the USSR, the saber began to be used exclusively as a ceremonial weapon.


Officer's saber 1940

Dirk

A dagger (cold weapon of a piercing type) first appeared in Russia during the time of Peter I. Daggers have a straight, not very long, most often double-edged narrow blade. The handle is made of bone with a pommel, the guard is cruciform, small. In cross section, daggers are trihedral, tetrahedral and diamond-shaped. Daggers have been known since the 16th century, they were used as a boarding weapon, and later as a personal weapon of naval officers. In Russia, starting from the 18th century, officers of some land military branches began to use daggers. In 1730, non-combatant ranks of the army began to wear a dagger instead of a sword. In 1777, non-commissioned officers of the Jaeger regiment were armed with daggers instead of swords. These daggers could be mounted on muzzle-loading fittings for bayonet fighting. Since 1803, the rules for wearing daggers as personal weapons have been defined for officers and midshipmen of the Russian Navy. These rules delineated the wearing of stays, sea sabers and daggers. A little later, a special dagger was created, which was adopted by the couriers of the Naval Ministry. In 1903, naval engineer conductors were allowed to wear daggers, and since 1909 this right has extended to all naval conductors.


19th century sea dagger handle

The Russian naval dagger of the 19th century had a square-section blade 30 cm long with a double-edged tip. The handle was made of ivory, the guard was made of steel. The scabbard was made of wood and covered with black leather. Clips with rings and a tip were made of bronze and gilded. Half a century later, double-edged daggers with diamond-shaped blades became widespread, and at the end of the 19th century, daggers with four-sided needle-type blades began to be used. The sizes of dagger blades used at different times varied significantly. We also note the presence of decorations - most often images of a marine theme.

For Russian naval officers, wearing a dagger outside their ship was mandatory, with the exception of appearing in full dress, then they had to wear a naval saber or broadsword. Naval officers serving on the coast also had to wear a dagger without fail. On the ship, only the watch officer wore a dagger without fail.

Since 1914 daggers began to be used by aviators, military aeronautic troops, officers of automobile units and mine companies. Army daggers of aviators had black handles. In 1916, daggers replaced the drafts of military officials, military doctors and chief officers. From the spring of 1917, daggers began to be worn by the highest officer ranks, officers and all military officials, with the exception of those on horseback (while on horseback, they had to wear a saber). In the same year, 1917, daggers began to be handed over to officers - graduates of military institutions.


Sea dagger 1917

After October revolution In 1917, the wearing of daggers for all officers was abolished. Subsequently, the wearing of a dagger was returned to the command staff of military sailors (from 1924 to 1926, and from 1940 - finally approved).

At the end of World War II, the shape of the dagger in the USSR army was changed. The new dagger received a flat diamond-shaped blade, 21.5 cm long. The total length of the dagger of the new sample is 320 mm. The handle made of plastic (under the bone) was equipped with a latch-fuse from falling out of the wooden scabbard covered with leather. The dagger received decorations with the symbols of the USSR and the marine theme. The presentation of daggers to graduates of naval academies has been preserved.


Dagger 1940

We also note that civilians also used daggers in Russia. At the beginning of the 19th century, daggers were allowed to be worn by former naval officers serving in the merchant marine. And from the middle of the 19th century, the commanding staff of the courts also received this right. In the 19th century, certain ranks of the repair telegraph guards and postmen also wore daggers for some time.

In 1904 officer's dagger marine type (distinguished by a wooden black handle) was allowed to be worn by the supervisory ranks of shipping, fishing and fur farming. The dagger was worn on a belt belt. In 1911, the dagger was allowed to be worn by port officials and navigation inspectors.

During the First World War, daggers were also worn by members of the Sogor and Zemgor unions (organizations created in 1914-1915 to assist in supplying the army, medical care military, aid to refugees, etc.). But such use of daggers was episodic and short-lived.


Soviet naval daggers

The daggers of naval officers are a Russian custom and tradition polished over the centuries. It was Russia that became a kind of trendsetter for wearing daggers. At the end of the 19th century, the wearing of a dagger by naval officers was borrowed from the Russians by the Japanese, and at the beginning of the 20th century by the Germans. In just a few decades, the dagger - as a personal weapon of a naval officer and part of the uniform was adopted in the fleets of almost all countries of the world.

