M1927 Cavalry Shashka And Bayonet

[brannow]

Hi All,

Just wanted to share a sword I recently picked up. Its a very nice M1927 cavalry shashka and bayonet. They do not come in any better condition then this!

Enjoy!
Bill Rannow
Mpls, MN

[desantnik]

Beautiful!

[Ralph P]

Hey Bill - Thanks for starting this thread and posting your recent purchase.

Question for you and other forum members about your bayonet. Does the bayonet connect or is placed together with the sheath?

[Gordon Craig]

Ralph,

Not quite sure what your question is but will try an answer anyway. Russian bayonets did not come with a scabbard. They were carried on the rifle, which is why you almost always see Russian soldiers with their bayonets fixed to the rifle. The rifle is sighted in with the bayonet attached so dosen't shoot true without it. Russian bayonets can be found with round scabbards made of zinc or steel which were produced by Germany and Austria/Hungary during WWI for their troops that they armed with captured Russian Mosin Nagant rifles. These scabbards were painted grey and had a simple leather frog for attaching them to the soldiers belt. Many of these bayonets with scabbard were supplied by Germany to Finland during the Winter War in 1939 and later in the War of Continuation.
Russian cossaks carried their bayonets on their sabres, as shown in this post, rather than carry them attached to their MN carbines which could be hazardous while riding ones horse! This bayonet, with the screwdriver tip as shown here, is the correct one to be carried on the sabre scabbard.

Regards,

Gordon

[Ralph P]

Hey Gordon - Thanks for your post and you answered my question. So please bear with me with my novice question. I have never seen a bayonet placed or stored with scabbard/sheath. I further understand what you are saying about how hazardous it would be to have them attached to their rifles.

So thanks for the data and education...

[Kozlov]

Nice Shashka! I am always really wary of these what with all those Indian/Chinese copies out there...

I have always wanted one though!

[brannow]

Hi Ralph and All,

This type of Shashka has ring on the side of the scabbard which he bayonet slides through. A lot of shashka scabbard had them ground off. Fortunately the Indian/Chinese copies are quite crude. I will be at the SOS and will have this one and some very high end Shashka and Kindjal with me so if any one would like to get an eye full stop on by. I will also have quite a few high end Japanese swords and some nice German items.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Very nice Bill

Back in the 1970's there were adverts for these every week in "Exchange & Mart" magazine. They could not give them away. Sadly in those days I did not collect Russian items.

Cheers, Ade.

[Gordon Craig]

Bill,

Thanks for posting your Shashka. I had one in similar condition but sold it a few years ago. Ran out of room to keep everything. Would love to see your items at the SOS but it is just too far to travel there from Budapest. Hope that you have a good show.

Regards,

Gordon

[brannow]

Just curious what you sold your for a couple of years ago. They go for $2K-3K now. The SOS would be worth the trip if you could make it! My Buddy and I will be set up by Paul Vondrak.

Please stop by and say hello!

[Ralph P]

Bill - Thanks for the follow up posts and heads up that you will be at the SOS.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Wow Bill, I am truly shocked at the price you quoted! Yours is in exceptional condition though.

Prices in the UK are generally far lower. But I think I would struggle to get one as good as yours. I think I may have to invest in one later this year.

As you say the repros are not great quality wise. One or two guys in our Soviet LH group have bought them for re-enactment use and have worked on them to improve the finish. But they "OK" for what they are going to use them for.

Cheers, Ade.

[Gordon Craig]

brannow,

You are certainly correct that if I still had my sabre that it would pay me to take it to the SOS to sell it. I paid $250.00 Canadian for it when I bought it and sold it for $450.00 Canadian in 2006. Quite a difference in price there!

Regards,

Gordon

[Kozlov]

I'd say an excellent condition one would probably be 700-800 pounds stirling, which is approx US$1500, although as Ade says you don't see them that good and most are in the 300-400 GBP range