What is the name of a naval officer's award weapon? Mystery solved: why do sailors wear daggers? Dirk vs Russia
March 4th, 2013
Dirk is cold piercing weapon with a straight short, two-edged (less often single-edged) narrow blade and a bone handle with a cross and a head. There are faceted daggers: triangular, tetrahedral and diamond-shaped.
The dagger appeared at the end of the 16th 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 suited for operations on the upper deck against the main opponents of European sailors - 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, the “sea wolves” of Elizabeth I, armed themselves with rapiers, usually captured ones. 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 fighting against the iron-clad Spaniards. A straight thin blade passed well through the joint of the armor, which was difficult to do with a curved saber. Sailors did not like metal armor - in case of falling overboard, they preferred to have less weight on themselves.
The British were the first to notice the shortcomings of this weapon. If a long-bladed weapon was excellent for the upper open deck, then near masts, shrouds, and especially in cramped ship spaces, the excessive length of the blade was a hindrance. In addition, during boarding, in order to climb aboard an enemy ship, two free hands were required, and then it was necessary to instantly draw a weapon to defend against enemy attacks. The large length of the blade did not allow it to be quickly removed from the sheath. In addition, the thin blade did not have the necessary strength. There were very few high-quality Toledo blades and they were incredibly expensive. If the blades were made thicker, then due to the increased heaviness it would be difficult to fencing with them. The British, in cramped quarters during boarding, tried to use daggers and knives, but they, 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 fighting only with it against an armed enemy was suicidal.
At the end of the 16th century, a weapon called a hunting cleaver, deer knife, or dirk became widespread among European aristocrats. From the beginning of the 16th century, the boar sword was also used, but by the end of the century it was almost never used. In the 17th century, they began to distinguish between a hunting cleaver, which is longer, and a deer knife, or dirk, which is shorter; There were no exact parameters, and therefore the same weapon was often called both a cleaver and a dirk. The length of these weapons ranged from 50 to 80 cm. The blades were straight and curved, suitable for both piercing and chopping blows. The most remarkable thing about these weapons were the figured cast or chased, often silver, hilts. Only wealthy people allowed themselves to spend time hunting. They ordered entire scenes from carvers and jewelers on the handles of these weapons. Among them are figures of dogs gnawing a lion, a rearing horse, and nymphs dancing in an embrace. The scabbard was also richly decorated.
From the beginning of the 17th century, daggers became very popular. Swords, sabers, rapiers and rapiers remained only with the military. In everyday life, the nobles, instead of a long and heavy combat sword, preferred to wear and use a rather short, relatively light, comfortable and beautiful dagger. They protected themselves on the streets and while traveling from robbers, mostly armed with axes and knives. In addition, with a long sword it is more convenient to move on horseback, while with a cutlass you can sit comfortably in a carriage or pleasure boat. It was also more convenient to move on foot with short-bladed weapons.
dagger "St. Andrew the First-Called"
In Spain, and especially in France, dirks 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 turned out to be the most suitable weapon.
The first sailors to arm themselves with daggers were the British and the Dutch. In the Netherlands, especially many such weapons were made. The daggers themselves got onto the ships thanks to the buccaneers. For cutting up the carcasses of killed animals and preparing smoked meat (bukan), hunting cleavers were the most suitable weapon. Dirks also became popular in other European countries.
In England, dirks 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 personnel preferred this weapon. Heroes died from wounds in naval battles, but did not part with the 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 back the enemy on the upper deck, and were somewhat long for interior use. In addition, unlike dirks, they had a thin blade that could not be used to cut. The Baroque sword is almost useless in combat conditions, and whenever possible it was replaced with a dirk. 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-cutting sword was created for the navy, quite suitable for battles in ship conditions.
