Russian decorated blades

In Russia the art of decoration of cold steel blades dates back to 1815. It was born in the Urals when an arms factory at Zlatoustovskiy ironworks was opened.

  Before the event only four large state arms works were involved in manufacturing of cold steel in Russia . Established production and decoration of all kinds of fire-arms and cold steel for Russian army and navy was the way of the factories' operation. However it was not enough and it was determined to set up a new arms production center in imitation of the famous German factory in the city of Solingen .

  Zlatoustovskiy ironworks, with its profound source of raw materials and well-known for the quality of its products, got the nod. For this purpose the best Solingen and Kligental armourers, blacksmiths, polishers and other experts are contracted for work in the Urals, at the newly set up factory of cold steel blades from 1814. Creation of own school of decorated arms was considered especially important issue. That is why the most talented Russian trainees were assigned German masters. Having absorbed the ancient experience of European arms-craftsmen, they enlarged it and consequently excelled their teachers, producing weapons masterpieces and glorifying the Russian arts.

  The factory manufactured all kinds of model cold steel and decorated the granted and awarded officers' weapons. Tens of thousands of battle Zlatoustovskiy blades assisted victory of Russian army and fleets at battle fields, and the decorated weapons became the symbol of valour and honour of warriors, inspired heroes and gave them power for new triumphs.

  From the very outcome of the factory there was a collection of arms, which has become the basis of museum by 1825. Then the factory established a museum, being today the city museum of local lore. Children's armour for Crown Prince Alexander Nikolaevich, decorated blades by famous craftsmen Ivan Bushuev, Ivan Boyarshinov as well as other unique specimen have no analogues in the world art.

  The works by Zlatoustovskiy masters adorn the collections of State Hermitage and Tsarskoselskiy Arsenal (Saint-Petersburg), Armory Museum of Moscow Kremlin and State Museum of History ( Moscow ).

  “Factory ORUZHEINIK” keeps on traditions of old craftsmen in the manufacturing process of decorated cold steel. It consolidates a friendly team of experts. Each item is a result of harmonious work of armourer, artist, designer, engraver, polisher, galvanizer. Studying the world history of weapons and being based upon two-centuries background of Zlatoustovskiy masters, we not only preserve manufacturing and decoration traditions, we bring it to another higher level.

  Arms of honor, made at our workshops, is distinguished by their functionality; it is produced using the finest steel grades, finewood, precious and semi-precious stones and metals. Joint professional authorship work of artist and armourer on an item's image makes each sample a work of art. The high mastery is appreciated not only by our customers. The collections displayed by our enterprise at international arms and jewelry exhibitions won recognition and were given the highest grades by experts in arms and jewelers. Many author's works won the status of winner participating in competitions.

  The factory arms have not just artistic merit: it becomes a family relic acquiring immense moral value.