Bladed edged weapons of military, court and civil ranks. What is a dagger? History and appearance of Dirk in Russia

WHITE WEAPONS

At the beginning of the 19th century. In the Urals, in Zlatoust, a new plant was created, which received a very characteristic name: Zlatoust White Weapons Factory. It soon gained wide popularity for the manufacture of various types of edged weapons - sabers, sabers, broadswords, bayonets, dirks, etc. Damask steel produced by Ural craftsmen was in no way inferior to the best foreign models. Everything forged here was called “white weapons” at that time. Since the middle of the 19th century, another term has finally established itself in Russia - “cold steel”.

The most ancient combat melee weapons with a short blade among sailors were daggers, intended to defeat the enemy in a boarding battle. They became widespread at the end of the 16th century. Later, the dirk became a traditional weapon for naval officers. Its very name was taken from the Hungarian word hard- sword.

The dagger has a blade of either a triangular or tetrahedral cross-section or a diamond shape with a very small angle at the sharp ends, which are peculiar blades. This blade shape gives it greater rigidity.

For the first time, historians mentioned a dagger as a personal edged weapon for officers of the Russian fleet in the biography of Peter I. The Tsar himself loved to wear a naval dagger in a sling. The Budapest National Museum houses a dagger that for a long time was considered to belong to Peter the Great. The length of its double-edged blade with a handle was about 63 cm, and the handle of the blade ended with a cross in the form of a horizontally lying Latin letter S. The wooden scabbard, about 54 cm long, was covered with black leather and in the upper part had bronze holders with rings for a sword belt 6 cm long and about 4 cm wide each, and in the lower part there are the same holders about 12 cm long and 3.5 cm wide. The blade of the dagger on both sides and the surface of the bronze holders of the scabbard were richly ornamented. On the lower metal tip of the scabbard there is a carved double-headed eagle topped with a crown, and on the blade there are decorations symbolizing Russia's victories over Sweden. The inscriptions framing these images, as well as the words placed on the handle and blade of the dagger, were like a hymn of praise to Peter I: "Vivat to our monarch".

The dirk, as a personal weapon of naval officers, repeatedly changed its shape and size. In the post-Petrine period, the Russian fleet fell into decline, and the dagger as an integral part of a naval officer's uniform lost its importance. In addition, they began to introduce it into the uniform of the ground forces.

Since 1730, the dagger replaced the sword for some army non-combatant ranks. In 1777, non-commissioned officers of the Jaeger battalions (a type of light infantry and cavalry) instead of a sword were given a new type of dirk, which could be attached to a shortened muzzle-loading rifled gun - a fitting - before hand-to-hand combat.

Since 1803, the dagger again became an indispensable part of the naval officer's uniform. At that time, the dagger blade had a square cross-section and an ivory handle with a metal cross. The end of the 30-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 there were two gilded bronze holders with rings for attaching to a sword belt, and in the lower part there was a tip for the strength of the scabbard. The belt made of black multi-layered silk was decorated with bronze gilded lion heads. Instead of a badge, there was a clasp in the form of a snake curved like the Latin letter S. Symbols in the form of lion heads were most likely taken from the coat of arms of the Russian tsars of the Romanov dynasty.

Wearing a dagger in any form of clothing - except for the ceremonial uniform, the obligatory accessory of which was a naval saber or broadsword, in some periods was considered absolutely mandatory, and at times it was required only when performing official duties. For example, for more than a hundred years in a row, until 1917, when a naval officer left the ship ashore he was required to be with a dagger. Service in coastal naval institutions - headquarters, educational institutions, etc. - also required naval officers serving there to always wear a dagger. Only on a ship was wearing a dirk mandatory only for the watch commander.

Russian sea dagger in its form and decoration it was so beautiful and elegant that the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, walking around the formation of the crew of the newest Russian cruiser "Varyag" in 1902, was delighted with it and ordered the introduction of daggers in a slightly modified Russian style for the officers of his "high seas fleet" sample.

In addition to the Germans, back in the 80s of the XIX century. our dirk was borrowed by the Japanese, who made it look like a small samurai saber. By the beginning of the 20th century. The Russian dagger became part of the uniform of officers of almost all navies in the world.

In November 1917, the dirk was canceled and first returned to the command staff of the RKKF in 1924, but two years later it was abolished again and only 14 years later, in 1940, it was finally approved as a personal weapon for the command staff of the Navy.

After the Great Patriotic War a new form of dagger was adopted - with a flat chrome-plated steel blade of a diamond-shaped cross-section 21.5 cm long (the length of the entire dagger is 32 cm).

On the right side of its handle there is a latch that protects the blade from falling out of the sheath. The tetrahedral handle is made of ivory-look plastic. The lower frame, head and cross of the handle are made of non-ferrous gilded metal. A five-pointed star is placed on the head of the handle, and an image of the coat of arms is applied to the side. The wooden scabbard is covered with black leather and varnished. The scabbard device (two clips and a tip) are made of non-ferrous gold-plated metal. On the upper frame, an anchor is depicted on the right side, and a sailing ship is depicted on the left. The upper and lower holders have belt rings. The sword belt and belt are made of gilded threads. The belt has an oval fastener made of non-ferrous metal with an anchor. Buckles for adjusting the length of the belt are also made of non-ferrous metal with anchors. A belt with a sword belt is worn over dress uniform clothes so that the dirk is on the left side. Persons on duty and watch service (officers and midshipmen) are required to wear a dagger over a jacket or overcoat.