From the second half of the 18th century, boardings and fights on decks and in ship premises almost ceased. After an artillery duel, the ships dispersed, sank or lowered their flag. But it was then that European countries began to produce special weapon for sailors - boarding sabers with curved and broadswords with straight blades, according to damaging properties and methods of action similar to hunting weapons. Their handles, unlike dirks, were simple, usually wooden. Sometimes the guard was made in the form of a shell. Similar cutlasses were used in the 16th-19th centuries, and they were called duzeggi or scallops. Unlike carelessly 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 nautical 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 wear. The junior officers, who had to run around the ship's premises especially a lot, did not want to part with their daggers. Relatively long swords and sabers somewhat hampered the movements of their owners in cabins, cockpits, corridors, and even when descending ladders - steep ship stairs. Therefore, officers ordered dirks, which were not mandatory weapons, and therefore had no regulations. Boarding battles are a thing of the past; dirks began to be made shorter, within 50 cm, and therefore more comfortable to wear. Moreover, the officer was recommended to have a bladed weapon along with his uniform.
Around 1800, the dirk was first officially recognized in Great Britain and began to be made for naval officers according to established patterns by the company 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. At the ends of the crosspiece there were acorn-shaped thickenings, and the shield in the middle of the guard was decorated with an anchor crowned with a royal crown. The scabbard was covered with black leather. The tips and mouth of the sheath with rings for attaching to the belt were made, like the metal parts of the hilt, from gilded silver.
Over the years, daggers became even shorter and were used only as costume weapons - an attribute of the officers’ 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 dirks, a legend arose that they were invented and used as a left-handed weapon, paired with the 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.
Dirk "Admiral"
In the German Navy until 1919, the tip of the handle had the shape of an imperial crown and the spiral shape of the handle, wrapped in wire, with a spherical tip. In the former German army in air force ah, a dagger of the 1934 model with a flat cross, the ends of which are curved towards the blade, was adopted for service; for 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 the 1937 Air Force dagger, the handle was covered with light blue leather, had a spiral shape and was wrapped in silver wire. The tip of the handle was disc-shaped. In 1937 it appeared new model dirk: the crosspiece had the shape of an eagle with a swastika in its paws, the shape of the tip of the handle was spherical, the handle was plastic, entwined with wire, on the lower part of the scabbard there was an oak branch with leaves.
Customs officials had a similar dagger, but its handle and scabbard were covered with green leather. Almost identical daggers were worn by members of the diplomatic corps and government officials. In the last type of dagger, the direction of the eagle's head distinguished the type of service of its owner. So, if the eagle's head was turned to the left, then the dirk belonged to an official.
The dirk 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 a traditional weapon for officers of the navy. For the first time, historians mention 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 housed a dagger that belonged 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 horizontal Latin letter S. The wooden sheath, about 54 cm long, was covered with black leather. In the upper part they had bronze holders with rings for a sword belt, each 6 cm long and about 4 cm wide, and in the lower part there were the same holders about 12 cm long and 3.5 cm wide. The dagger blade on both sides and the surface of the bronze The scabbards 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 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 like a hymn of praise to Peter I: “Vivat to our monarch.”
As a personal weapon of military officers navy the dirk repeatedly changed its shape and size.
In the post-European period, the Russian fleet fell into decline 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, in the 18th century it was also worn by some ranks of the ground forces. In 1730, the dagger replaced the sword among non-combatant army ranks. In 1777, non-commissioned officers of the Jaeger battalions (a type of light infantry and cavalry) were given a new type of dirk instead of a sword, which before hand-to-hand combat could be mounted on a shortened muzzle-loading rifled gun - a fitting. In 1803, the wearing of daggers as personal weapons for officers and midshipmen of the Russian Navy was regulated. Cases were identified when a dagger could replace a sword or a naval officer's saber. Later, a special dirk was introduced for couriers of the Naval Ministry. The presence of a dirk among persons not included in military formations was not uncommon at all. In the 19th century, civilian-type daggers were part of the uniform of some ranks of the telegraph repair guard: department manager, assistant manager, mechanic and auditor.
Fireman's Dirk
In the 19th century, the dirk also appeared in the Russian merchant fleet. At first, former naval officers had the right to wear it. In 1851 and 1858, when the uniform of employees on the ships of the Russian-American Company and the Caucasus and Mercury Society was approved, the right to wear a dagger by the command staff of naval officer ships was finally secured.
