The city is one of the ancient small arms. ancient weapons

In the catalog dedicated to medieval edged weapons in all its diversity, you will find long and short swords, daggers, swords, sabers and axes. Exact copies of a variety of cold steel and firearms created by European blacksmiths, halberds and flails - all the achievements of the weaponry of different eras are at your service at a price much lower than the antique market offers.

You can safely use our hand weapons in historical reconstructions of the Middle Ages. Ammunition and armor from various eras and periods in the history of the ruling dynasties. Here you will find the sword of the Macleod clan, and the armor of the Templars, the dags of the Viking era.

Melee weapons of the Middle Ages

To purchase replica weapons from the Middle Ages, go through a simple ordering procedure. After choosing a souvenir in our catalog, fill in the data for delivery. We will promptly deliver to the specified address in Moscow after agreeing with you the details of the order. In Russia, the purchased goods are sent by the selected transport company.

Quality assurance

Our online store is the official seller of goods from reputable well-known manufacturers. All copies of gift edged weapons are guaranteed, before selling all souvenirs are manual check by our specialists. Our replicas are not inferior in quality and historical conformity to many antique samples, be it a knife or a gun.

We wish you a pleasant shopping at the "Old Knight"!

Gift miniature Colt revolver chambered for central combat in the original case with accessories (based on the Colt naval revolver model 1851 for officers of the Russian fleet, caliber 44). Steel, bronze, wood, bone, forging, casting, stamping, gilding, hand engraving, bluing. Overall length - 11.6cm; barrel length - 6.6 cm; caliber - 0.25 cm. Steel octagonal barrel with non-adjustable domed front sight. The entire surface of the trunk is decorated with hand-engraved floral ornaments. On the barrel in the breech on the inside, the COLT PAT stamp is engraved. Under the barrel there is a lever that rotates on a hinge, designed to tightly press the bullets into the drum chambers. The lever is engraved with the COLT mark. The drum is bronze, has six chambers and a channel in the center through which the axis moves. The surface of the drum is decorated with an engraved floral ornament, has teeth that ensure the fixation of the drum when it turns. The striker is missing, but is easily restored. A trigger with a needle, the tip of which is covered with a notch. The handle of the revolver is formed by two wooden cheeks, tied with a bronze frame. At the bottom of the handle there is a bronze safety ring. The trigger guard is made of bronze, the trigger is C-shaped. Single action trigger mechanism in need of minor repairs. The original wooden case with a bronze latch, inside is covered with green velvet and has a lodgement for a revolver and accessories. The size of the case is 19.7x11.6x3.3 cm. The kit includes a screwdriver, tweezers for loading and extracting spent cartridges, a ramrod, 7 cartridges. All tools have carved bone handles and blued steel parts. Inside the case is a plaque engraved with the inscription 1851 Navy Colt fircarms Russland. On the underside of the case is the original Colt trade label #35. It was the first sample of weapons produced by Colt not for the army and civilian use, but for collecting. The Colt appeared in Russia in the middle of the 19th century. The production of Colt revolvers began in Tula. Back in 1851, masters Peter, Nikolai and Ivan Goltyakov produced separate copies of Colt’s naval revolvers (model 1815), and on April 6, 1854, a revolver made by Tula gunsmiths was presented as a gift to Nicholas I. The emperor, having appreciated the weapon, ordered to make 400 such copies worth 30 silver rubles for the soldiers of the naval guards crew and 70 revolvers for the officers of the rifle regiment of the imperial family. This model is not represented in the collections of Russian museums, which increases the antique value of the gift revolver. Extreme rarity. USA, 1850 - 1860s. It is an antique weapon of historical and cultural value. This weapon, as having cultural value, is not subject to the Rules for the circulation of civilian and service weapons and cartridges for them on the territory of the Russian Federation, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of July 21, 1998 No. 814 On measures to regulate the circulation of civilian and service weapons and cartridges for them on the territory of the Russian Federation .

Hunting gun, double-barreled with primer locks, made by Artari-Colombo in Moscow, 1855. Steel, white metal, walnut, horn, forging, engraving, gold and silver inlay, carving, oxidation. Overall length - 113.6 cm; barrel length - 61.3 cm; rifled barrel caliber - 2.1 cm; the caliber of a smooth barrel is 2.2 cm. The barrels are steel, round, covered with gray bluing. One bore is rifled, the other bore is smooth. The muzzles and breech sections of the barrels are decorated with silver inlay in the form of a stylized geometric ornament. On the breech of a rifled barrel, a bear's head is inlaid with gold, and on a smooth barrel there is an image of a tiger's head. The trunks are connected by an interbarrel bar. The master's name is inlaid with silver on the receiver bar: "ARTARI IN MOSCOW". Sights consist of a round front sight and a high rear sight with a triangular slot. The barrels are attached to the stock with hooks and bolts. A horn plate is placed under the valve. Under the breech of the trunks, a tide with a groove for attaching the forearm. On the inside of the trunks are engraved: the date "1855", twice the master's personal mark in the form of the letter "A". The fitting has capsule locks on both sides and two brand pipes on each barrel. Two charges were placed in each barrel, making it a four-shot weapon. On the right side of the keyplate there is an engraved image of a running wolf and the inscription "Artari", on the left side there is an image of a running dog and the inscription "a Moscou". The neck of the butt is decorated with a carved mesh in the form of rhombuses. The forearm reaches the middle of the barrels and is trimmed with a horn overlay. An example without a cheek. The neck of the butt is decorated with a carved mesh in the form of rhombuses. The device consists of two triggers, a trigger guard with a short front vein and a long rear vein, a horn butt plate and a wooden ramrod. A round swivel is fixed on the lower crest of the butt. Pozhilins are decorated with engraving. The state of conservation is good, slight oxidation abrasions on the barrels, small scratches on the stock, a metal plate for the bolt of a later time. The presented gun was intended for hunting large game and was custom-made by the Moscow master Artari, who worked in Moscow, in a weapons workshop located on Spassko-Sadovaya Street, house 8, from 1835 to 1871. Artari became famous for his fittings for hunting large game and original rifles and pistols, decorated in pseudo-Russian style. No more than 15 - 20 guns were produced per year. The master made only handmade weapons, so each of his items is distinguished by high quality workmanship, beautiful finishes and original design. The works of the master at exhibitions in Moscow in 1853 and in St. Petersburg in 1861 were awarded small gold medals, and at the exhibition in 1865 - a large gold medal for the high quality of weapons and for making them from domestic materials. There is a version that two gunsmiths Artari Ivan and Artari worked - Colombo Petr. Russia, Moscow, master Artari - Colomba, 1855. It is an antique weapon of significant historical and cultural value, has a museum value. Would be a worthy addition to any collection. Extremely rare for the antique market. This weapon, as having cultural value, is not subject to the "Rules for the circulation of civilian and service weapons and cartridges for them on the territory of the Russian Federation" and approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of July 21, 1998 No. 814 "On measures to regulate the circulation of civilian and service weapons and cartridges for him on the territory of the Russian Federation. There is a conclusion of the State Historical Museum, registered in Rosokhrankultura.