Dirks as personal edged weapons, along with lieutenant shoulder straps, are presented to graduates of higher naval schools in a ceremonial atmosphere at the same time as they are awarded a diploma of completion of a higher educational institution and awarded the first officer rank.

I would also like to mention the existing in the Russian army in XIX century the so-called half-saber, introduced into the infantry regiments of the Russian army in 1826. It differed from the saber in having a somewhat shortened and straightened blade and was worn in a wooden sheath covered with lacquered black leather. A lanyard of silver braid with two stripes of black and orange silk along the edges was tied to its hilt. The width of the lanyard was 2.5, and the length was 53 cm. We mentioned half-sabers because since 1830 they were introduced for officers and admirals of the Russian Navy and were a mandatory attribute of the dress uniform - with a uniform with orders. Since 1874, half sabers in the navy were replaced by sabers, which differed only slightly longer- had a blade length of about 82 cm. The blade of a naval officer’s saber was almost straight and only slightly curved at the very end. With the introduction of the saber into the navy, the custom of giving honor with it also appeared.

“Saber etiquette” was initially considered to have come from the East, where the younger, saluting with the saber, simultaneously covers his eyes with his raised hand, blinded by the magnificence of the elder. However, more recent research indicates that "saber etiquette" came from the Crusaders. The image of a crucifix and cross on the hilt of a sword and on the hilt of a saber was common during the time of chivalry. They are still preserved on the dirks of English sailors to this day. In those distant times, there was a custom of kissing a cross or crucifix before the start of a battle.

In the modern rendering of military honor with a saber or saber, the history of the distant past seems to be reflected. Raising the saber “high”, that is, with the hilt to the chin, as if performing the ancient ritual of kissing the cross on the hilt. Lowering the blade point down is an act of ancient custom recognizing one's submission.

In England, another curious custom associated with the saber has survived to this day. During the trial of a naval officer, the accused, upon entering the courthouse, unfastens his saber and places it on the table in front of the judges. Before pronouncing the sentence, he leaves and, when he returns again, he already knows the result by the position of the saber: with the tip towards him, it means he is accused, with the hilt towards him, it means he is acquitted.

In the 16th century A broadsword was also used as a boarding weapon, a cutting and piercing bladed weapon consisting of a long (about 85 cm) and certainly straight blade with a hilt with a safety guard. Until 1905, sailors of the Guards Fleet Crew carried broadswords, which were later replaced by cutlasses. Like belonging nautical uniform The broadsword was worn until 1917 by midshipmen of the Naval Corps, the Naval Engineering School named after. Emperor Nicholas I and Separate midshipman classes. In our Navy, the wearing of broadswords by cadets of higher naval schools was introduced on January 1, 1940. Since 1958, it has become only a piece of uniform equipment for assistants at the Naval flag or banner.

In the Russian army and navy, one of the highest awards for officers, admirals and generals was the salary of those who distinguished themselves with award weapons.

Directly related to the military order of St. George was the so-called Golden weapons. The golden saber differed from the ordinary one in that the metal device, except for the blade, was made of 56-carat gold and on both arms of the saber hilt there was an inscription: "For bravery". On such a saber, the silver lanyard was replaced by a lanyard made of St. George Ribbon 4th degree of this order, with the same tassel at the end as a silver lanyard. Persons who had sabers with diamond decorations did not wear lanyards on such sabers. Persons to whom gold sabers with or without diamond decorations were complained also had a dagger with a gold handle and the inscription: "For bravery". At the top of the saber and dirk was attached a small enamel cross of the Order of St. George. These two awards - the Golden Arms and the Order of St. George - were so close in spirit that in 1869, in connection with the centenary of the order, those awarded the Golden Arms were counted among its cavaliers. In 1913 this award received the official name St. George's weapon.

We already know that award weapons also included a saber and a dagger with the Order of St. Anne of the 3rd degree attached to them (since 1797), and with the addition of the 4th degree in 1815, its badge began to be worn in the same way , that is, they attached it both to the top of the grip of an ordinary saber and to the top of the handle of the dagger. Since 1828, the weapon on which the sign of the Order of St. Anne was attached was equipped with a lanyard made of a red order ribbon with a yellow border, and it received the unofficial name Anninsky weapon.

On infantry swords and naval half sabers, these lanyards ended with a round red pompom, which received a army jargon the name “cranberry”, which passed into the navy. Since 1829, the inscription was placed on the hilt of the Anninsky weapon "For bravery" and the award officially became known as Order of St. Anne, 4th class with the inscription "For bravery". This was the most massive military officer order. Most of the officers who fought had cranberry weapons. For example, the Order of St. Anna, 4th degree “For Bravery”, Anninsky weapon and diploma were awarded to the midshipman of the Guards naval crew Nikolai Shcherbatov in honor of the distinction rendered during the supply of fire ships to Turkish military ships and bridges built near the fortress of Silistria...during Russian-Turkish war 1877-1878

The tradition of awarding those who particularly distinguished themselves in military operations with Golden Weapons continued after the October Revolution. Honorary revolutionary weapon, or, as it was usually called in the years Civil War, Golden weapons, was in the period 1919-1930. the highest award. It was awarded exclusively to the senior command staff of the Red Army for special combat distinctions. The right to award the Golden Arms belonged to the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (VTsIK), its Presidium and the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic (RVSR). According to the decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of April 8, 1920, the Honorary Revolutionary Weapon was a saber (dagger) with a gilded hilt. The Order of the Red Banner of the RSFSR was placed on the hilt.

