This first shown Yataghan has been described by the auctions houses Bonham London and Auctions Imperial as follows:
“A RUSSIAN YATAGHAN, 19TH CENTURY:
With watered recurved single-edged blade, and characteristic 'eared' ebony grip secured by two transverse brass pins, in original wooden scabbard covered in red velvet (worn) with iron locket and chape each etched with designs of symmetrical foliage on the outside. Overall length is 33.5 inches - Blade length is 26.5 inches.”
“AN IMPERIAL RUSSIAN SABER SHASHKA:
A very rare example, typical of Zlatoust Arms Factory special order work for officers during the Caucasian Wars. The hilt carved of a single section of black horn, the gently recurved, single-edged blade forged of fine Russian bulat wootz steel as developed by Pavel Anosov at Zlatoust in 1838. The wooden scabbard covered in red velvet with gilt braid, the steel mounts etched in motifs characteristic of Zlatoust. Mid-19th century. Some wear to mounts. Overall length 84.8 cm, blade 67.5 cm. Officers serving in the Caucasus often acquired or had local weapons copied. This example combines the hilt of a shashka with a blade of yataghan form, a type encountered in Georgia; however with refinements which improve upon the original by allowing it to be used, not only for cutting, but for the thrust so popular among Russian soldiers.”
What about the scabbard? For me it doesn’t look Indian.
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