Three Sabers with Wooden Hilts of the 17th – Mid 19th Centuries from the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Purpose. The article provides a detailed description of three sabers with wooden hilts stored in the funds of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan (PMO 3025-1.2, PMO 6265, PMO UK 8227), Astana. Results. Based on the structural analysis of the items and their design, we identified that Saber 1 from the NMRC (PMO 3025-1.2) is one of the varieties of Persian Shamshirs. The blade with the shank, garda and a wooden sheath with hoop could have been made by Iranian or, less likely, Central Asian armorers in the 18th – middle of the 19th centuries. The wooden hilt with rivets, leather-covered scabbard and a metal tip were added while the saber was in the museum collection. A distinctive feature of Saber 2 of NMRC (PMO 6265), which originates from the territory of Southern Kazakhstan, is a relatively small bending of an acute-angled blade, an authentic wooden hilt and a leather case covering the hilt. The last two elements are not typical for products of Persian craftsmen but are quite often found on the weapons of the Uzbek and Kazakh soldiers of the New Age. According to the construction and design we conclude that Saber 2 could have been made by Central Asian, or, less likely, Iranian armorers in the 18th – mid 19th centuries (in the latter case, the hilt and the cover might have been made by Uzbek or Kazakh masters). Saber 3 (ПМО УК 8227) combines the classic “shamshirs” blade and a pommel with a wooden hilt and a relatively rare version of the guard. Based on the design features, the saber is dated to the end of the 18th – mid 19th centuries. The fastening system of its “cheeks” indicates that the wooden hilt might have been made and added in the 19th century. Conclusion. The weapons of the series under review vividly illustrate the data from written sources on the prevalence of sabers with long blades imported from Iran and Central Asia among Kazakh soldiers during the 18th – 19th centuries.