DAGGER — VALOUR AND HONOUR!
Daggers came into being as boarding fight weapon in late 16th - early 17th centuries. Later they became an attribute of naval and Russian merchant navy officer’s uniform. From the second half of 18th century on, special daggers were used by Russian Foot Guards. Dagger was an integral part of many rated officials (forest wardens, rangers, postmen etc.). In the beginning of 20 the weapon practically lost its direct purpose having become a detail of full dress uniform. During First World War daggers were used by some military units and air force officers. Since 1917 daggers have been granted to graduates of certain military educational institutions.
Daggers were traditionally used as awarded arms, granted for special service to Motherland. Sometimes the hilts of such cold steel arms were made or gold, and scabbards and handles were decorated with diamonds, from 1849 handles were mainly covered with aureate metal. Hence the name of “Golden Arms” appeared. In 1853 ãîäó a model awarded “golden” dagger was approved; and S-guards have been engraved with writing “For bravery” on both sides since then. The «Golden Arms» existed until 1913. In 1913 ãa Statute of “St. George’s arms” was drawn up. In conformity with it a reduction of IV degree Order of St. George IV was fixed on the side of handle’s head. The Statute also envisaged possibility to fix IV degree Order of St. Helen on the arms. This arms received the name of “Anninskoye”. People awarded with St. George’s arms joined St. George’s knights. «The Golden weapon» acquired the new mane of “Georgievskoye (St. George’s) Arms”.
We should note that St. George’s arms was a highly prestigious state award of Russia, and «Anninskoye arms» was awarded both for battle and civil service.
After 1815, when city of Zlatoust accumulated manufacture of cold steel for royal army, the place became the main supplier of decorated blades, and Zlatoust’s armourers – the trendsetters in the field.
After the Revolution the traditions of awarded arms survived. Many officers, generals and admirals of Soviet Army and Navy were awarded with individual and decorated daggers, manufactured by Zlatoust armourers.
A dagger is a sold steel weapon with short or medium straight stiletto-type double blade, of, as a rule, rhombic section. From the end of 19th century on four-edged needle-shaped blades became common. Average length of a blade amounts to 250—400 mm. Usually daggers have a plain guard, consisting of only S-type cross-piece. Scabbard was wooden, upholstered with leather, in a brass ser with two rings. Scabbard was often entirely made of brass. The exclusion were English, Dutch, Japanese and some of Russian army daggers, which had a singe flat blades of insignificant curvature, sometimes with grove, with blade length of 550 mm or more. In addition to cross- piece the guard could be provided with protective arc, shield and chain which connected the end of cross- piece and the handle head. Traditionally, naval daggers were equipped with bone or brass four- eight- or round edged handle of white or yellow color. Army or air force daggers could have black handles.
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