Soviet World War Two Swords? The Cossack M1927 Shashka

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Cossack forces have long been a key cavalry element of the Russian military, and this did not change during the Soviet era. The Cossacks had their own rather distinctive style of sword, the shashka, and the Red Army maintained the tradition of issuing them to Cossack cavalry troopers. In 1927, a new pattern was adopted, and it was produced and issued from 1928 until 1946. The shashka has a slightly curved, single-edged blade and no handguard. The model 1927 military type was initially made with a rather decorative pommel, but this was simplified to just a plain 5-pointed star as German advanced into Russia really stressed Soviet industrial production. However, production and issue of the shashka continued uninterrupted throughout the war.

Oritingally there were separate infantry and officer versions of the model 1927, with the infantry version including the ability to stow the trooper's Mosin-Nagant rifle bayonet on the side of the shaskha scabbard. As cavalry, the Cossacks were not expected to carry their rifles with bayonets fixed, and this served in lieu of a bayonet sheath. By 1944 this feature was omitted, as the M91/30 was replaced by the M38 and M44 carbines and submachine guns, which did not use bayonets.

The decorations returned to the M1927 shashka in 1945, with a series made for the Victory Day parade celebrating the defeat of Germany. Today's example is one of these, and in beautiful condition.

[geigertec]

"We wore our swords with the edge facing up, which was the style at the time." -Abe Simpson (Recounting his service in the Soviet Red Army from 1940-1945)

[MrPhantomEd]

My great uncle was in a Cossack cavalry unit (19th Cossacks, 2nd Ukrainian front) during the whole of the war. Ordered to draw swords exactly twice. They trained with their swords extensively though. In fact, exceptional swordsmanship badge was the first decoration a trooper could get, while still in training.

[galvanic.warlock]

I'm gonna add a couple of things:
1. "Ethnic cossacks" is sort of a misnomer as it's primarily a social group rather than an ethnic one. However, their culture and language is somewhat distinct from the "mainland" Russia, with a lot of Ukrainian and Caucasian influence (because after Cossack state in Ukraine was destroyed in 1775, many Ukrainian cossacks moved, willingly or otherwise, to colonise Caucasus and Kuban')

2. A shashka is not, strictly speaking, a saber because it is front-heavy and less curved. It's not meant to be fenced with but rather deliver a single strong slash from horseback. The Adyghe word that "shashka" comes from means just "big knife", and technically, it is.

3. Another type of military issue shashka was the dragoon one, main difference being D-guard similar to European cavalry sabre

[bjorntrollgesicht]

Edge up is very practical, as it doesn't dull the blade when worn and banged around. A shashka- very nice cavalry weapon, using it is still cultivated in both Russia and Ukraine. It has no handguard, but in return it allows for very swift and fancy movement. There are even some local dances involving the weapon. It's an old weapon with a long tradition.

[buzdygan]

As someone who tried a lot of sabres, i must say, shashka is amazingly great in terms of carrying and handling, my personal favourite style of sabre

[andrewdriver]

Soviets in 1944: "Guys the bayonet is obsolete, there will no longer be a place to store them on your issued sword scabbard..."

[paleoph]

Since Ian talked about the Type 95 Shin Gunto before; and that this Cossack sword was worn with its blade facing upwards (not unlike how Katana are supposed to be worn), I imagine a what-if scenario in which a WW2 Cossack encounters either an IJA cavalryman or an officer and then they have a swordfight.

[elvensouls]

Hell yeah! I love the firearm content, but its so good being able to see these videos as well, love the sword bayonet video and thoroughly enjoyed this as well! Need more truly forgotten weapons!

[Viktor_Johansson]

Very nice sword! The blade looks well designed with a thick spine at the grip, tapering to pretty thin near the point and that deep wide fuller is nicely done.

[ЯрославБродт-щх]

This is not the first time I have watched videos on this channel. I am Russian, my great-great-grandfather was a Don Cossack. It’s interesting to listen to you talk about checkers.

[mansurmansur]

The word shashka originates from the Circassian "sa'shkho", meaning " big knife". It started out as a backup blade and is believed to first have been worn together with the saber, like the yatagan in Turkey. As firearms became the mainstay of warfare, the saber fell out of use with the Caucasians and Cossacks alike and the lighter shashka remained the main edged weapon. It was viewed as a last-ditch, "one stroke" weapon, not meant for fencing or parrying, drawn after the rifles and pistols had been discharged, hence the tip-heavy balance and no crossguard.

[karlenglewood]

These things were machine rolled and hand finished. You can still see the hammer marks on most of these. They weight about 2 lbs or 950g which is heavy for shashkas. There is also a limited run '46 marked blade in the parade pattern.

[AirforceGunny]

Friend of mine has one that was captured by a German in ww2 and he wrote all the places he went and battles he fought on the scabbard.

[markfergerson]

I’ve been following a YouTube channel run by a guy who lives in Georgia (not the US state) who restores knives, swords, axes, and other old artifacts. He has done several of these from various states of disrepair and corrosion to everything from like new to at least recognizable. They’re very interesting weapons with some unique construction details that you couldn’t touch on because they’re kind of hard to disassemble and reassemble compared to your average rifle.

If anyone’s interested, the channel is “Screws And Tools” (I am not affiliated, I’m just a fan)

Oh, yeah- please do more non-firearm-related weapons content whenever possible. Just avoid nunchucks…

[SDJefferson]

Not something I'd want to get whacked with. Thank you for posting this. I, like you, am a student of the history of the weapon. Your work has filled in many gaps I had in my knowledge. I very much appreciate your efforts. I very much enjoy your videos.

[JosephHeller-elzo]

I own one of these swords. It has red felt on the exterior of the scabbard. It has the bayonet fittings and the end cap, mouth and fittings are all brass. The sword is well balanced and feels good when you make cuts with it. A fine weapon overall.

[joshsater]

Forgotten weapons indeed! Thank you for sharing this Ian.

[vernonbender]

I own one of these that has been drasticaly cut down into a combat knife, with a blade legnth of around 10". The scabbard is also modified. While the workmanship is somewhat crude, the weapon feels surprisingly lively in the hand.

Weather this was a deliberate field modification, or returning a broken sword into some measure of service, I have no way of knowing.

[RK-djry]

I, for one, LOVE sword history videos. I’d watch any and all you put up.

[rp]

Thanks for discussing this topic. In my opinion, being interested in weapons not only means looking at guns but looking at swords, sabers, knives and more of this category too.