Pair of dueling pistols in original case with accessories. Steel, wood, forging, bluing, engraving. Pistol length - 42.5 cm; barrel length with tail - 32.5 cm; barrel length without tail - 25.6 cm; caliber - 1.3 cm; rifling - 10. Steel barrels, rifled, with a Damascus pattern, octagonal, with adjustable front sights and rear sights on the shank. The breech parts of the barrels and tails are decorated with engraved floral ornaments. The brand pipes are located with right side on curly tides. Capsule locks, with smooth boards, decorated with a light engraving of stylized curls. On the cheeks of the locks there is a mark of the master: "HENRY PERON A S-t OMER". Walnut handles, curved, flared at the bottom, capelled. The handle device consists of: a trigger guard with a sub-finger bulge, decorated in the same style as the key board, figured engraved larvae and fastener screws and pins. The bed is decorated with a beautiful carved scrollwork ornament. The barrels are fixed to the forearm of the stock with studs with oval caps. The butt plates of the handles are figured steel, decorated with light engraving, with stepped tails. The case (46.2x26.9x8.1 cm.) is wooden, smooth, polished, with brass corners and a handle, lined with brown velvet with nests for pistols and tools. The kit includes: a wooden ramrod with a brass tip for winding rags and cleaning barrels, a steel ramrod, a steel bullet gun, a socket wrench, a scoop for lead, a mallet, a steel vice, a powder flask, two ramrod tips, 7 lead bullets, an oiler. France, Saint-Omer, gunsmith Henry Peron, second half of the 19th century. It is an antique weapon of historical and cultural value.

Revolver "Smith-Wesson" No. 3 "Russian third model" arr. 1874 Steel, wood, forging. Overall length - 32.6cm; barrel length - 16.5cm; caliber - 1,056 cm (44 "Russian"); rifling 5. The barrel is steel, rounded, with an unregulated front sight and entirely. Outside, it has a T-shaped ridge to strengthen the barrel and reduce the height of the front sight, which goes into the upper wall of the frame with a slot for the frame fastener; tide with a channel for the extractor rod, which has a thread for the drum axis, and an eye with a hole for the axis connecting the stem of the frame with the base of the frame. The name of the manufacturer's company in Russian is engraved on the crest: "Smith and Wesson Arms Factory G. Springfield America". The number of products supplied under the contract to Russia is about 41 thousand; produced from 1874 to 1878. The barrel is fractured with simultaneous extraction of cartridge cases. The drum rotates counterclockwise and has a capacity of 6 rounds. The handle is formed by two wooden plates fixed with one screw. On the bottom of the handle there is the number 9897 and a ring for a lanyard or belt. But the side surface of the frame is pierced: "sample 1874". In working order. America for Russia, 1870s. It is an antique weapon of historical and cultural value.

A pair of travel cap pistols in the original case, with accessories. Steel, wood, fabric, engraving. The total length of the pistol is 15.8 cm; barrel length - 7.6 cm; caliber - 1.25 cm. The barrel is steel, rifled, round in cross section. On the lower part of the trunk, the stamp "M" is punched. Capsule lock, with the right location of the brand pipe. The trigger guard is steel oval with an engraved floral ornament. The handle is steel, drop-shaped, lowered down. The handle is decorated with a floral ornament. On the outside of the handle is a gunsmith's stamp: "Vincent Brevete S.G.D.G." (worked in Saint-Etienne in 1854-1870). The headset consists of a screwdriver, a bullet gun, an oiler, a jar for capsules. All items are housed in a wooden case covered with black leather. On the front cover there is a brass handle. Case size 22.2x23.2x: 3 cm. France, Saint-Etienne, 1854-1870. It is an antique weapon, has historical and cultural value.

A pair of dueling flintlock pistols in a box with a device. Damascus steel, metal, wood, forging, engraving. The total length of the pistol is 28.3 cm; barrel length with a shank - 19.0 cm; barrel length without shank 14.5 cm; caliber - 1.3 cm. The barrel is made of forged twisted Damascus steel, round in the front and octagonal in the breech. Equipped with a non-adjustable brass front sight. Battery type flintlock. On the right cheek there is an engraved inscription of the manufacturer: “Dumarest S-t Ettiene”. The left cheek of the castle is also made of steel, figured. The stock with a handle is walnut, carved, at the shank it is decorated with a floral ornament made with a silver inlay. Trigger bracket, ramrod entry, sleeve and apple - steel, cast, figured. The ramrod is wooden with a horn tip, the second pistol has a steel corkscrew for wiping. The device includes: a measure for gunpowder, a caliber bullet, a powder flask with gunpowder, a screwdriver, a mallet, 5 bullets. Wooden box, carved, veneered with walnut burl. Box size - 35.5X26X10cm. Lined inside with green velvet, equipped with a lock with a key for locking. France, Saint-Etienne, late 18th - early 19th century. It is an antique weapon of historical and cultural value.

