Antique Russian Sword Shashka,Islamic Bukhara Saber

Very Rare antique 18th century silver mounted Islamic sword 'Shashka' from the famous Central Asian Islamic city Bukhara today in Uzbekistan previously in the former Russian Empire - Turkestan. Details: A slightly curved single edged blade made of very fine Damascus steel with a wide and long fuller. The hilt is with a characteristic hooked bifurcated pommel with grips made of beautifully grained hardwood enclosed by silver straps and applied with settings of rounded turquoises. Identified as Caucasian Shasqua, these types of Shashka were also used by the Russian Central Asian Cossacks. The Bukhara arms are hardly ever seen in museums including Russia. REFERENCES: 1) A similar sword is in the famous Henri Moser collection of Islamic arms and armour in Charllotenfels, Switzerland and had been collected during his travel in the 19th century through central Asia. Orientalische Sammlung Henri Moser, Charlottenfels, im Bernischen historischen Museum. 2) “Islamic Arms and Armour” edited by Robert Elgoo D-Ahapter, in chapter “Some nineteenth-century arms from Bukhara” by Torben W. Flindt, page 20-29. 3) “Edged Weapons in the collection of Russian Museum of Ethnography” page 211. 4) “Les Armes Orientales” by Lebedynsky, page 76. MEASUREMENTS: The overall length is 85.7 cm (33 3/4 in).
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Catalog Number: ES390