In 1903, not officers—naval engine conductors—received the right to wear daggers, but in 1909, the rest of the naval conductors did as well. 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 state shipping, fishing and animal control. The civilian naval dagger was worn on a black lacquered belt belt. At the beginning of the 19th century, the blade of a Russian naval cutlass had a square cross-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 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 sword 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 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 shape 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 a slightly modified Russian dagger for the officers of his "High Sea Fleet" sample. In addition to the Germans, back in the 80s of the 19th century, the Russian dagger was borrowed by the Japanese, who made it look like a small samurai sword.
Chinese dirk
In the middle of the 19th century, double-edged blades with a diamond-shaped cross-section became widespread, and with late XIX centuries - tetrahedral needle-type blades. The sizes of blades, especially in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries, varied greatly. The decorations of the blades could be different, often they were images related to marine themes.
Over time, the length of the blade of the dirk decreased slightly. The Russian naval dagger of the 1913 model had a blade 240 mm long and a metal handle. Somewhat later, the handle was changed, and the metal on it remained only in the form of the lower ring and tip.
On January 3, 1914, by order of the military department, dirks were assigned to officers of aviation, mine companies and automobile units. These were naval daggers, but not with a tetrahedral blade, but a double-edged one. The wearing of daggers in the Russian Navy in any form of clothing, except for the ceremonial uniform, the obligatory accessories of which were a naval saber and broadsword, was considered mandatory in some periods, sometimes 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— also demanded that naval officers serving there always wear a dagger. On a ship, wearing a dagger was mandatory only for the watch commander.
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 commercial ports department and merchant shipping inspectors of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. During normal official activities, officials of the Main Directorate of Merchant Shipping and Ports were allowed to be unarmed.
Personal dagger of a Navy officer
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 landowners 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 of medical care, assistance to refugees, supplying the army, and the work of small and handicraft industries.
Army aviation dirks differed from naval ones with black handles. In August 1916, dirks were introduced instead of checkers for all chief officers, except cavalry and artillery officers, 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 returned for the first time 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 for the command staff of the Navy. Since the beginning of the 20th century, officers of some army units also wore daggers. Later, daggers again became part of exclusively naval officer uniforms.
After Germany's defeat in World War I, the German state was prohibited from having a significant navy and army. The entire existing fleet was interned at the English naval base of Scapa Flow, where it was scuttled by German sailors in 1919. Not long ago, united Germany experienced such shame and humiliation very painfully. Thousands of naval officers found themselves 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 rampant inflation, and most likely there was simply no money to create a new model. They continued to wear the old dirk for some time, and then a simple solution was found. They took a Brazilian naval dagger from the reign of Emperor Pedro II (1831-1889). The head of the handle is from the first German naval dagger mod. 1848 was screwed onto a Brazilian model. The result is a stylish and elegant “new” dagger mod. 1919, which preserved both “continuity” and the memory of the great sinking of the fleet - the mourning black color of the handle.
In 1921, the scabbard from the naval officer's dagger of 1901 was returned to this dagger. 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, Brazilian gunsmiths, when creating a naval dirk for Emperor Pedro II, almost completely copied it from a Dutch model, very popular in the 1820s. Then in Holland, and in other European fleets, fashion changed, and this model 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 belligerence and the prestige of the militaristic aspirations of the nation. Japan and Germany completely abandoned the use of dirks in their armed forces and navies. Italy left the dagger only for 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 also joined the socialist bloc of the Warsaw Pact, created a dagger of a completely unusual modern design for its armed forces, but in German weapons traditions.
With the end of World War II, the “golden era” for Solingen gunsmiths ended. Germany was demilitarized, and weapons factories lost their main government contracts from military and paramilitary organizations. Many industries went bankrupt, but large firms found a way out by focusing on the foreign market.
In Latin American countries, rapid restructuring of statehood took place. Ambitious juntas regularly coming to power ordered new uniforms for the reformed armed forces as an indispensable sign new government and an attribute of one's prestige. The presence of very expensive tooling, stamps and injection molds used in the production of edged weapons was taken into account when developing experimental Latin American samples.
Thus, the Venezuelan naval cadet dagger appeared, very similar to the German naval model of 1921, the dirks of students of the military and police academies of Venezuela and Colombia, practically indistinguishable from the German naval model. 1929 And on the basis of the German air force dagger mod. In 1937, a whole family of almost identical dirks was created for officers of the air forces of Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay. Naturally, the Nazi symbols disappeared from them and the symbols of these states appeared. Great help in keeping Solingen arms firms afloat was provided by orders from countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, which were actively liberated in the 1950-1960s. from colonial dependence.