Pair of dueling pistols in original case with accessories. Steel, wood, forging, engraving, carving. Pistol length - 42.6 cm; barrel length with tail - 32.3 cm; barrel length without tail - 23.9 cm; caliber - 1.16 cm; grooves - 27. Steel barrels, rifled, hexagonal, with adjustable front sights and rear sights on the shank. The breech parts of the barrels, the muzzle and tails are decorated with engraved floral ornaments. A number of hallmarks are pierced on the barrels and breech: number 22056, "cal.44", letters "RS", number 700, etc. Brand pipes are located on the right side on the figured tides. Capsule locks, with smooth boards, decorated with a light engraving of stylized curls. Oak handles, curved, flared at the bottom, capelled. The device of the handles consists of: a trigger guard with a sub-finger bulge, decorated in the same style as the key board. The barrels are fixed to the forearm of the stock with studs with oval caps. The butt pads of the handles are steel figured, with stepped tails. The case (49.8x29.9x7.2 cm) is wooden, smooth, polished, with a brass cartouche in the center, lined with crimson velvet with nests for pistols and tools. The kit includes: a wooden ramrod with a brass tip for winding rags and cleaning barrels, a steel ramrod, a steel bullet gun, a socket wrench, a mallet, a powder flask, a ramrod tip, a wooden jar for capsules, a lead bullet. Western Europe, end of the 19th century. It is an antique weapon representing a historical and cultural value

Belgian revolver Smith - Wesson ".44 Double Action 1st edition", (.44 Russian). Steel, wood, forging, casting, carving. Overall length - 28.9 cm; barrel length - 15.0 cm; caliber - 1.1 cm (.44) Russian; rifling - 5. The barrel is steel, rounded, with a T - shaped raised aiming bar, with an unregulated front sight and entirely. Equipped with a spring lock. Steel fractured barrel with simultaneous extraction of cartridge cases. On the top of the barrel there is an inscription: “RUSSIAN MODEL. «SMITH & WESON»» Shock-trigger double action. On the drum there are verification marks in the form of the letters "LEG" with an asterisk in an oval and the letters "E" under the star. On the cheek under the drum on one side there is a stamp: “S&B”, on the other hand “E” with a star, on the frame under the drum there is a stamp “LN”. The handle is formed by two corrugated wooden cheeks fastened with one screw. At the bottom of the handle there is a ring for a safety cord. The revolver is in very good condition. These revolvers at the end of the 19th century were popular among Russian officers, as they were lighter and more compact than service weapons and had a double-action percussion trigger. Belgium for Russia, late 19th century. It is an antique weapon of historical and cultural value.

Capsule revolver five-shot gunsmith Reinhard Stahl in Hassfurt. Steel, wood, engraving. Overall length - 30.1 cm; barrel length - 14.1cm, caliber - 0.9cm; rifling - 5. The barrel is steel, octagonal, rifled, with an adjustable steel front sight and entirely on the receiver. At the bottom of the barrel is a mechanism for loading. On the barrel on the right side of the receiver, the number is punched: "NOT 1253". The drum has five chambers. The name of the gunsmith is inscribed on the drum in a circle: "REINHARD STAHL in HASSFURT", the number "2" is punched on the side of the drum. Single action trigger mechanism. The trigger guard is steel. Striped maple handle, polished, fastened to the frame with one screw. All steel parts are lightly engraved with vine. The gunsmith Reinhard Stahl worked in Hassfurt am Main in 1865 - 1873 and offered the presented model of a revolver to the government for arming officers, but was refused. The revolver is in good working order. Extremely rare on the antique market. Germany, Hassfurt, master Reinhard Stahl, 60s of the XIX century. It is an antique weapon of historical and cultural value.

In the history of the development of weapons, there were many rather strange and unusual specimens, which, although not so universally, were quite successfully used in battle, as well as more common swords, daggers, spears, axes, bows, and much more. Little-known and unusual weapons of antiquity will be discussed further.

Yawara

It is a wooden cylinder, 10 - 15 centimeters long and about 3 centimeters in diameter. Yawara is clasped with fingers, and its ends protrude on both sides of the fist. It serves to weight and enhance the impact. Allows you to strike with the ends of the ends, mainly in the centers of the nerve bundles, tendons and ligaments.

Yawara is a Japanese weapon that has two versions of the appearance. According to one of them, the Japanese brass knuckles are like a symbol of faith, which was an attribute of Buddhist monks - vijra. This is a small shaft, reminiscent of the image of lightning, which the monks used not only for ritual purposes, but also as a weapon, since they needed to have it. The second version is the most plausible. An ordinary pestle, which was used for crushing cereals or seasonings in a mortar, became the prototype of the Javara.

Nunchaku

It represents sticks or metal tubes about 30 cm long connected to each other with a chain or rope. Flails used to thresh rice became the prototype of home-made weapons.

In Japan, threshing flails were considered a tool and did not pose a danger to enemy soldiers, so they were not seized from the peasants.

Sai

This is a stiletto-type piercing bladed melee weapon, outwardly similar to a trident with a short shaft (maximum one and a half palm width) and an elongated middle prong. The traditional weapon of the inhabitants of Okinawan (Japan) and is one of the main weapons of Kobudo. The lateral teeth form a kind of guard and can also play a striking role due to sharpening.

