A KUBAN COSSACK KKV SHASHKA WITH NIELLO MOUNTS, 1907.

A shashka with a lightly decorated wood handle, bearing gilt-silver wire decoration and a niello plate at the pommel. The blade is engraved on either side, one side with the date '1907' beneath the maker's mark of 'Zlatoust Arms Factory' and the other side bearing the Russian initials 'KKB' representing the Kuban Cossack Army, both sides also having some floral decoration. Otherwise, the blade has the typical curvature of a Caucasian shashka and is kept within a leather-wrapped scabbard with well-decorated niello mounts.

L: 36.5 in. (92.71 cm.);
Condition Report: The blade is good with minor pitting. The engraving on the blade is somewhat obscured by minor surface rust but is still legible. Wear to the leather of the scabbard is consistent with age. Niello fittings of the scabbard are somewhat loose.