A FINE RUSSIAN SHASKA OF PRESENTATION QUALITY, ZLATOUST, LATE 19TH CENTURY with curved blade double-edged at the point, cut with a broad shallow fuller on each face, etched, blued and gilt on a frosted ground with scrollwork panels and the Imperial double eagle on one side and further scrollwork, the cyrillic letters VM and the Zlatoust Arms Manufactory inscription on the other, the back-edge decorated with a panel of etched blued and gilt scrollwork at the forte, gilt-brass hilt of characteristic form chased with scrolls on a punched ground, in its leather-covered wooden scabbard with gilt-brass mounts cast and chased en suite with the hilt, including two suspension bands with brass rings 79.5cm; 31 1/4in blade