It is believed that a fork for carrying bales of rice straw or a tool for loosening the soil became the prototype of the weapon.

Kusarigama

Kusarigama (kusarikama) is a traditional Japanese weapon consisting of a sickle (kama) and a chain (kusari) that connects it to a shock weight (fundo). The place of attachment of the chain to the sickle varies from the end of its handle to the base of the kama blade.

Kusarigama is considered to be a medieval ninja invention, the prototype of which was an ordinary agricultural sickle, with which the peasants harvested crops, and the soldiers cut their way through high grass and other vegetation during campaigns. It is believed that the appearance of the kusarigama was due to the need to disguise weapons as unsuspicious objects, in this case an agricultural tool.

Odachi

Odachi ("big sword") is one of the types of long Japanese swords. To be called an odachi, a sword must have a blade length of at least 3 shaku (90.9 cm), however, as with many other Japanese sword terms, there is no precise definition of odachi length. Usually odachi are swords with blades 1.6 - 1.8 meters.

Odachi completely fell into disuse as a weapon after the Osaka-Natsuno-Jin War. The Bakufu government passed a law according to which it was forbidden to have a sword of more than a certain length. After the law went into effect, many odachi were cut to fit the established norms. This is one of the reasons why odachi are so rare.

Naginata

Known in Japan at least since the 11th century. Then this weapon meant a long blade from 0.6 to 2.0 m long, mounted on a handle 1.2-1.5 m long. In the upper third, the blade slightly expanded and bent, but the handle itself had no curvature at all or it was barely scheduled. They worked with the naginata at that time in wide movements, holding one hand almost at the very edge. The shaft of the naginata had an oval section, and the blade with one-sided sharpening, like the blade of the Japanese yari spear, was usually worn in a sheath or case.

Later, by the 14th-15th centuries, the naginata blade was somewhat shortened and acquired its modern form. Now the classic naginata has a shaft 180 cm long, on which a blade 30-70 cm long is attached (60 cm is considered standard). The blade is separated from the shaft by an annular guard, and sometimes also by metal crossbars - straight or bent upwards. Such crossbars (jap. hadome) were also used on spears to parry enemy blows. The blade of the naginata resembles the blade of an ordinary samurai sword, sometimes it was it that was planted on such a shaft, but usually the blade of the naginata is heavier and more curved.

Qatar

Indian weapons gave its owner the claws of a wolverine, the blade lacking only the strength and cutting ability of adamant. At first glance, the katar is one blade, but when the lever on the handle is pressed, this blade splits into three - one in the middle and two on the sides.

Three blades not only give the weapon effectiveness, but also intimidate the enemy. The shape of the handle makes it easy to block blows. But it is also important that the triple blade can cut through any Asian armor.

Urumi

A long (usually about 1.5 m) strip of extremely flexible steel attached to a wooden handle.

The excellent flexibility of the blade made it possible to wear the urumi discreetly under clothing, wrapping it around the body.

Tekkokagi

A device in the form of claws attached to the outer side (tekkokagi) or the inner side (tekagi, shuko) of the palm of the hand. They were one of the favorite tools, but, to a greater extent, weapons in the arsenal of the ninja.

Usually these "claws" were used in pairs, in both hands. With their help, it was possible not only to quickly climb a tree or wall, hang on a ceiling beam or turn clay wall, but also with high efficiency to counter a warrior with a sword or other long weapon.

Chakram

The Indian throwing weapon "chakra" may well serve as a clear illustration of the saying "everything ingenious is simple." The chakra is a flat metal ring honed along the outer edge. The diameter of the ring on surviving specimens varies from 120 to 300 mm or more, the width is from 10 to 40 mm, and the thickness is from 1 to 3.5 mm.

One way of throwing chakram was to spin the ring on the index finger, and then with a sharp movement of the wrist, throw the weapon at the enemy.

Skissor

the weapon was used in gladiator fights in the Roman Empire. The metal cavity at the base of the scissor covered the gladiator's hand, which made it possible to easily block blows, as well as inflict their own. The skissor was made of solid steel and was 45 cm long. It was surprisingly light, which made it possible to strike quickly.

Kpinga

A throwing knife used by experienced warriors of the Azanda tribe. They lived in Nubia, a region of Africa that includes northern Sudan and southern Egypt. This knife was up to 55.88 cm long and had 3 blades with a base in the center. The blade closest to the hilt was shaped like a male genitalia and represented the male power of its owner.

The very design of the kpinga blades increased the chances of hitting the enemy as hard as possible on contact. When the owner of the knife got married, he presented the kping as a gift to the family of his future wife.

Ancient Russian weapon

In the early autumn of 1808, in the vicinity of the ancient Russian city of Yuryev-Polsky, a local peasant woman was gathering hazelnuts. By chance, her eyes were attracted by a shiny object lying under a rotten snag. They turned out to be a metal helmet and the remains of chain mail, which turned into a shapeless lump of rusty iron. There is a well-preserved silver plate with an inscription on the helmet. According to it, experts managed to determine that the armor belonged to Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich of Pereslavl, the father of Alexander Nevsky. But how did the prince's helmet end up under the snag?

In 1216, on the Lipitsa River near Yuryev-Polsky, a battle took place between the Russian princes, in which Yaroslav Vsevolodovich also participated. He was defeated and, apparently fleeing, threw away his heavy chain mail and helmet. Now this helmet adorns the exposition of the Armory Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin - the richest collection of ancient Russian weapons.

The medieval history of Russia is replete with wars and military conflicts. Outstanding historian of the 19th century. Sergei Mikhailovich Solovyov calculated that from 1228 to 1462, 302 wars and military campaigns took place in Russia, 85 major battles. Improved and weapons business.

