Russian sword shashqua (also shashka) mounted with nielloed silver. The curved single edge blade is cut with 2 fullers and etched with an inscription (Armenian?) and a stylised head. The wooden scabbard is covered with ass skin, and the sword retains its original belt with tiny nielloed silver mounts.
The shasqua is the quintessential sword of the Cossack, and was worn with the cutting edge facing upwards (as apart from normal practice which was to wear a sword with the cutting edge facing downwards).
fighting