New uniforms were introduced for the newly created armed forces of these countries. And along with it, a dagger pattern was often developed as an integral symbol of independence. The ubiquitous German gunsmiths here either used ready-made equipment for weapon parts, or the entire design of the dagger was developed in recognizable outlines.
Thus, the vast majority of dirks used in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East after World War II, was of German production, 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 dirks was influenced by the style of the English naval cadet dagger mod. 1901
After the war of 1941-1945. a new form of dagger was adopted - with a flat chrome-plated steel blade of a diamond-shaped cross-section 215 mm long (the length of the entire dagger is 320 mm). On the right side of its handle there was a latch that protected the blade from falling out of its sheath. The tetrahedral handle is made of ivory-like plastic. The lower frame, head and cross of the handle are made of non-ferrous gilded metal. The head of the handle was placed five pointed star, and on the side is an image of the coat of arms. The wooden scabbard was 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 on the right side there is an anchor, on the left - sailing ship. The upper and lower holders had belt rings. The sword belt and belt were made of gilded threads. An oval clasp made of non-ferrous metal with an anchor was attached to the belt. Buckles for adjusting the length of the sword belt were also made of non-ferrous metal and decorated with anchors. A belt with a sword belt 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 jacket or overcoat.
Now naval daggers are allowed to be worn only in full dress uniform and on duty. And therefore, the wonderful expression of the officers of the Imperial Navy disappeared: “I felt out of place all day,” which in the land language meant: “I was not at ease.”
The traditions have been preserved to this day. Currently in Russia there are naval daggers and daggers of other military branches, which differ only in their emblems. Nowadays, the dirk is worn in a sheath on a belt by admirals, generals and naval officers, as well as midshipmen of long-term service in full dress and during duty and watch duty.
The dagger, like a personal weapon, and lieutenant shoulder straps are solemnly presented to graduates of higher naval schools along with a diploma of completion of a higher educational institution and the assignment of the first officer rank.
The Zlatoust masters of creating damask steel also did not ignore the dagger. They created the famous naval dirk "Volna", released for the 300th anniversary of the Russian fleet. In its manufacture, 999.9 gold and silver were used, and 52 dark blue topazes, 68 small rubies, garnets and alexandrites were used to decorate the scabbard and handle. The blade of the dirk itself is painted with gold patterns. The “Admiralsky” and “Generalsky” daggers were made to match it in terms of the level of finishing craftsmanship, but without precious stones. Artists D. Khomutsky, I. Shcherbina, M. Finaev and master A. Balakin can rightfully 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 was made -
WHITE WEAPONS
At the beginning of the 19th century. in the Urals, in Zlatoust, was created new plant, 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. The damask steel of the 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 original blades. This blade shape gives it greater rigidity.
For the first time, historians mentioned the 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. A double-headed eagle topped with a crown is carved on the lower metal tip of the scabbard; 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, seemed to be a hymn of praise to Peter I: "Vivat to our monarch".
The dirk, as a personal weapon for 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 dirk 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.
The Russian naval dagger was so beautiful and elegant in its shape and decoration 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 for the officers of his "high seas fleet" somewhat modified Russian model.
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-like 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 the dress uniform so that the dagger is on the left side. Persons on duty and watch duty (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 so-called half-saber that existed in the Russian army in the 19th century, 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 in a slightly longer length - the blade 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 a modern twist military honor a saber or saber seemed to reflect the history of the distant past. 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 the verdict is pronounced, 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. Until 1917, the broadsword was worn as part of a naval uniform by midshipmen of the Naval Corps, the Marine 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 gentlemen. 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 pom-pom, which received the name “cranberry” in army jargon, which also 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 an 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 highest command staff of the Red Army for special military 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 of the 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.
Later, in connection with the establishment of the title of Hero in 1934 Soviet Union No honorary revolutionary weapons were awarded.
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.