But not only military weapons were made by Russian gunsmiths. For court ceremonies - solemn exits and departures of the king, receptions of foreign ambassadors, at reviews of troops - ceremonial weapons were required.

At the coronation celebrations in the XVII century. an indispensable attribute of the royal regalia, in addition to the crown, orb and scepter, were the state sword and the state shield. The "great military outfit" of the king certainly included a saad device (bow bow, a case for a bow, and a quiver for arrows), a damask helmet, mirror armor, a shield and a saber.

In ancient times, it was customary to give weapons. Of particular value are the embassy gifts to the Russian tsars - excellent examples of ceremonial Western European and Eastern weapons.

Armor of Alyosha Popovich

Remember Vasnetsov's painting "Bogatyrs"? Epic heroes in armor - combat uniforms of a medieval warrior - on horseback. Can you describe what the armor of Alyosha Popovich consists of, and explain what a misyurka, yushman, aventail is?

Russian armor of the late Middle Ages was unlike Western European, lamellar. About two hundred metal plates with a total weight of up to 50 kg, connected by belts and hinges, completely covered the knight's body. Armor adjusted to his height. But the inconvenience was that the knight could not put on them and climb a horse without the help of a squire. Knocked out of the saddle, he was unable to rise from the ground on his own. Solid metal armor protected the body well, but hindered movement and limited maneuverability in battle. The knight's horse was also armored.

Exhibited in the Armory full set ceremonial armor of a rider and a horse, made by the famous Nuremberg blacksmiths and donated by the Polish king Stefan Batory to Tsar Fedor Ivanovich in 1584.

Russian soldiers most often fought with the Polovtsy, the Tatars - lightly armed steppe riders. The tactics of their battle consisted of a swift attack and an equally quick retreat, so the Russian warriors needed light armor that would not interfere with a quick and maneuverable battle.

The most common armor in Russia was chain mail - a long, almost knee-length shirt woven from metal rings. It was not easy to make chain mail and other types of ringed armor. First, the blacksmith pulled out a metal wire - about 600 m for one chain mail. Then he cut it into pieces 3 cm long and twisted them into rings. He welded half of them, and flattened the ends of the rest and punched holes in them. Four solid rings were inserted into each open ring and secured with a rivet. About 20 thousand rings went to one chain mail. She weighed up to 17 kg.

Chainmail cost a lot of money. She was cherished, passed on by inheritance, considered an expensive gift. The armor of the enemy was the best war booty.

The history of one of the chain mail stored in the Armory is interesting. It belonged to Pyotr Shuisky, a famous Russian commander of the 16th century, a participant in the Kazan campaign and the Livonian War. After his death, the chain mail passed into the treasury of Ivan the Terrible. Having received news of the conquest of Western Siberia, the tsar sent her as a gift to ataman Ermak Timofeevich. Half a century later, this armor was found in the possession of one of the Siberian princes and returned to the treasury. Apparently, after the death of Yermak, the chain mail fell into the hands of the enemy.

Smaller, slightly flattened rings were at the shell - a type of ringed armor. Over one shell, consisting of about 50 thousand rings and weighing 6-10 kg, the gunsmith worked for almost two years - six thousand hours of painstaking work! Remember the discovery in the vicinity of Yuryev-Polsky, which was mentioned at the beginning of the chapter? It was the armor that belonged to Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich.

There is also armor made of large flat rings in the collection of the Armory. This is baidana. It belonged to Tsar Boris Godunov. On each of its many rings there is an inscription: "God is with us, no one is against us," that is, "no one will defeat us."

In addition to ringed, Russian soldiers also had mixed, ringed and plate armor. In the XVI century. a very effective type of armor appeared - bakhterets: chain mail, into which hundreds of metal plates were woven in front and behind. One went on top of the other, making the armor multi-layered, protecting even from a bullet. The number of bakhterets plates reached 1.5 thousand, and the yushman consisted of only a hundred plates, but large ones that did not overlap each other. It was in Yushman that Vasnetsov portrayed Alyosha Popovich.

Royal mirror

The armor not only protected, but also adorned the warrior. Polished, or even silvered, they shone in the sun like fish scales. The "mirror armor", which was worn over ordinary chain mail, was distinguished by its special beauty. It consisted of large, polished metal plates (hence the word "mirror" - a mirror) that covered the chest, sides and back.

In 1616, the masters of the Armory made for Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich a luxurious mirror armor, decorated with embossing, carving and gilding. On the chest, in the center of the armor, a double-headed eagle was depicted, and around it, in a ring, an inscription was made containing the full title of the king. In an elegant mirror, the king usually appeared to the army during reviews. In the 17th century this armor was valued at a huge sum for those times - 1500 rubles.

The head of a warrior in battle was protected by a helmet. There were several types of them in Russia. Vasnetsov's Ilya Muromets is wearing a shishak - a helmet with a high peaked top that protects against a deadly vertical blow of a sword or saber. A side blow could only concuss, "stupefy" a warrior. Sometimes such a helmet was crowned with a spire with a colored flag or a bunch of feathers - the hallmark of a military leader. The image of shishaks is often found on ancient icons and in book miniatures.

And let's go back to our study guide"- a painting by Vasnetsov. On Alyosha Popovich's head, apparently, a misyurka - a helmet with a flat top. To protect the neck and cheeks, a chain mail mesh - aventail is suspended from it.

The tsar appeared before the army in a ceremonial helmet - the "hat of Jericho". In 1621, the masters of the Armory made a damask helmet of amazing beauty for Mikhail Fedorovich. Its base, shishak, was forged in the East, and Russian craftsmen supplemented it with earpieces, a nape and a nosepiece, richly decorated with a gold notch (gold wire was hammered into the grooves of the scratched pattern), precious stones and pearls. The image of the Archangel Michael, the patron saint of the king, made in enamel, the master placed on the nosepiece.

