The ricasso of the blade has a circular stamp of the Zlatoust Factory with a double-headed eagle warrant and a 1917 date of manufacture. The opposite side of the ricasso has several stamped arsenal markings including a character "A", "A" with a crown, and numeral "40". The hilt has a fully spelled out name "Zlatoust Factory" stamped on the crossguard along with a 191

The ricasso of the blade has a circular stamp of the Zlatoust Factory with a double-headed eagle warrant and a 1917 date of manufacture. The opposite side of the ricasso has several stamped arsenal markings including a character "A", "A" with a crown, and numeral "40". The hilt has a fully spelled out name "Zlatoust Factory" stamped on the crossguard along with a 1917 date. The other side of the hilt has maker mark "A" with a crown to the crossguard and "A" to the upper fitting and pommel - which perfectly match the stamps on the blade.

The sword is in very good condition. The blade has some blemishes and staining that adds character without being visually detractive and just a minor amount of surface pitting throughout. There are no significant rust spots; the cutting edge is free of noticeable notches or nicks. The hardwood grip has a couple of gouges and some scuffs but remains sound, free of the usual cracks, and is overall presentable. The upper brass fitting of the hilt has a couple of roughly inscribed letters that appear to be Cyrillic "A" and "Kh" - possibly the initials of the original owner.

The brass fittings of the scabbard are nicely preserved and perfectly tight. On both the scabbard and hilt, the brass exhibits attractive matching patina clearly indicating that there have been no recent attempts to polish it. The brass parts including the chape are free of nicks or excessive wear. The screws holding them are original and tight.

The scabbard leather shows wear, a few cracks to its finish, multiple scuffs and chips throughout, and a single bare area about one inch long near the chape on the inner side. The leather nevertheless still retains nice gloss, and is overall sound and attractive. Importantly, the leather has not been refinished or repaired, and its healthy appearance nicely adds to the overall impression of this remarkable weapon. The Mosin-Nagant bayonet is a WW2-era replacement, but it fits the nests perfectly. The bayonet is in very good condition having only light oxidation; most of its original finish is intact.

This shashka is a very impressive piece of history. It was made in 1917, the year of the Revolution and the final year of the Russian Empire. It was a witness and likely a participant of many cataclysmic events that followed, and was possibly used in combat not only in the Russian Civil War but also in WW2.
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