I found a relatively old article published in 2005 in the magazine " Russian Antiques" and dedicated to bladed weapons. The article is short and it is clear that in this volume it is difficult to cover the entire multifaceted history of the development of edged weapons in Russia and beyond its borders. But as an additional touch to the overall picture, the information presented may turn out to be interesting and useful, or simply allow you to refresh your memory of what you read earlier. The article has been supplemented with some of my comments and photographs.
In the military and social life Russia bladed weapon played an extremely important role. First of all, it served as a military weapon, that is, it was intended for use directly in combat operations. In addition, its various types had the functions of combat weapons, intended to be worn in the ranks or during service, but not used in combat - for example, naval officer daggers. Bladed bladed weapon used and how civilian weapons, which was worn by employees and officials of various civil departments and court officials. These purposes were served mainly by sword.
Swords, broadswords, sabers, checkers of various types were adopted in service in various parts of the Russian army, which throughout the 18th - 19th centuries. were constantly changing. Statutory edged weapons in large quantities were manufactured at the Petrovsky Arms Factory in the Olonets Province, the Sestroretsk Arms Factory, and the Izhevsk Arms Factory. Weapons of lower ranks, in order to better preserve them, were usually marked with military marks. The first samples of standard, or authorized, weapons were adopted by the Russian army in the first half of the 18th century. Its appearance, size, rules of wearing and staffing were regulated by departmental and national decrees, orders, charters and other official documents. Award weapons (also known as “golden weapons”) were regulated in the same way, and since the 18th century. Officers and generals were awarded for personal military merits. In addition, cold drinks were also produced in a decorated version. military weapon- with relief decoration on the hilt and scabbard, engraving, bluing, inlays, etc. Some workshops specialized in the manufacture of ceremonial weapons Zlatoust arms factory in the 19th century, and in the 18th century. it was produced at Tula arms factory. There were also personalized, or gifted, edged weapons, on the blade, hilt or scabbard of which inscriptions were placed indicating the recipient, the donor and the reason for presenting the weapon.
Some types of bladed weapons were used during hunting, in particular, they used knives and daggers to finish off animals. Hunting weapons also included daggers and dirks, worn in formal and service uniforms by officials of court hunting and various forest protection departments.
Bladed bladed weapons were also used as sporting weapons. From the beginning of the 18th century. fencing with swords and rapiers was introduced as a compulsory subject in military and civilian educational institutions. Thus, “rapier science” was introduced in the Moscow School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences in 1701, and in the St. Petersburg Maritime Academy in 1719. In the curriculum of the gymnasium at Moscow University, which opened in 1755, 4 hours a week were allocated for fencing.
One of the most famous fencing teachers were I. E. Siverbrick, at the turn of the XVIII-XIX centuries. taught fencing in the Cadet, Page, and Mountain Cadet Corps. Siverbrick trained several generations of fencing teachers who worked in military and civilian educational institutions throughout Russia.
In the second half of the 19th century, due to the growing need for fencing training, officer fencing halls began to open in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Warsaw and other cities. Amateur sports fencing with foils, epeees and espadrons was popular among students, students and officers. Among the officers there were masters who were fluent in two or three types of bladed weapons.
| SAF "Renkontr" together with like-minded people is participating in the long process of returning to lifetradition of giving prize weapons to the winner of the tournament, which has now become an attributeholding the annual "Grand Asso" in St. Petersburg. The photo from 2009 shows a replica of the saber. Subsequently, the traditional French rapier with a figure-eight guard began to serve as the main prize, as a symbol of the revival of the traditions of classical fencing. In the Foto: before the start of the asso, the main prize is demonstrated by one of the leaders of SAF "Renkontr" - Alexander Ulyanov; in the background, the chief judge of the association is Kirill Kandat. 2009 
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In 1897, a special sign was introduced for wearing bladed weapons on the sheath of officers who already had prizes for fighting with some kind of weapon and who again received a prize for fighting with another type of weapon. The badge was an Imperial monogram with a crown and laurels with the inscription “For a fight with two weapons” or “For a fight with three weapons.” The officer no longer received the prize itself—the weapon—he was given the value of the prize in cash. In the last quarter of the 19th century. V Cossack troops For victory in competitions for the possession of edged weapons or for masterful horse riding, prize Cossack checkers were awarded with the inscription for which the prize was awarded.
