Kindjals Civilian or military?

[Andy Davis]

Hello all
Have a load of post today but will do each sepperate.
First two kindjals, sold as a pair but certainly not, as both have differences, let alone the engraving on the blade and stamps that are only on the one.
Any opinions? Blades seem far better quality to the hilts so I'm thinking possible rebuild.
Cheers
Andy

[ariel]

It is marked "KKB" (or KKV if one wants to transliterate).
Kubanskoye Kazachye Voysko: Kuban Cossack Host (Army).
Military Russian Kindjal, pre-1917.

[Rivkin]

AFAIK, a lot of kkv pattern kindjals were made in Zlatoust, Russia, even through fullers are similar to some of dagestani patterns. Both of these kindjals seem to be quite typical KKV examples.

[ham]

Rivkin is right, most of these were made in Zlatoust. They should be marked on the reverse forte ZOF in Cyrillic. Most are dated just below this as well.

Ham

[ariel]

Agree.These were not truly Caucasian weapons, but rather military implements. As such, they were under control of the central military authorities and were mass-produced in Russia proper.

[Phil]

Greetings from a long-time lurker.

That IS the Zlatoust mark. See following photo of a Shaska I had briefly in my possession. :(

If you confront it with the second photo, you should make out “ZOF” in Cyrillic on the latter.

[Andy Davis]

Cheers for the info. Two better pictures here, of the stamps on both sides. Its still hard to make out the date but seems to be 189?.
Why is it assumed that it is a fake?
Whats the difference....as regards the blade. I have little doubt the fittings arent original.
Cheers
Andy