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 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
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