Caucasian Shashka by Kizlyar
Jan 3, 2020 0:33:41 GMT
Post by Aikidoka on Jan 3, 2020 0:33:41 GMT
Caucasian Shashka by Kizlyar
Historical Overview
The shashka originated among the mountain tribes of the Caucasus in the 12th century. Later, most of the Russian and Ukrainian Cossacks adopted the weapon. Two styles of shashka exist: the Caucasian/Circassian shashka and the Cossack shashka. The typically Circassian (Adyghe) form of sabre was longer than the Cossack type, in fact the Russian word shashka originally came from the Adyghe word meaning "long knife".
The blade is either hollowed or fullered. There is no guard, but a large, curved pommel. The hilt is frequently highly decorated. Shashkas from the Caucasus, as opposed to Russian versions, are carried in wooden scabbards that encloses part of the hilt. It is worn with the cutting edge up, opposite to the sabre.
History of Kizlyar:
Kizlyar is a town in the province of Dagestan. The town of Kizlyar has been renowned for its swords for many centuries. Dagestan is a southern Russian province with a long and decorated history of warfare and weapon craft. It has a prestigious weapon manufacturing history that dates back to the 14th century. Some areas were dedicated to the production of swords and daggers (sashka and kinjhal) while others focused on firearms and the decoration of both previous types, but all would bear characteristics unique to Dagestan.
Presently, the firm of IE Kizlyar Ltd. has the responsibility of upholding the traditions and crafts of those by-gone days by continuing the ancient trade of weapon manufacturing. In 1992, IE Kizlyar Ltd. produced it’s first run of knives for special orders. Upon completion, the knives were of such high quality that many more orders were soon to follow, and thus the excellent reputation of Kizlyar Knives was forged. April 1995 was to be a milestone in the companies history, being the first company in Dagestan to receive a license for permission to manufacture hunting and military knives. Under Russian law, these items are classed as "cold weapons" and therefore, authorization is required to legitimately produce them.
The success of this venture brought about a wave of popularity, inundating the company with orders for more products, prompting a second company to be created in order to cope with ever growing demand. That being Kizlyar Knives. This joint company was named in honour of the town where it is currently situated, Kizlyar, Dagestan.
Presently, the firm of IE Kizlyar Ltd. has the responsibility of upholding the traditions and crafts of those by-gone days by continuing the ancient trade of weapon manufacturing. In 1992, IE Kizlyar Ltd. produced it’s first run of knives for special orders. Upon completion, the knives were of such high quality that many more orders were soon to follow, and thus the excellent reputation of Kizlyar Knives was forged. April 1995 was to be a milestone in the companies history, being the first company in Dagestan to receive a license for permission to manufacture hunting and military knives. Under Russian law, these items are classed as "cold weapons" and therefore, authorization is required to legitimately produce them.
The success of this venture brought about a wave of popularity, inundating the company with orders for more products, prompting a second company to be created in order to cope with ever growing demand. That being Kizlyar Knives. This joint company was named in honour of the town where it is currently situated, Kizlyar, Dagestan.
Full Disclosure
I have no affiliation with Kizlyar or their importer, Legion USA. I bought this sword with my own money.
Statistics
Blade Length: 31.5 inches
Grip Length: 3.5 inches
Overall Length: 37.75 inches
POB (Point of Balance): 8.25 inches
Weight: 1 lb 7 oz (659 grams)
Price: $375 USD
The Blade
The blade has two narrow fullers and its edge is slightly hollow ground. The steel used to make the blade is 50X14MF, a stainless steel hardened to 55-57 HRC. The steel is a high carbon (0.5%) rust resistant (14% Chromium) type, which has undergone a special 3-step heat treatment process. During this type of heat treatment the steel is first heated to extreme temperatures and then cooled to sub zero temperatures. And in the third stage it is heated again to a specific temperature and slow-cooled. This process improves the characteristics of the steel dramatically, whereby the blade can keep an exceptional edge and at the same time have a fair amount of flexibility to cater for any stresses that would otherwise simply fracture the blade.
The Handle
The handle of the sword has fittings made of melchior, an alloy of copper and nickel. The fitting are beautifully decorated.
In the pictures of the sword on the website, the wooden grip was stained black. But when I received the sword, it had a light brown walnut grip. The listing stated that these handmade swords could look different than the pictures and the walnut grip looks good, so I don't consider that to be a big issue. But those who order one of these shashkas should understand that the sword you receive may be a little different than the one in the photos on the website.
The Scabbard
As can be seen in the photo above, the scabbard covers the grip of the sword, with only the large pommel section uncovered. The melchior fittings on the scabbard are decorated with the same design as on the handle and look very nice. As mentioned above, the sword is carried edge up, like a katana.
There is a video in the Test Cutting section below where I demonstrate how this shashka is drawn from the scabbard.
Handling Characteristics
This shashka is a very light and nimble saber at 659 grams. The POB is 8.25 inches in front of the end of the grip, which surprised me as the sword feels very quick and nimble.
Today, I did some cutting with a Caucasian Shashka from Kizlyar. These shashkas are imported from Russia by Legion USA. My main focus in this cutting session was draw cutting. These shashkas are made to be able to deliver a very quick cut from the draw. These scabbards enclose some or, in this case, all of the saber's grip. The sword is drawn by running your hand over the top of the scabbard, catching the base of your pinky finger on the extended portion of the wide pommel, and then gripping the handle once it clears the mouth of the scabbard. A cut can then be quickly delivered. With years of practice, experts with this weapon can deliver a cut much faster than I did in this video. This Kizlyar Shashka cuts very well, though it did require a bit of sharpening before performing these cuts.
Pros
- Beautiful fittings on handle and scabbard
- Affordable price
- Made of a stainless steel that is both flexible and holds a sharp edge
- Grip color and other details not as expected
- Required some sharpening before use
The Bottom Line
The Caucasian Shashka by Kizlyar is an attractive sword that is good value at $375. The stainless steel blade is cryo treated for durability, which is something that you typically only see on more expensive blades.