The first awards with the Honorary Revolutionary Weapon (saber) called Military golden weapons with the sign of the Order of the Red Banner took place before its official approval. On August 8, 1919, the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee awarded the Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Republic, Sergei Sergeevich Kamenev, with combat golden weapons for military merits and organizational talent shown by him in the fight against the enemies of the Republic, and Army Commander Vasily Ivanovich Shorin - for military merits shown in battles against Kolchak’s forces , and skillful leadership of the 2nd Army Eastern Front. The third cavalier was the commander of the Cavalry Corps, Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonny (November 20, 1919). The fourth to receive weapons was the commander of the 5th Army, Mikhail Nikolaevich Tukhachevsky (December 17, 1919). After the decree on the establishment of the Golden Combat Weapon, it was awarded to 16 more prominent military leaders of the Civil War. On January 18, 1921, two holders of award edged weapons, S.S. Kamenev and S.M. Budyonny, were also awarded firearms with Honorary Revolutionary Weapons.

By decree of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR of December 12, 1924, an all-Union Honorary revolutionary weapon was established: a saber (dagger) with a gilded hilt and the Order of the Red Banner applied to the hilt, a revolver with the Order of the Red Banner attached to its handle and a silver plate with the inscription: “To the honest warrior of the Red Army from the Central Executive Committee of the USSR 19....”. On April 23, 1930, the famous Soviet military leader, hero of the Civil War, holder of four Orders of the Red Banner, Stepan Sergeevich Vostretsov, was awarded the All-Union Honorary Revolutionary Weapon (saber). for distinction in eliminating the conflict on the Chinese Eastern Railway in 1929, where he commanded the 18th Rifle Corps. This was the last award of the Honorary Revolutionary Arms. In total, 21 people were awarded the Honorary Revolutionary Arms, including 2 people twice.

Subsequently, in connection with the establishment of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1934, the awarding of Honorary Revolutionary Weapons was not made.

In 1968, the Presidium of the Supreme Council reintroduced the awarding of honorary weapons with a gold image of the State Emblem. For special services to the armed forces, honorary registered weapon Marshals of the Soviet Union were awarded: I. Kh. Bagramyan, F. I. Golikov, I. S. Konev, K. A. Meretskov, V. I. Chuikov, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union S. G. Gorshkov and other military leaders.

Dirk.

(Russia)

When it comes to the edged weapons of sailors, the image of this particular dagger always comes to mind, with a long double-edged blade of a rhombic cross-section gradually tapering towards the tip. But has it always been like this and is it only a weapon for sailors? Let's figure it out.

The name "dagger" is taken from the Hungarian word kard - sword. Appeared at the end of the 16th century. and was originally used as a boarding weapon. The reason for this is its small size, which allows it to be used in hand-to-hand combat against a not very protected enemy on decks that are not particularly free, where there is no possibility of a wide swing or swing.

Hunting dagger. Germany, 30s of the 20th century.

From the 18th century It also acquires another area of application - as a hunting weapon. By that time, hunting in most cases involves the use of firearms and the use of bladed weapons is reduced to the level of weapons necessary for the personal protection of the hunter or as a means of finishing off the animal.

But still, the main purpose of the dagger remains as an element military uniform.

In Russia, daggers became widespread at the beginning of the 19th century. as a bladed weapon with a certain form of clothing, replacing a sword or a naval officer's saber. In 1803, daggers were assigned to all officers of the fleet and midshipmen of the naval cadet corps. Later, a special dirk was also adopted for couriers of the Naval Ministry.

In the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries. wearing a dirk was mandatory for all forms of clothing, except for that which required a saber. Only daily service on the ship exempted officers, except the watch commander, from wearing it.

In 1903, daggers were also assigned to some ship specialists who were not classified as officer category, first to the machine operators, and in 1909 to the rest of the conductors.

In 1914, the dirk became an accessory not only for sailors, but also became a uniform weapon in aviation, aeronautical units, mine companies, and automobile units.

During the First World War, the right to wear a dagger was gradually extended to a fairly large number of categories of military personnel, military officials and civil servants of various departments serving the needs of the army. The spread of this weapon was facilitated by its small size and light weight, low cost, as well as the lack of demand for such a bulky weapon as a saber in conditions of trench warfare. So, in 1916, the dagger was assigned to officers and military officials of the Military Administration air fleet. This dirk completely copied naval dirks with a straight blade, but could have a black handle. However, many pre-revolutionary photographs that have survived to this day show that daggers with white handles were also widespread among aviators and army officers, although they were considered more characteristic of the navy. Officers of automobile batteries for firing at the air fleet, motorcycle units and aviation schools also had the right to wear a dagger.

On August 23, 1916, all chief officers and military officials, with the exception of chief officers of artillery and cavalry, were assigned, for the duration of the war, daggers instead of checkers with the right to use checkers at will. In November 1916, the wearing of dirks was allowed for military doctors and chief officers of the infantry and artillery, and in March 1917 it was extended to all generals, officers and military officials of all units, “except for cases of being on horseback in the ranks and performing mounted service.”