Vasnetsov conscientiously copied the “Yerikhon cap” on the head of Dobrynya Nikitich from a unique Byzantine helmet of the 13th century stored in the Armory. There is nothing like it in any other congregation in the world. This helmet is not just an artistic value, but also a fact of history: it was brought to Russia by the Byzantine princess Sophia Paleolog, having married Ivan III. That is why it is so unlike Russian helmets.

What is a shield, modern man does not need to be explained. Ancient Russian warriors used large almond-shaped shields. It can be assumed that it was precisely such a shield that Prince Oleg hung on the walls of Constantinople.

According to the testimony of the Byzantine historian Leo the Deacon, the Russians, holding back the onslaught of the enemy, "tightly closed their shields and spears, giving their ranks the appearance of a wall." It was precisely such a wall that the experienced soldiers of Emperor Tzimiskes could not crush under the Bulgarian city of Dorostol, which was defended by the Kyiv prince Svyatoslav.

Later, the Russians adopted Tatar round shields. Until the end of the XVII century. they were in use with the royal army. In the Armory, in a showcase with royal regalia - crowns, barms, crosses - there is a round shield covered with half-decayed cherry velvet and decorated with figured precious studs. This is the state shield, which, together with the state sword, participated from the end of the 17th century. in court ceremonies. In subsequent centuries, the royal regalia were almost completely renewed, but the ancient state shield and sword continued to be used in the funeral rites of emperors.

Don't jump on the rampage

Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan in the 10th century. shared his observations that the weapons of the Russians are the sword, the ax and the knife. The Tale of Bygone Years provides semi-legendary evidence. Somehow the Khazars demanded tribute from the glades. And they took it and sent swords instead of tribute. The Khazar elders saw this weapon and decided: "We will be tributaries of these people, because their swords are sharp on both sides, and our sabers have one blade." Indeed, Russian swords had a double-edged, straight, wide blade. Between the blade and the handle was a cross, which protected the hand from a counter blow. The sword was worn in leather scabbard on the belt. He was sacred to the Russian warrior. In pagan times they swore on the sword, as later on the cross.

The sword was considered a symbol of princely power. Perhaps it was not by chance that Vasnetsov put a sword into the hands of Dobrynya Nikitich? After all, the rumor connected this epic hero with Dobrynya Novgorodsky, the uncle of Prince Vladimir the Baptist.

A reliable weapon of medieval warriors, on foot and on horseback, was a spear. Princes also fought with a spear. It is known that in the Battle of the Neva in 1240 great commander Ancient Russia Alexander Nevsky in a duel wounded the leader of the Swedish army Birger with a spear. And Dmitry Donskoy went to the Kulikovo field with a spear in his hands.

The spear served not only as a military weapon, but also as a hunting one. With her, the brave men went to the bear alone. There was also a spear in the composition of the ceremonial armament of the king. In written sources of the XVI century. she was called the first among the weapons of the "Big Royal Outfit". The Armory houses an ancient Russian spear, made for one of the princes of Tver. The base of its "horn" is bound with sheet silver with carved images of scenes of the death of Prince Mikhail of Tver in the Horde.

The weapons of ancient Russian warriors were supplemented by knives: waist knives - worn behind the belt; boots - they plugged the top of the boot; podsaadnye - included in the kit with a bow and arrows. In duels, knives were used as hand-to-hand combat weapons.

In the "Tale of Bygone Years" we read that in 1022 two troops converged on the battlefield - Russian and Kassog. By ancient custom The prince of Kasozh, the hero Rededya, challenged his opponent, the Tmutarakan prince Mstislav, to a duel. Two mighty knights clashed, but only Mstislav was stronger. He threw Rededya to the ground and stabbed him with a knife.

Murder weapons or decorations?

The battle ax was also the oldest weapon, only they called it an ax in those days. The ax was considered the weapon of the poor. A peasant or an artisan, becoming a warrior of necessity, armed himself with a home carpenter's axe. The real battle ax had a blade in the form of a crescent, and on the back of the ax handle, that is, the butt, there was a hook for pulling riders from the saddle.

Axes also served as parade weapons. The personal bodyguards of Ivan the Terrible - the bells - wore silver hatchets on their shoulders, decorated with a gold notch.

A kind of ax is a reed. Unlike the ax, it had a long shaft, almost the height of a man, and a large blade with a point at the upper end. Berdysh could serve as a chopping and stabbing weapon. In the XVI-XVII centuries. the berdysh was part of the mandatory armament of the archers. They also used it as a stand for shooting from a heavy squeak: at the lower end of the berdysh shaft there was an iron point, which was stuck into the ground when shooting.

After the invasion of the Tatars, Russian soldiers quickly mastered the saber, although they had known it for a long time. Unlike a sword, a saber has a curved blade, sharpened on one side. This curvature allowed for a glancing blow that left longer and deeper wounds. In the XV century. the saber finally supplanted the sword in Russia. The best sabers were forged from damask steel - pure carbon steel, which had great strength and elasticity. A well-honed damask blade can cut a gas handkerchief on the fly.

Richly decorated sabers of Russian and Oriental work were also part of the "Great Tsar's Attire". The scabbards of such sabers were made of gold and silver, decorated with diamonds, emeralds, rubies. In 1618, the Russian master Ilya Prosvit forged a unique saber for Mikhail Fedorovich. Her damask blade is cut through with an ornament of gilded lilies. An inscription was made on the blade with a gold notch, telling about the owner of the saber and about its creator.

But the special pride of the Armory was not these ceremonial sabers, but two simple, combat sabers, with notches on the blade and without any special decorations. Once they belonged to the liberators of Moscow from the Poles - Minin and Pozharsky.