Special dueling edged weapons, corresponding to the principle of equivalence of weapons of opponents, began to appear in Europe and Russia in the first third of the 19th century: these were special dueling pairs of sabers (espadrons), swords and rapiers (the issue is controversial, but this is the subject of separate articles - my note) . However, in Russia, firearms were traditionally used for fights.
Children's edged weapons reproduced the weapons used by adults, in a smaller and decorated version. Such weapons were used for military sports exercises and developing the habit of carrying weapons among future soldiers. Russian craftsmen of the Tula and Zlatoust arms factories produced similar weapons on orders for the children of Russian nobles. Many members of the royal family were chiefs of guard regiments from an early age and carried the appropriate weapons.
Production of edged weapons in Russia in the 18th-19th centuries. five large state enterprises were engaged: from 1705 to 1724 - Petrovsky plant in the Olonets province, from 1712 - Tula arms factory, from 1712 - Sestroretsk arms factory, from 1807 - Izhevsk arms factory, from 1817 - Zlatoust weapons factory. Of these, the craftsmen of Chrysostom specialized purely in edged weapons, who, in addition to ordinary combat and combat weapons, supplied large quantities of decorated edged weapons.
Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. in Russia there was a constant search for an effective model of combat edged weapons for the Russian army - the so-called experimental bladed weapon. In the first half of the 19th century. When developing new edged weapons, they were guided mainly by French models. They experimented with the size and curvature of blades, elements of the hilt at the Tula Arms Factory and the Zlatoust Arms Factory; prototypes of the experimental saber were also created at the Sestroretsk Arms Factory.
Infantry soldier's cutlasses, cavalry soldier's broadswords, infantry officer's swords and dragoon soldier's sabers were also developed. In 1860-1870 development was carried out to create an effective combat model that could replace the entire variety of edged weapons that were in service in the Russian army.
In the early 1870s. Major General A.P. Gorlov repeatedly made proposals for a significant modernization of edged weapons.
The photo shows the prize foil awarded for 1st place in exhibition competitions. Manufactured by the English company Wilkinson, 1924. Private collection. 
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After the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878. a specially created commission was involved in the consideration of new samples of edged weapons, which approved the samples of dragoon and Cossack sabers improved by Gorlov by that time. At the same time, the development of new models of soldier's and officer's cavalry weapons based on Austrian and Italian models was underway.
Experimental samples of cavalry sabers 1896-1905. had the so-called “silent scabbard” with fixed staples or a hook instead of movable rings. At the same time, attempts to improve the dragoon soldier's saber of the 1881 model continued, about which, after it was sent to the troops, complaints began to be received for inconvenience in handling.
“Dirk” 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 bladed weapons, which gave their name work of art. Lacking 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 heroes of the whole court. It is interesting that many teenagers could retell the contents of Anatoly Rybakov’s Dirk, but they would hardly be able to give an accurate description of the weapon itself. After all, they only dreamed of seeing the legendary sea blade in person and getting acquainted with its history. Today we decided to tell readers what a dirk is. We will also consider the evolutionary path it has taken from the beginning of the sixteenth century until the present day.
What is a dagger?
Before starting the story about this type of edged weapon, it is necessary to understand what exactly it is. To do this, you should look into any Dictionary. What is a dirk from the point of view of specialists?
This term refers to a cold weapon with a short blade. This dagger can have different sharpening options. According to its typology, the dirk is much closer to knives, but it was originally used as a weapon. Since its blade tapered towards the end, it was very convenient for them to deliver piercing blows. The owners of the dirks chose to sharpen them on one or both sides. This weapon was worn in a belt or sheath. After several centuries, the dagger became an invariable accessory of the military; it is still part of the dress uniform of officers different countries. First of all, this concerns sailors, so the first time this weapon is mentioned, we immediately think of a naval dirk.
The appearance of the dirk
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 Portuguese were drawn into. They were armed with rather long rapiers, which performed well in battle during boarding. Since Spain and Portugal suffered serious damage from Ottoman pirates, rapiers with long blades became a real necessity and salvation for them. During 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 disadvantages. The long blades did their job well during boarding, but on the ship itself it was extremely inconvenient to use these weapons. It did not allow one to turn around in narrow passages cluttered with various objects. In addition, during the battle there were hundreds of people nearby, which also made any actions much more difficult.