The wording “since May 1917, officers who graduated from military educational institutions began to receive daggers instead of checkers” is also widespread in the literature. However, it should be remembered that officers in Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century. did not receive any uniforms, equipment or weapons from the treasury at all and had to be equipped and armed exclusively at their own expense. It was this factor, coupled with the general high cost of wartime, that caused the widespread use of daggers among the troops at the end of the World War, however, the statement that officers released from schools and ensign schools in 1917 could only acquire daggers is fundamentally incorrect. The widespread distribution of dirks in 1916–1917, in turn, gave rise to a huge number of varieties of this weapon, with a general similarity of designs and sizes, differing in small details, in particular, in the materials and color of the handle, as well as in finishing details. It should be noted that after February Revolution In 1917, wearing the monograms of the abdicated emperor on officer weapons was prohibited in both the army and navy. One of the orders of the Naval Minister of the Provisional Government contained a direct instruction to “destroy the monogram image on the weapon.” In addition, in the conditions of the deliberate disintegration of the army by enemy agents and the associated collapse of discipline, the use of monarchical symbols in a number of cases could lead to very sad consequences for an officer, even physical violence from propagandized soldiers. However, the monogram on the hilt was not destroyed (chased or sawed off) in all cases. Dirks produced after March 1917 did not initially have monogram images on the hilt.

In some documents of the early 20th century, describing the uniform of ranks of the fleet and port administration, the term “short sword” is found. It was an ordinary naval officer's dagger. Its appearance as part of the uniform of the ranks of the Russian merchant fleet should be attributed to the beginning of the 19th century.

By decree of the Admiralty Boards of April 9, 1802, it was allowed to release officers, navigators, non-commissioned officers and sailors of the navy to serve on Russian merchant ships. In these cases, officers and navigators retained the right to wear a naval uniform, and therefore a dagger. In 1851 and 1858, with the approval of uniforms for employees on the ships of the Russian-American Company and the Caucasus and Mercury Society, the right to wear a naval officer's dagger by the command staff of ships was finally secured.

In the 50-70s. XIX century daggers also became part of the uniform of some ranks of the telegraph repair guard: department manager, assistant manager, mechanic and auditor.

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 shipping, fishing and animal control.

Since 1911, such a dagger (or, as before, a civilian sword) was allowed to be worn only in everyday uniform (frock coat): by ranks of port institutions; when visiting ports - to the minister, comrade of the minister, officials of the department of commercial ports and inspectors of merchant shipping. During normal official activities, officials of the Ministry of Trade and Navigation were allowed to be unarmed.

It should be noted that during the Soviet period, the dagger was mainly part of the naval uniform. The exception to this rule was the introduction of the dagger as an element of the uniform of the diplomatic department and railway workers in the period from 1943 to 1954, for generals in the period from 1940 to 1945, and for pilots in the period from 1949 to 1958.

Nowadays, the dagger, as a personal edged weapon, is awarded along with lieutenant shoulder straps to graduates of higher naval schools (now institutes) simultaneously with the presentation of a diploma of completion of a higher educational institution and the assignment of the first officer rank.

Dirk as a reward. For 200 years, the dagger was not only a standard weapon, but also served as a reward. According to the statutes of the Order of St. Anna and the Order of St. George, for committing the corresponding act, the person could be given a dagger on which the corresponding order and lanyard were attached, which was officially equivalent to the awarding of such an order.

IN Soviet era the tradition of awarding weapons was not forgotten and the dagger began to be awarded as an award weapon according to the decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of April 8, 1920 as an Honorary revolutionary weapon, which is a dagger with a gilded hilt. The Order of the Red Banner of the RSFSR was placed on the hilt.

Dirk in the world. Russia is not the only country where the dagger was used as a standard weapon. Almost all countries that owned a navy used it almost from the beginning of the 19th century. And, if at first these were smaller copies of sabers and swords, then starting from the end of the 19th century. the borrowing of the Russian naval dirk as a standard model begins, and in the 20th century. The Russian naval dagger becomes the main type of dagger in the world, of course, taking into account national characteristics and weapons traditions in its design.

Types of standard dirks.

Austria-Hungary

Naval officer's dirk, model 1827.
Naval officer's dirk, model 1854.

Austria

Bulgaria

United Kingdom

Dagger of midshipmen and cadets, model 1856.
Midshipmen's and cadets' dagger, model 1910.

Hungary

Officer's medical service dirk, model 1920.

Germany

Officer's and non-commissioned officer's dagger of automobile units, model 1911.
Naval cadet dirk, model 1915.
Naval officer's and non-commissioned officer's dirk, model 1921.
Dagger of officials of the land customs service, model 1935.
NSFK dirk, model 1937
Dagger of the railway guard service, model 1937.
Dirkcommand staff of the maritime customs service, model 1937.
Air Sports Union pilots' dagger, model 1938.
Dagger of the senior command staff of the railway police, model 1938.
Dirk of the leaders of the Hitler Youth, model 1938.
Dirk of State Leaders Model 1938
Naval officer's dirk, model 1961.

Greece

Denmark

Officer's dirk, model 1870.
Ground officer's dagger air force model 1976

Italy

Volunteer militia officers' dagger national security(M.V.S.N.) model 1926

Latvia

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Dagger of senior boatswains, boatswains and cadets of the Navy officer school, model 1922.
Dagger of officers and non-commissioned officers of the armored forces, model 1924.
Naval officer's dirk, model 1924.
Naval officer's dirk, model 1945.

Prussia

Naval officer's dirk, model 1848.

Russia

Dagger of the highest command staff of the NKPS (MPS) model 1943.

Romania

Aviation dirk, model 1921.

Slovakia

The officer's dagger is a symbol of courage, military valor and nobility of the Russian officer corps. In addition, it 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 dirk?

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

Boarding tactics appeared as a simple seizure of a ship for the purpose of robbery. It dominated naval battles from ancient times until the decline of the sailing fleet. Sailors usually took captured ships as trophies and included them in their fleet.