And every battle in the Middle Ages began with the shelling of the enemy with bows. Usually they fired from 200-300 paces, and from good bow and from 500. When shooting from a horse, the range of the arrow increased significantly.

Making a quality bow required great skill. It was glued together in layers from hard wood, horn plates and animal tendons. To prevent the onion from dampening, it was pasted over with birch bark or thin skin and varnished. Such a bow small sizes possessed amazing elasticity and, without a stretched bowstring, arched in the opposite direction. The bowstring was made from ox sinew or twisted silk thread.

It was not easy to make good arrows either. tetrahedral wooden blank about 1 m long was split into four parts and glued with the outer sides inward. Such a shaft did not bend or warp. A metal tip was put on one end of it. A steel, hardened tip could pierce metal armor. Sometimes the tips were made with spikes that made it difficult to extract the arrow from the wound. A feather cut along the length was glued or threaded to the other end of the shaft to provide the arrow with a stable position in flight.

The bow was a very effective weapon. A good shooter, making 8-12 shots per minute, could hit all targets at a distance of 130 steps. Due to its high combat qualities, the bow was in service with Russian soldiers until the widespread use of firearms.

They kept bows in special leather cases - bows, and arrows - in quivers. Together, both of them were called a saada device. The shooter wore a bow with a bow on his left side, and a quiver with arrows on his right (for convenience when shooting).

In 1628, a group of craftsmen from the Armory made a device of rare beauty and richness, which became part of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich's "Great Attire". The leather cases of both items are covered with an openwork through gold ornament, decorated with enamels and gems. For these purposes, 3.5 kg of precious metal went. This saadak was intended for state ceremonies, so the jewelers placed on the bow and quiver images of state symbols of Russia - a double-headed eagle and a rider on a horse.

The crossbow, or crossbow, has long been known in Russia. Unlike the bow, it had a special mechanism for pulling the string, which significantly increased the power of the shot. Often crossbow arrows were made of all-metal. During the siege of Moscow by the Tatars in 1382, a noble Tatar murza, a favorite of Khan Tokhtamysh, was killed with an arrow shot from a crossbow.

In ancient times, every man, if necessary, took up arms and became a warrior. Military prowess, the ability to wield weapons - these qualities were highly valued and were sung in ancient Russian literature. In the Tale of Igor's Campaign, Prince Vsevolod of Kursk spoke of his soldiers in the following way: "... they are cherished under their helmets, their spears are fed from the end ... their bows are stretched, their quivers are open, their sabers are sharpened, they themselves gallop like gray wolves in a field seeking honor for himself, and glory for the prince.

Amendments to the law "On weapons", which came into force on January 1 this year, will please many weapon collectors. It would seem that such amendments are trifles, but for the majority of interested people they are very important. This is exactly the case when any comma decides the fate of a weapon. Remember? You can't pardon.

Legislative adjustments have returned weapons that are stored in private collections to the legal field. Often, it is in the old grandfather's house in the attic or basement that a real treasure is cherished, which any museum will acquire with delight. Previously, such trunks were simply hidden - God forbid someone finds out, immediately a prison for storage. However, there was also craftiness here, people did not want to bother with the official design of weapons with history.

Now everything is much easier. Here's the point: if you want to have some kind of dueling pistol in your personal collection - have it. And in unlimited quantities. But it still needs to be formalized. To begin with, elementary registration of civilian weapons is required. But if earlier historical trunks were strictly fixed, now they can be collected in any quantity. Prior to the adoption of this law, it was possible to have no more than ten historical trunks in private hands. If more, they should have been reformatted.

But there are, of course, limitations. This weapon must be identified in the museum fund.

That is, collectible weapons should be recognized as a historical exhibit. After such an examination, it is no longer important where and with whom, for example, a flintlock musket is stored. It is important that this is a historical relic. You don't need to license it anymore.

The law contains an important prohibition. It is strictly forbidden to shoot from historical weapons. Basically. Even if someone rented this beautiful gun.

How does it usually happen? The Club of Historical Re-enactors arranges an ostentatious battle, say, on the Borodino field. The case is very spectacular, important and useful. But if earlier it was possible to shoot from truly historical, that is, museum weapons, in such representations, now it is not. Show off, show off with him - you can. And stuffing with gunpowder and knocking out a spark - alas. Copy such a fuzea (which is very expensive) and shoot. Now such specimens are a state value and they will be protected. And reenactors, apparently, will have to make their own working copies of ancient weapons.

By the way, in some remote Siberian and Far Eastern villages, old-timers still use the so-called Siberian or suzgunki. There is a village in Siberia - Suzgun, where these weapons were made. The same settlement of truly craftsmen is in Dagestan - Kubachi. Many people know this village as a place for making silver items - jewelry, dishes. But the main thing is that for almost a thousand years the best edged weapons in Eurasia have been made here. Moreover, the "chip" is not only in the silver notch on the blade. Caucasian craftsmen knew how and still know how to make blades that have no equal in the world. And they are very expensive.

Shooting from historical weapons is not allowed. Even on costumed historical reenactments

And in Suzgun they made high-quality firearms. These are muzzle-loading primer shotguns. They began to be made in Russia when the tsar allowed their commercial production.

The loading scheme of such weapons was very liked by the locals. If necessary, you just need to bite off a piece of lead by eye (many bit off with their teeth, health allowed) - on a bird or a larger animal, again, if necessary, pour out gunpowder and insert a primer. All. It was necessary to wield manually, gunpowder was poured into the barrel, wads were hammered with a ramrod. In general, like Chingachgook. The main thing is skill and eye. Other local hunters still shoot from such guns. Some Siberian hunters believe that it is cheap and convenient - no cartridge cases are needed. Lead and gunpowder are spent solely on demand, no more, no less. But now such "economical" shooting is illegal. It is impossible to register such a fusee, because there is no number on the barrel, no identification marks at all. Moreover - the data in the police bulletproof library. Therefore, the new law requires that such a trunk be designated as a museum piece.

