UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons European Edged Weapons 18th Century Russian Naval Dirks

A couple of Imperial Russian naval dirks from the 18th century and the family's dusty archives. Unfortunately the scabbards were lost to history and Katrina.

I'm sorry to hear that the scabbards were lost during the hurricane. With what I remember offhand with the 19th century Model 1803r daggers, longer blades and a somewhat more refined/slender type of handle and crossguard. FP

You are the reknown expert so I have to bow to your knowledge. Unfortunatly I don't collect imperial russian items and don't have any real knowledge in the matter, I am only the last of the line of two exiled families and the custodian of the family lore and relics. I guess I owe it to history to get to work and identify what I have.

Many White Russians were afraid to reveal their identities after exile. Seems Lenin and Stalin had long reaches. You are fortunate to have the family items.

To Jim W - once the war of 1904 was lost, most influential families saw the writing on the wall - Russia was so corrupt and the Czar was so inept that the whole system was going to crash down around them. Many families moved substantial assets to other countries , for instance mining, timber and shipping to Norway and Sweden, financial to Zurik, Paris and London, manufacturing to Paris and London, jewelry industry to Paris and London and on and on. Younger members of the families tended to go out on these new ventures. Once the World War started, everything was locked down and there was no escape except to the far East and Japan (an ally then) thru the TransSibberian railway - nearly impossible undertaking. The Whites were then left to their fate, with little effort from the allied interventionists to save the people fighting for them, and little of what they had survived.

... nice and scarce dagger, especially with that kind of blade from the Imperial times. Family background is always a nice add.

Best;
Hermann

And so your ancestors moved to Louisiana where politics were honest and there was never a hint of corruption?

OBVIOUSLY THE ONLY STATE THAT WOULD TAKE THEM IN - lONG LIVE HUEY LONG !!!

"A Chicken in Every Pot"