One version says that British sailors were the first to use dirks. With these weapons they could pierce the plate armor of the Spanish soldiers who were part of the crews of warships as Marine Corps and transported valuables in galleons. It was almost impossible to cut such armor with a saber, so in fights they were stabbed with rapiers or in unprotected places or joints of the armor.

Nevertheless, in a close boarding battle, sometimes there was not enough space to strike with a sword - but the existing daggers and knives were a bit short. Therefore, in the second half of the 16th century, weapons that were either a large dagger or a shortened sword gained popularity. This was the dagger.

There are known daggers of the “saber” type - with a slightly curved blade and sharpened only on one side. They are said to have evolved from cutlasses. 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 dirks of that time, which belonged to some English sailor, had a double-edged straight blade 36 cm long, which could be used to inflict piercing, chopping and cutting blows, with a wide groove (for rigidity), and a combined guard of quite 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 (cross-shaped), S-shaped, curved forward or backward, in the form of figures (for example, outstretched wings). The officers' daggers were richly decorated, and their scabbards were carefully gilded and sprinkled with stones. But daggers were also made for sailors - after all, back then it was still military weapon, and not a uniform decoration. The dirks became most popular among pirates, especially English ones: every self-respecting gentleman of fortune sought to acquire them.

Dirk vs Russia

At first, the dirk was used by military officers and sailors, who had to move around the ship a lot, and the long blades of the sabers constantly caught on something in the narrow hold spaces. But by the second half of the 18th century, the command 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 during the times as an official naval weapon, an element of the officers' dress uniform. The length and shape of the Russian dagger blade changed many times over the 17th-19th centuries. There were two-edged diamond-shaped blades and tetrahedral needle-shaped ones. The decoration of blades was most often associated with a marine theme. The blade of the dagger 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 to prevent it from falling out of the sheath. In 1917, the wearing of the dagger was canceled, and only in 1940 was it re-approved as a personal weapon for the fleet command.

Who is being given the dagger nowadays?

The dirk, like a personal weapon, is ceremoniously presented to graduates of higher naval schools along with a diploma of completion of a higher educational institution and the awarding of the first officer rank.

In the square, the boys, taking a military step, break ranks, kneel, and the officer touches their shoulder with a cutlass. Newly graduated cadets are presented with shoulder straps and a certificate. From this moment on, they officially become sailors.

Every year at the Fyodor Ushakov Baltic Naval Institute in Kaliningrad they prepare to graduate officers of the Russian Navy. At the ceremonial formation, the head of the faculty presents lieutenant shoulder straps and the main item of ceremonial uniform - naval daggers.

A dirk is a wonderful and symbolic gift!

To this day, the dirk remains an element of the ceremonial uniform of admirals, officers, midshipmen of the Russian Navy and, of course, one of the most beautiful parts of the uniform, along with white gloves and an embroidered “crab”. During parades, officers and other branches of the military are required to wear a dagger. And yet, in the public consciousness, the dagger is primarily associated with the navy, and this is no coincidence: only naval officers receive a dagger along with lieutenant shoulder straps.

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

— Share with friends

So, summing up the results of the first, introductory part at the beginning of the second part of the historical excursion, let us recall that to XVIII century in Russia, knives were divided into a number of types according to their purpose, the main ones: kitchen, hunting, table (food knives), various craft and special knives, as well as combat knives. The Russian combat knives themselves were of four types: underside, belt, boot and field. But we didn’t say a word about long-bladed products, so in the framework of this article we’ll talk about them.

Halberd and berdysh

Speaking about the cold long-bladed weapons of Russia in the 17th–19th centuries, we should first of all remember halberds and reeds. A halberd is a “cross between” a spear and an axe, a piercing-cutting weapon. 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 18th century (under Peter I), sergeants (as a weapon - a distinctive sign) and artillerymen were armed with halberds. In the 19th century, the Russian army abandoned halberds, they began to arm the lower ranks of the police, and since 1856, halberds were completely abolished.

Berdysh (from the Polish berdysz) appeared in Russia in the 15th century and were used until the 18th century. True, over the last century they have been used only as weapons for police watchmen and ceremonial weapons for palace guards. The berdysh itself is an ax with a long curved blade on a shaft. Berdysh 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 His Profession,” one of the palace guards threw a halberd, which, piercing the time machine, closed the time transition. There is a double film blunder at this point. Firstly, Shurik calls this weapon a reed, and this is a completely 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; the royal archers were armed with them.

Saber

The most venerable 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 edged weapon, completely replacing swords. Let us note that in the south of Rus' sabers appeared earlier and took root faster than in 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 became personal light weapon cavalry and officers in almost all branches of the military. At the end of 1881, the saber was replaced by a saber in the Russian army. It was preserved only in the guard as a ceremonial weapon, and also as a weapon carried outside the formation by officers of some branches of the military.

Infantry and cavalry sabers

The word "saber" comes from the Hungarian szabni - "to cut". A saber consists of a blade and a hilt. The blade is curved, with a smooth cutting edge on the convex side. The handle could be wood, bone, tin, leather, and so on. The saber first appeared in the countries of the East (VI–VII centuries). Eastern sabers had a hilt with a crosshair, European sabers had a guard of various shapes. The sabers were equipped with a scabbard: wooden (covered in leather, velvet, morocco) or metal. The latter appeared only in the 19th–20th centuries. The metal scabbard was blued, chrome-plated or plated with silver or gold (expensive ceremonial sabers).