The law will designate these weapons as some kind of historical value. And - in direct, that is, in monetary terms. And, really, maybe it makes sense to sell an old flintlock gun and buy a modern smoothbore?

From these rifles of the times of the Great Patriotic War, you can open a blank fire if they are replicas. Photo: Alexander Demyanchuk / TASS

The meaning of the new law is in something else - in the legalization of weapons collections. There are many of them, including in Russia. And they cost fabulous money. It can be argued that there is the most valuable thing in the caches of this or that magnate - a jewelry collection, a collection of paintings, say, Flemish painting, or an old, but still military arsenal. It is known that other oligarchs consider it an honor to have a serious collection of trunks, blades and knightly armor.

Here is an example. Who remembers what the future Prime Minister of Great Britain, Lieutenant Churchill, shot at the beginning of the century? Recall that the young Winston, participating in the African imperial wars, fired from the famous revolutionary Mauser pistol-carbine. This is a weapon with a large wooden holster. True, then this gun was not yet revolutionary. The famous German pistol was created by the Federle brothers, the eldest of whom, Fidel, was in charge of the experimental workshop of the Mauser plant. The owner of the plant, Paul Mauser, joined the work on the pistol at the stage of design improvement. A pistol was patented for him.

Mauser easily turned into a light cavalry carbine, for which they used a wooden holster as a butt. A powerful cartridge with a caliber of 7.63 mm made it possible to pierce through a beam 15 centimeters thick from 25 meters. He was loved by both the Reds and the Whites, used by the Basmachis and partisans. Before the war in Africa, this "toy" was presented to Churchill by Mother Duchess of Marlborough - this not poor lady could afford such a gift to her beloved son. Then he cost her 5 thousand German marks. At that time, an Opel car cost 3.5 thousand marks. According to legend, in the fall of 1898, during the Sudanese campaign, the patrol of the 21st Hussars, led by 25-year-old Churchill, was ambushed and surrounded by a superior enemy. Churchill and his fighters were very lucky - a dashing young officer managed to shoot right from the saddle. What can I say, a good weapon and excellent dexterity. Subsequently, Churchill began to collect Mausers. A question that worries many historians: where exactly this gun is now - no one knows. Can you imagine how many Moscow apartments can be bought for such a "toy"?

It is known that the guards of Mao Zedong were the so-called Mauserists. Yes, and Ivan Papanin took the "Mauser" for the polar winter.

In Germany, production of the Mauser C-96 ceased in 1937, and in China in the 1980s.

Arms collections often make up a significant part of the inheritance and even the family fortune. And surprisingly, our legislation has not yet allowed the legalization of weapons collections. The musket of the 18th century was thought to still be a battle barrel. Perhaps it is. But it is unlikely that anyone with a musket will take to the battlefield today. But it will be interesting for many to look at such a product. And to whom the funds will allow - to buy, hang on the wall and show to friends. In Russia it was allowed.

According to experts from the special services and law enforcement, the cost of Russian weapons collections can be estimated at tens of billions of rubles. For example, the weapons collection of the famous MUR, which was compiled by the heroic employees of the criminal investigation department, is fabulous. By the way, the operatives collected these barrels, taking them from the bandits, at their own peril and risk. They beautifully and lovingly designed a real museum in the capital's police headquarters. Where access is only for its experts. Let's say you need to compare the caliber, powder deposits, bullet deformation. But done and decorated so beautifully that any museum would envy. Again, let's recall the cost of the exhibits - there are confiscated flintlock pistols, capsule revolvers and even homemade machine guns from the 70s. And everything can "work" so far. This is the meaning of the "Murovsky" museum - any exhibit is active, it can be used as a model, that is, shoot, see the range of the shot, penetration.

Competently

Leonid Vedenov, Head of the Main Directorate of State Control and Licensing and Permit Work of the Russian Guard, Police Lieutenant General:

Amendments to the gun laws were waiting for many collectors. Now it will be much easier to collect and exhibit weapons. New law states that "ancient (antique) weapons, copies of ancient (antique) weapons, replicas of ancient (antique) weapons and edged weapons of cultural value have the right to acquire legal entities and individuals who have a license to collect weapons." The federal law introduced an exception for certain types and types of weapons, the circulation of which is prohibited on the territory of Russia, if such weapons are of cultural value. Acquisition, display and collection of such weapons and cartridges for them on the territory of Russia are not subject to licensing in case of acquisition, display and collection of weapons by state and municipal museums.

Yes, you can collect weapons, but not all. On the territory of Russia, a ban on the acquisition for the purpose of collecting "sporting and firearms short-barreled weapons with a rifled barrel and cartridges for them" has been defined. In general, do not expect the legalization of combat pistols.

Help "RG"

The following are registered with the Russian Guard:

• 4.2 million gun owners with 6.7 million guns
• 23.3 thousand private security organizations, of which 5.8 thousand private security organizations using 51 thousand service weapons
• 686.1 thousand private security guards
• On the territory of the Russian Federation, the circulation of flails, brass knuckles, shurikens, boomerangs and other items of shock-crushing and throwing action specially adapted for use as weapons is prohibited - Article 6 of the Law "On Weapons".
• On the territory of the Russian Federation, it is prohibited to circulate as civilian and service weapons cold bladed weapons and knives, the blades and blades of which, with a blade and blade length of more than 90 mm: either automatically removed from the handle when a button or lever is pressed and fixed by them, or advanced by force gravity or accelerated movement and are automatically fixed.