Another significant disadvantage of rapiers was their thin blade. Good steel was considered extremely rare in the sixteenth century, so weapons often broke at the most inopportune moment.
To make their situation easier, sailors began to use ordinary knives and daggers in battle. Of course, their blades were too short and in many cases useless, but when paired with a rapier they allowed for wider action.
It was these knives that became the prototypes of dirks, which over time acquired a completely different look.
Distribution of daggers among aristocrats
It is interesting that the fashion for various daggers, which was introduced by sailors, quickly spread to the European nobility. They began to order from famous gunsmiths for themselves beautifully decorated cutlasses for hunting and a variety of knives, which they called “dirks.” What was a dirk in the early seventeenth century?
Most often it was a blade up to eighty centimeters long. They could carry out piercing and chopping blows, which turned this weapon into something universal. Not only straight blades, but also curved blades were also popular. A special decoration of edged weapons was the hilt. It was often made of silver and could surprise with its skillful chasing and carving.
By the mid-seventeenth century, swords and rapiers remained only in military use. They needed them due to the nature of their service, and the aristocrats preferred light and small dirks, which could save lives in a dark alley and would not interfere while riding in a carriage.
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 Dutch armed themselves with dirks; they used it for cutting up carcasses on ships when preparing special dried meat and in cases where it was necessary to fight the enemy in close combat.
The popularity of dirks 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 these weapons, gradually making them a symbol of valor. They preferred to die than to give their blade to the enemy.
Dirks cost quite a lot of money, and junior officers, dreaming of their own richly decorated dagger, converted it from other types of weapons. Attempts to replace the dirk with something else were never successful. Some blades turned out to be too long, others were thin and not suitable for real combat. Only the dirk remained unchanged, which became a faithful companion of sailors in almost all European countries.
Dirk as an unofficial bladed weapon of naval officers
Around the eighteenth century, the nature of naval battles changed markedly. Now they were carried out with the help of artillery, so boarding battles became a thing of the past. And with them, the urgent need for daggers disappeared. They were replaced by weapons specially made for them, which have 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 a new type of weapon. Due to their duty, they had to move often and a lot on the decks, 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, and besides, it was considered optional, which means it was not regulated in any way. Sailors made it with any hilt and design, and the scabbard was also decorated in any form.
Official recognition of the dirk
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the dirk was first discussed as a possible mandatory attribute of the uniform of naval officers. An English company established its production, but now the dagger fully corresponded to a certain model 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 kinds troops and government agencies had their own sample of dirk. For customs officers, the handle was made in green, and for diplomats, the eagle with a swastika in its paws had a certain tilt of the head.
Dirk in Russia
It is believed that the fashion for such weapons was introduced by Tsar Peter I. He was very fond of his dagger and considered it an integral part of his military uniform. Since the tsar was very sensitive to his fleet, he ordered that all officers wear daggers. The shape and size of the blade were modified several times, but it always retained its main meaning - it symbolized the power and valor of the Russian fleet. By his decree, Peter I included in the list of persons who must wear a dagger, and officials related to maritime departments. It was during this period of time that the tradition of not going ashore without your blade developed.
The death of the great Russian Tsar, who built the fleet and proved its viability to the whole of Europe, became a period of decline for the dagger. The subsequent years of decline significantly reduced the prestige of the navy, and the convenient short dagger eventually migrated to other troops. From a symbol, it turned into an ordinary edged weapon, which was carried everywhere by both soldiers and officers.
At the end of the eighteenth century, it practically ceased to be used in battles, which means it lost its importance even more. It became more of a personal weapon for the officers than a mandatory element of the uniform. Many moved away from wearing a dirk and even forgot about it completely. However, the nineteenth century made its own adjustments to the fate of these weapons.
Standard for dirk making
Until the beginning of the nineteenth century, this type of bladed weapon 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 should have a length of no more than thirty centimeters, and its handle became a real work of art made of ivory. Carrying such a thing with you was considered honorable; it was carefully preserved, and often even became an item that was passed down from generation to generation from father to son.
