Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent Soviet WWII Model 1927 Shashka saber, manufactured at Zlatoust and dated 1941, making it an especially desirable early wartime example. The saber retains its original wood and lacquer covered scabbard, guardless hilt, Soviet hammer and sickle emblem, and C.C.C.P. marking on the brass pommel. The blade is clearly marked ЗиК / 1941, identifying wartime production at the Zlatoust industrial complex, one of the principal Soviet centers for military edged weapons. Compared with the later 1945 dated examples more commonly encountered, the 1941 date gives this saber particular collector interest.

The shashka has deep roots in the cavalry traditions of the Caucasus and Cossack regions and was distinguished from many Western sabers by its characteristically guardless hilt. Imperial Russian forces adopted military patterns of the weapon during the 19th century, and the shashka remained important enough as a cavalry weapon that the Soviet state retained and standardized it rather than abandoning the form after the Revolution.

The Soviet Model 1927 Shashka was adopted for Red Army cavalry use and subsequently produced at Zlatoust. Production records and surviving technical documentation show that Zlatoust began manufacture of the Model 1927 pattern in 1928, with established inspection and marking procedures applied to blades, hilts, and scabbard components. By the late 1930s the Zlatoust factory used the ЗиК marking on military edged weapons, with the full four digit year of manufacture stamped alongside it. This marking system remained in wartime use through 1944.

This is a classic Soviet WWII Production Cossack Cavalryman’s Shashka Saber that bears the "Hammer & Sickle" Soviet insignia and "C.C.C.P." engraved 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 the correct Cyrillic markings on each side, with one side marked M, and the other marked with maker ЗиК / 1941. This is for the Zlatoust Tool Combine, a major Soviet manufacturer of military edged weapons.

The side of the crossguard is stamped:

I
312
256110

The shaska is held in its correct original wood and lacquered covered scabbard which is in good shape overall with some nicks and dents in the finish.

The slightly curved blade retains the classic single edged shashka form with a broad fuller. Condition is very good, with only minor wear from use and storage. The edge is no longer especially sharp, although the saber should still be handled carefully. The blade retains its original overall profile without any supplied indication of major chips or structural damage. The original leather blade buffer remains present and tightly attached at the base of the blade.

The saber is accompanied by its correct wood core scabbard with lacquered covering. The scabbard remains in good overall condition, showing scattered nicks and dents to the finish from age, handling, and storage. These areas of wear do not detract from the overall presentation and are consistent with an original service item.

The Soviet relationship with the Cossacks was considerably more complicated than a simple post revolutionary rejection of Cossack military tradition. Many Cossacks fought on both sides during the Russian Civil War, and Soviet policy toward Cossack communities changed significantly during the interwar period. During the 1930s, the Soviet state once again encouraged certain Cossack traditions within Red Army cavalry formations, and by the eve of WWII Cossack identified cavalry units had returned to public prominence. The continued production and wartime use of the shashka reflected both the enduring practical role of cavalry and the weapon's longstanding association with mounted service.

By 1941, when this saber was manufactured, cavalry still formed a meaningful component of the Red Army. Soviet mounted formations continued to operate extensively during WWII, particularly in terrain and operational conditions where mobility away from road networks was valuable. The shashka consequently remained a genuine service weapon during the mechanized warfare of the Eastern Front rather than simply a ceremonial survival from Imperial times.

The appeal of this example lies in its unusually early 1941 wartime date, clear ЗиК maker marking, Soviet C.C.C.P. and hammer and sickle pommel, and correct original scabbard. Its honest blade wear and scattered scabbard dents give it the appearance expected of a service saber without overwhelming the strong surviving markings and fittings. It would make an excellent addition to a collection devoted to Soviet WWII cavalry, Cossack material, Russian military edged weapons, Eastern Front equipment, or Zlatoust manufactured arms.

Specifications:
Overall length: 37 3/8”
Blade Length: 32"
Blade Style: Single Edge Shashka with Fuller
Scabbard Length: 32 ¾”