The Hartford republican., 1913-07-25
COLLECTION
Of: WEAPONS
From Russia Exhibited At
is. Museum.
Comprises About Fifty-Eight
Subjects Mainly Of Or
iental Types.


iuring one of his trips. to Russia, has
recently been lent to the National
Museum by Mr. Kennan and install |
I'd m the new building of the Museum
The greater part of the weapons were !
originally gathered by Prince Paskie-
vich, of Russia, noted connoisseur,
from whomM r. Kennan purchased
them a good many years ago.
While there are many and diverse
eamplexs OF armorers' and gunsmiths'
work in theolder Museum building
with the ordinance exhibits, these
peices are of special interest in re-
lation to their original owners, or as
Of hte periods they represent.
Of the ant development
of the periods they represent.
!. The COLLECTION comprises about fifty
eight subjects and consists mainly of
daggers, yatahans. pistols and uns,
Oriental weapons, comprising sabres,
daggers, yataghans, pistols and guns,
all richly mounted, and some having
historic and ethnologic interest on ao-
count of the inscriptions they bear in
Russian, Persian, Caucasian, Arabic,
or Latin.
Z The fiearms antedate the. use Of
percussion caps and belonged to
Central Asian tribesmen who were
accustomed to alvish the greatest
amount of decorative. art on their
personal weapons, as can be seen
from the heavy encrustation in gold
gold and silver, and the jeweeld set
tings on the stocks of the pistols
and guns. andt he hilts and scabbards
Of the swods. The barrels of the fire
arms. and the hilts and scabbards
and knives are of exquisite metal
work, served or damascend, and in
laid with gold and silve characters
recounting battles in which the own
ers engaged.
Some especially attractive weapons,
the Turkish and Arab yataghans.
which are slightly curved swords with
particularly pleasing outlines, appear
to be Of chief Persiang outlines. ap-
pear to be of Persian origin and
art. Their scabbards are marvellous
examples of silver and gold repousse
work.
One sword Of particular interest IL
that of a Russian executioner. 1t has
long broad curved blade bearing on
one side an inscription Of silver inlait
in steel. God help me to overcome
my enemies in the mountaihs and oi
the steppees.' while on the Other
side is record Of campaigns agains'
the Caucasian mpuntaineers in 1887
The handle is of plain black wood
the scabbard is decorated IN silvel
gilt and red velvet with repousse or
namentation.
A sabre having a remarkable his
tory is one in plain black scabbar'
with gold inlaying on the bands ant
crOssbar, bearing an inscription ol
one side Of the blade. PRO Eide e
pro Patria" with thefigare Of a mai
brapdishing sword over his head
/ on the other side 10 the following
"Soli Dec Gloria" q coat of arms col
sisting of a double headed eagle, an
crown. and below. LAS Dec Sem
per-" The blade is inscribed on tn
back with the following. "Yohanne
Mayrschoffer Inlossay Ammo 113s."
warlike implement is considered :
be the most valuable piece Of the en-
tire collection and Ia greatly prize
by its owner ON account. Of the an
cient date and probable histories
connection with the Crusades.
Another weapon OF interest is
scotch dirk once the property of
member OF the Seyenty-Eighth Higf
land Regiment. evidently captured !
the Himalayas and carried Int
Central Asia where ttw ID picked Y
! by, Prince Paskievich. II 10 an %
piece OF cutlery, having q straiyf
two-edged blade. and . abort soil
grip. The scsbbard y Of black leath'
and ornamented like the pommsl w
large crystal mountAnss. A case n
: a knife and foak y 70 bs seen on u
; sids. making the implement svailah
. soE 'u.s both lf9T camp land w~r'ss
purposes.
!, Representative Of <ee Great tv'
|. haadld swords Of the early part
the nlGhteenth Csutt.y. b one VI
|, q .eoss handle and two, cutting edes
Iinscribsd. "vivst zaar neter Alexeis
! l7l0." supposed 70 be from The torl
! LOT R6osinssn. - this name u snsn
: ed ON the blade,
: There are tso baktaarezes In Y
y toollsotiqn. one with gold iniAid Pe
q lsian bads Aaad cApc.sus nisllo-ve'
. handle and dated 1890; the etAsr