Absolutely all officers began to wear the dirk again, including those who served in different departments. In just 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 was seriously modified. 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 dirk into all branches of the military. Even 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. It practically ceased to be a mandatory melee 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.
At the state level, the dagger was remembered on the eve of World War II. The Soviet-style Navy dagger became a very important attribute of command, and therefore had its own standard. Historians claim that this option was very different from everything that existed before, and was highly valued by officers.
The USSR daggers of the forties were a ceremonial model. The blade of the dagger was twenty-one and a half centimeters long, the blade was made of alloy steel, but was quite thin. The handle had a collapsible design and from a distance looked very much like ivory. However, in reality the material was ordinary plastic, but quite good quality. The scabbard had a wooden insert, and special tucks firmly held the dagger inside, despite the position and movements of the officer.
Most of the small decorative details were made of brass. It was covered with gold, but it wore off pretty quickly. The application of special symbols (for example, an anchor) was also considered mandatory.
Today, all officers, from warrant officers to generals, are 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 dirk as a personal weapon. You can receive it only after graduating from a military academy or on the occasion of being awarded the next rank.
Types of dirks
Today, several types of dirks 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. Today there are six types of dirks:
- Nautical. Its standard came from the first quarter of the nineteenth century. According to him, the length of the blade should not exceed twenty-seven centimeters. This option considered the shortest of all.
- Officer. This type of blade is richly decorated with precious stones and genuine leather.
- Front. The dirk is somewhat reminiscent of the first option we mentioned. Common features can be seen in size, but this type of bladed weapon is much more richly decorated.
- General's. The dagger is distinguished by its narrow blade and skillful engraving, made using inlay and the addition of gold filigree.
- Admiral's This dagger can be called unique. The fact is that his first sample had absolutely no prototypes. It contains the largest amount of precious stones and gold.
- Award.
It is a great honor for every officer to have any of listed types dirk, 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 dirk and a watch with a personal inscription. Both gifts are very expensive and symbolize a special affection for a person.
Classification of dirks
We have already clarified that today this edged weapon is an integral attribute of the dress uniform. However, we can give another classification of dirks depending on their purpose:
- Personal weapon. All graduates of military schools receive such daggers. The issuance of weapons takes place in a solemn atmosphere among colleagues and loved ones. Outside of special events, carrying a dagger is prohibited, but graduates religiously 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, dirks are presented as a gift. Its owners can be honored guests of the country and people who have done something important for Russia. Also, a dagger can become the key to long and productive cooperation between the two powers.
We think that after everything we have stated above, you understand why the famous story by Anatoly Rybakov is called “Dagger”. This name alone aroused great interest in it at one time. And only after that it appeared in pairs with “Dirk” and “Bronze Bird”. By the way, we would like to say a few words about these works.
Conclusion
Since we began our article with the mention of these stories, we cannot finish it without Rybakov’s “Dirk”. If you are interested in the history of this type of bladed weapon, we advise you not to ignore this work. After all, it has long been known that writers can reflect the fate of an entire country in their work. And “Bronze Bird” and “Dirk” are a story about us and our past. It will help you look into a time when everything around was completely different, and people lived by ideals and thought in different categories. Therefore, we advise all our readers to pick up Rybakov’s “Dagger” and immerse themselves in, albeit fictional, but such a real world.
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 is not for nothing that this was a mandatory attribute of the dress uniform of officers of both the Tsarist and Soviet armies and navies, 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. The new kind 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 dagger” 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 dirk, 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 daggers 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. Red military pilots of the Workers 'and Peasants' air fleet in some places they unofficially preserved this tradition in the early years of the civil war.
In 1949, by order of the Minister of the Armed Forces, the dirk returned to the already Soviet Air Force, and until 1957 it was worn with the dress and everyday uniform of aviation officers and generals - just as it was before 1917. Aviation school cadets 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 upon special instructions for participation in parades.
Soviet-style daggers were produced until 1993. However, they successfully survived the wave of changes military uniform Armed Forces clothing 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 completely replicate the daggers of the 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 hammer and sickle on the image of a 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)