Eastern saber

Eastern sabers have a greater curvature of the blade, weight up to 1 kg and a blade length of up to 75–85 cm. European (including Russian) sabers have less curvature, blades up to 90 cm in length and a weight of up to 1.1 kg without a sheath. European-type sabers are equipped with large, if not bulky, cup-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 ones. The sabers of the hussars and light cavalry had an average blade curvature. The blades of the sabers of the hussar regiments had a statutory form, but were still often decorated in any order, had individual details and characteristics, since they were ordered by the hussars at their own expense (at that time, receiving government weapons among the hussars was considered bad manners).

Officer's saber

Until 1874, Russian sailors used a special naval subtype of a shortened saber - a half-saber with a blade up to 60 cm. Later, the half-saber was replaced by naval 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 began to be used almost everywhere exclusively as ceremonial weapons.

Half saber

When talking about sabers, one cannot ignore such a phenomenon as “saber etiquette” - saluting with weapons. It is generally accepted that the saber salute originated in the East. The junior in rank salutes the senior with a saber, simultaneously covering his eyes with his hand raised to his face (acting out a kind of “blinding” by the sun-faced superiors). There is a version that raising the saber blade to the face comes from the ritual of knights during the Crusades. On the hilts of swords and sabers a crucifix or cross was often depicted, which Christian warriors kissed before battle. Currently, the rite of saber salutation is divided into two stages: raising the saber with the hilt to the face (“lift up”) - a modern interpretation of the rite of kissing the cross; lowering the saber blade with the tip downwards - a sign of recognition of submission to a superior.

Checker

Checkers (from the Kabardian-Circassian “sashkho” - “big knife”), as stated above, came to replace sabers in Russia. Externally, 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 saber

The checkers were equipped with wooden sheaths covered with leather, which were suspended from the belt belts by rings (two or one) placed on the convex side of the sheath. The saber is worn in the Caucasian manner, with the cutting edge facing 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 belt, and a saber on a belt.

There are Caucasian and Central Asian checkers. Caucasian checkers have a very weak blade curvature. It was the Caucasian checkers that became the prototypes for the Cossack checkers 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 mountain sabers are hidden in sheaths up to the head of the hilt, while for Cossack sabers the hilt is not sheathed at all.

Caucasian checker

Central Asian checkers are equipped with almost straight 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 checkers. These types of Central Asian checkers differ in the material of the handle, decorations, finishing, and details of the sword belt.

Bukhara checkers

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. A statutory decree in 1834 approved the uniform of the military checker. The basis was an Asian-type saber with a solid black horn handle. In 1839, the exterior of the Cossack charter saber was approved. It had a handle with a brass frame on the back and head (handle). A brass fitting was connected to the lower ring. In 1881, the saber was adopted as a combined arms bladed weapon for cavalry units of all types, artillerymen, officers and officer corps of the army, gendarmes and police. For various branches of the military, draft standards were adopted, but the differences were insignificant.

Dragoon soldier's saber

Dragoon checkers had one fuller, a bow-shaped guard, a wooden scabbard, and a brass device. The scabbards of dragoon sabers had additional clips for a bayonet. Officer sabers were 9–10 cm shorter than dragoon sabers. The blade of an officer saber had three fullers. The device was made of brass, gilded, with certain adaptations for sword belts. Artillery checkers were of similar sizes and shapes, but with one fuller. Cossack sabers (since 1881) had a handle without a bow, a blade with one fuller and a sheath similar to the sheath of officer sabers.

Dragoon saber 1881

The Russian army also used checkers of other types. In 1903, in parallel with the checkers of the 1881 model, the Asian checkers of the 1834 model began to be used again. In 1904, a Caucasian type saber was approved for Caucasian national units and units, with a handle of two linings secured to the shank with three rivets. The blade of this checker was sheathed along with the handle to the very top.

Artillery saber 1868

After the 1917 revolution Cossack checkers Model 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 saber was adopted for the cavalry, created according to the Cossack type and practically no different from it. In 1940, a special saber was adopted for ceremonial use by senior command personnel, which was replaced in 1949 by 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 dirk (a bladed weapon of the piercing type) first appeared in Russia during the time of Peter I. Dirks have a straight, not very long, most often double-edged narrow blade. The handle is bone with a pommel, the cross-shaped guard is small. In cross-section, daggers are triangular, tetrahedral and diamond-shaped. Dirks have been known since the 16th century; they were used as boarding weapons, and later as the personal weapons of naval officers. In Russia, starting from the 18th century, officers of some ground forces 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 dirks could be installed on muzzle-loading fittings for bayonet fighting. Since 1803, rules for wearing dirks as personal weapons were determined for officers and midshipmen of the Russian Navy. These rules delimited the wearing of forestays, naval sabers and dirks. A little later, a special dirk was created, which was adopted by the couriers of the Maritime Ministry. In 1903, naval engine conductors were allowed to wear daggers, and since 1909 this right extended to all naval conductors.

19th century naval dirk handle

A Russian naval dagger from the 19th century had a square 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. The holders with rings and the tip were made of bronze and gilded. Half a century later, double-edged dirks with diamond-shaped blades became widespread, and at the end of the 19th century, dirks with tetrahedral needle-type blades began to be used. Dimensions of the blades of dirks used in different times, differed 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 uniform, in which case they had to carry a naval saber or broadsword. Naval officers serving ashore were also required to wear a dirk mandatory. On a ship, only the officer on watch was required to wear a dagger.