Sword

Broadsword (from Polish Palasz and German Pallasch - sword, dagger) - a weapon of stabbing and chopping type, a cross between a sword and a sword. The broadsword is equipped with a long straight narrow blade (length up to 85 cm) with a double-edged, one-sided or one and a half sharpening. The handle of the broadsword is massive, with a protective cup and temples. The broadsword appeared in Western Europe in the late 16th and early 17th centuries as a heavy cavalry weapon. The first broadswords were brought to Russia from Europe, and under Peter I, their mass production and widespread use were established. Early broadswords had a slightly inclined handle for the convenience of delivering chopping blows from a horse. In the first half of the 18th century, dragoons were armed with broadswords. In addition to Russian-made broadswords, products from Germany (masters of the city of Solingen) were also used to arm the dragoon regiments. In 1730, broadswords were adopted by the cuirassier regiments of Russia. Horse artillerymen were also armed with broadswords. Under Catherine II, the crown and monogram "E II" were engraved on the broadswords of her loyal dragoons.


Dragoon broadswords, 1700–1732

In the 18th century, dragoon, cuirassier, carabinieri, army, guards, officer and soldier broadswords were adopted by the Russian army. All of them had a long, heavy blade of approximately the same shape and similar dimensions. The differences were in the shape of the scabbard and hilt. The handles were the most diverse: they could have a protective cup of various sizes and shapes, various arms, up to weaves, nets and shields. The tops of the handles could be round, oval, flat or in the form of the heads of animals or birds. The scabbards were covered with leather and bound with metal, or they were set into holders of various appearance. In the 19th century, hilts became much simpler, as were scabbards. Broadswords were preserved in the Russian army until the end of the 19th century, after which they were abolished, leaving only in some units as ceremonial weapons.


Broadsword, 1763


Cuirassier officer's broadswords, 1810

Separately, the sea broadsword should be considered. It looks like a cavalry one, but it also has some character traits. A marine broadsword may have a slightly curved blade (or straight), wide enough and without fullers. The length of the blade is less than that of a cavalry broadsword. The last third of the blade of the marine broadsword (near the tip) has side ribs located asymmetrically with respect to the axis of the blade. They are a continuation of the butt and reach the point. Naval broadswords for the needs of the Russian Navy in in large numbers were made in the city of Zlatoust since 1852. They were used until 1905 (in recent years, sea broadswords were worn by sailors of the naval guards crews), after which they were replaced with cleavers. Until 1917, midshipmen of the Naval Corps, Naval College and cadets of special midshipmen classes wore broadswords. Since 1958, naval broadswords have been used only as parade weapons.


Naval broadsword, 1855

Sword

A sword (from the Spanish spada) is a cold weapon of a piercing (less often piercing-chopping) type, atypical for Russia. The sword is equipped with a narrow and long blade, which can be flat or faceted, double-edged or sharpened on one side, with or without fullers. The hilt of the sword is symmetrical, with good protection of the hand in the form of a bowl, crosses and bows of various shapes. In countries Western Europe the sword gained immense popularity among the nobles in the 16th century.

In Russia, swords appeared in the 17th century, first with spearmen and reiters, and by 1708 with all infantrymen. Later, by 1741, swords were replaced by sabers and semi-sabers, and only officers and guards musketeers remained. In the 17th-18th centuries, Russian swords had double-edged blades, and in the 19th century the blade was sharpened on one side and wide fuller. The hilts of the swords were copper (for officers - with gilding). Swords were worn on a harness, in a sword sheath.


Officer's infantry sword, 1798

In the 19th century, swords acquire the significance of ceremonial, out-of-combat weapons. By the middle of the 19th century, the sword had become the prerogative of the high command and was gradually being mastered by civil officials. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the sword was completely removed from the military and civilian departments.


Military official's sword, 1870

Dagger

The dagger (from the Arabic "khanjar") has been known since ancient times. Dagger - a bladed weapon of piercing or piercing-chopping action with a double-edged blade. The blade of a dagger can be straight or curved. The length of the dagger blade can reach 40–50 cm, but more often it does not exceed 30–35 cm. The dagger is worn in a sheath. In the Russian army, daggers were not used for a long time, with the exception of military units that took part in the Caucasian campaign. It was in the Caucasus that daggers were very popular and widespread. Daggers of various shapes and sizes were used in the Caucasus. It is known about the existence of Caucasian daggers with blades up to 80 cm long.


Caucasian dagger of the 19th century

In the 19th century mass production daggers was established in the city of Zlatoust. Management Russian army appreciated the effectiveness of daggers in hand-to-hand combat, and in 1908, the Bebut dagger, equipped with a short curved blade, adapted for stabbing, cutting and cutting blows, was adopted by machine-gun crews, artillerymen and scouts. Bebut was also actively used during the First World War in trench battles.


Bebut, 1815

If we turn to the first part of the article, then we can easily draw a parallel between the dagger and the Russian combat belt knife. Therefore, it is worth noting that there were still dagger-like weapons in Russia.

In the next part, we will talk about rare Russian bladed items, follow the development of the bayonet, describe peaceful knives of the 17th-19th centuries and come close to the Russian knives of the First World War.