Since 1914, dirks began to be used by aviators, military aeronautical troops, officers of automobile units and mine companies. Army aviator daggers had black handles. In 1916, daggers replaced the checkers of military officials, military doctors and chief officers. Since the spring of 1917, daggers began to be worn by the highest ranks of officers, officers and all military officials with the exception of those on horseback (when on horseback, a saber had to be worn). In the same year, 1917, daggers began to be awarded to officers who graduated from military institutions.

Naval dirk 1917

After October Revolution In 1917, the wearing of daggers was abolished for all officers. Subsequently, wearing a dirk 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 uniform of the dagger in the USSR army was changed. New dirk received a flat blade with a diamond-shaped cross-section, 21.5 cm long. The total length of the new type of dirk is 320 mm. The plastic handle (under the bone) was equipped with a latch to prevent it from falling out of the leather-covered wooden sheath. The dagger received decorations with symbols of the USSR and nautical themes. The presentation of daggers to graduates of naval academies has been preserved.

Dirk 1940

Let us also note that in Russia civilians also used daggers. 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 command staff of the courts also received this right. In the 19th century, daggers were also worn for some time by certain ranks of telegraph repair guards and postmen.

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

During the First World War, daggers were also worn by members of the Sogor and Zemgor unions (organizations created in 1914-1915 to help supply the army, medical care military, assistance to refugees, etc.). But this use of dirks was sporadic and short-lived.

Soviet naval dirks

Naval officers' daggers are a Russian custom and tradition, polished over centuries. It was Russia that became a kind of trendsetter in the fashion of wearing daggers. At the end of the 19th century, the wearing of a dirk 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 dirk was adopted as a personal weapon of a naval officer and part of the uniform in the navies of almost all countries of the world.

Sword

Broadsword (from Polish Palasz and German Pallasch - sword, dagger) is a piercing and chopping weapon, something between an epee 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 broadsword handle is massive, with a protective cup and arches. The broadsword appeared in Western Europe at the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th centuries as a weapon for heavy cavalry. The first broadswords were brought to Russia from Europe, and under Peter I their mass production and widespread use was established. Early broadswords had a slightly inclined handle for ease of slashing 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 from the city of Solingen) were also used to arm the dragoon regiments. In 1730, broadswords were adopted by Russian cuirassier regiments. Horse artillerymen were also armed with broadswords. Under Catherine the Second, a crown and the 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. They all had a long, heavy blade of approximately the same shape and similar dimensions. The differences were in the shape of the sheath and hilt. The handles had the greatest variety: they could have a protective cup of various sizes and shapes, various arches, even weaves, meshes and shields. The tops of the handles could be round, oval, flat, or in the form of the heads of animals or birds. The scabbard was covered with leather and bound with metal, or mounted in holders of various appearances. In the 19th century, hilts became much simpler, as did scabbards. Broadswords remained in the Russian army until the end of the 19th century, after which they were abolished, remaining only in some units as ceremonial weapons.

Broadsword, 1763

Cuirassier officer's broadswords, 1810

The naval broadsword should be considered separately. It looks similar to the cavalry, but also has some characteristic features. A naval broadsword may have a slightly curved blade (or straight), quite wide and without fullers. The length of the blade is less than that of a cavalry broadsword. The last third of the blade of a sea broadsword (at the tip) has side ribs located asymmetrically relative to the axis of the blade. They are a continuation of the butt and reach the tip. Naval broadswords for the needs of the Russian navy have been manufactured in large quantities in the city of Zlatoust since 1852. They were used until 1905 ( recent years naval broadswords were worn by sailors of the naval guards crews), after which they were replaced by cutlasses. Until 1917, broadswords were worn by midshipmen of the Naval Corps, the Naval School and cadets of special midshipman classes. Since 1958, naval broadswords have been used only as ceremonial weapons.

Naval broadsword, 1855

Sword

A sword (from the Spanish spada) is a piercing (less commonly piercing-cutting) type of bladed weapon that is 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 for the hand in the form of a bowl, crosses and bows of various shapes. In Western European countries, the sword gained enormous popularity among nobles in the 16th century.

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

Officer's infantry sword, 1798

In the 19th century, swords acquired the significance of a ceremonial, non-combatant weapon. By the middle of the 19th century, the sword became the prerogative of the high command and was gradually mastered by civilian officials. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the sword was completely removed from the military and civilian departments.

Sword of a military official, 1870

Dagger

The dagger (from the Arabic “khanjar”) has been known since ancient times. Dagger - bladed weapon piercing or piercing-cutting 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. Daggers were not used in the Russian army 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 extremely popular and widespread. In the Caucasus, daggers of the most various forms and sizes. 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 of daggers was established in the city of Zlatoust. The leadership of the 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 piercing, cutting and secant blows, was adopted into service with machine gun crews, artillerymen and reconnaissance officers. Bebut was also actively used during the First World War in trench battles.

Bebout, 1815

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

In the next part we will talk about rare blade products from Russia, follow the development of the bayonet, describe peaceful knives of the 17th–19th centuries and get closer to Russian knives of the First World War.

Details

It is unlikely that I will be able to clearly explain my more than respectful attitude towards this outdated type of personal weapons of officers. Of course, there is also the notorious magic of the blade, and a harmonious combination of simplicity and beauty, the laconic grace of the forms and lines of the object itself.

But it is much more important that for me this is like the embodiment of the spirit and letter of those times when the aviation of our country was in unconditional honor. And although the period when aviation officers of the USSR Air Force were entitled to a dagger as a personal weapon was short-lived - from 1949 to 1957, this time remained in the history of our aviation as a reminder of traditions dating back to the first aviators of the Russian Imperial Air Fleet. Traditions, the successors of which you and I are by definition, as graduates of an aviation school - professionals who have chosen serving aviation as their life’s work.

Therefore, if you want, for me this is an expression of the quintessence of aviation romance in a specific object that you can pick up.

And, of course, the dirk is a symbol of officer valor and honor. It was not for nothing that this was a mandatory attribute of the dress uniform of officers, both royal and Soviet army and the fleet, and continues to remain so in the Russian one. Officers of the Russian Navy continue to be issued daggers as personal weapons; officers of the Russian Army can be issued upon special instructions for participation in parades.

A little history of the dagger in the Russian army and navy.

The first samples of dirks came to Russia in Peter's times. The fashion for daggers among officers of the Russian Navy was started by foreign specialists invited by Peter. New look weapons was noticed and appreciated, and now at the Olonets factories they began to manufacture domestically produced daggers. At the same time, the dagger ceased to be a weapon exclusively for naval officers and came into use in the army. In 1803, the wearing of a dirk was officially assigned to naval officers. Wearing a dagger with any form of clothing - except for the ceremonial uniform, the obligatory accessory of which was a naval saber or broadsword - in some periods was considered absolutely mandatory, and at times it was required only when performing official duties. For example, for more than a hundred years in a row, until 1917, when a naval officer left the ship ashore he was required to be with a dagger. Service in coastal naval institutions - headquarters, educational institutions, etc. - also demanded that naval officers serving there always wear a dirk. Only on a ship was wearing a dirk mandatory only for the watch commander.

Naval officer's dagger, model 1803-1914, Russia.

The then “Russian naval dirk” was so beautiful and elegant in its shape and decoration that the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, bypassing the formation of the crew of the newest Russian cruiser “Varyag” in 1902, was delighted with it and ordered it to be introduced for the officers of his “High Sea Fleet” » dirks according to a slightly modified Russian model.

In addition to the Germans, back in the 80s of the XIX century. The Russian dagger was borrowed by the Japanese, who made it look like a small samurai saber. By the beginning of the 20th century. The Russian dagger became part of the uniform of officers of many navies around the world.

Naval officer's dirk, model 1914, with Nicholas's monogram.

During the First World War, dirks were in service in Russia not only in the navy, but also in the army - in the aviation, aeronautical, and automobile forces. It was also practiced for junior infantry officers to wear dirks, instead of sabers, which were inconvenient in the trenches.

Ensign of the Russian Imperial Army

Future People's Commissar of State Security of the USSR V.N. Merkulov with the rank of ensign, World War I.

After 1917, some commanders of the newly created Red Army from among the former officers continued to wear daggers, and in 1919 the first example of a Soviet dagger appeared. It differed from the pre-revolutionary one only in the presence of Soviet symbols, instead of the imperial monogram.

Red commanders with revolvers and daggers.

In the army environment, among the commanders of the Red Army - mostly from workers and peasants, the dagger did not take root, but the command staff of the RKKF wore daggers from 1922 to 1927. Then it was canceled and went out of use among Soviet sailors for 13 years. It was again revived in the fleet after the adoption of the 1940 model dagger, largely thanks to the new commander of the Fleet N.G. Kuznetsov, who sought to revive the old traditions of the Russian fleet.

Externally, this dagger largely repeats the shape of Russian pre-revolutionary daggers - almost the same outlines of the blade and hilt, a wooden scabbard covered with black leather, and a gilded metal device. Dirks were produced at the former Zlatoust Arms Factory, renamed the Zlatoust Tool Factory.

Naval officer's dirk, 1945.

In 1945, some changes were made, the main one being the presence of a lock with a button to prevent the blade from falling out of the sheath. It was this sample that served as the prototype for daggers of other branches of the military, which have survived to this day and are still worn by officers under special instructions during parades.

Dirk in aviation.

The tradition of wearing dirks is typical for the air forces of many countries around the world. This type of bladed weapon was very popular in pre-revolutionary Russia among aviation officers. This was partly due to the fact that among the first Russian aviators there were many naval officers. In addition, a short blade looked much more appropriate than a long saber in an airplane cockpit. The Red military pilots of the Workers' and Peasants' Air Fleet unofficially preserved this tradition in some places in the early years of the Civil War.

In 1949, by order of the Minister of the Armed Forces, the dirk returned to the Soviet Air Force, and until 1957 it was worn with the dress and everyday uniforms of aviation officers and generals - just as it was before 1917. Cadets aviation schools received daggers along with their first officer's shoulder straps and college diplomas.

Since 1958, the dirk ceased to be the personal weapon of Air Force officers and generals, and was issued by special order for participation in parades.

Soviet-style daggers were produced until 1993. However, they successfully survived the wave of changes in the military uniform of the Armed Forces Russian Federation and continue to be used today as a ceremonial edged weapon for officers of the army and navy. Graduates of naval schools are given daggers along with their first lieutenant's shoulder straps.

Officers of the Russian army wear daggers according to special instructions during parades - combined arms and aviation, depending on the type of troops. In fact, modern daggers are completely identical to daggers Soviet era, with the only difference in symbolism: instead of the coat of arms of the USSR, an image of a double-headed eagle is placed on the head of the handle, and there is no sickle and hammer on the image of the star. Meanwhile, Soviet models continue to be in service with the army and navy along with modern ones.

(When preparing the article, materials from the Internet and the book by D.R. Ilyasov “Dirks of the USSR” were used)(jcomments on)