Russia, Soviet Union. A Soviet Army Officer’s Dirk

An extremely well-preserved Soviet Army officer’s dirk, measuring 340 mm in length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 215 mm-long nickel-plated magnetic metal blade with a sharpened tip and unsharpened edges. The obverse ricasso bears an etched maker’s mark of “ЗИК”, along with a manufacture date of “57” (1957). The reverse ricasso is stamped with a serial number of “П07631”. The blade is set securely into the upper crossguard, presenting with hooked quillons, with the seam covered by a blackened leather washer. The handle and ricasso retain a functional spring catch, unlocked with a stud on the handle, for secure attachment to the scabbard. The handle grip is composed of smooth light orange celluloid, and completes with a gilded bronze pommel with a raised five-pointed star. It is accompanied by its period original scabbard, constructed of a blackened boiled leather shaft with three gilded bronze adornments, each held in place by a single visible rivet. The obverse throat adornment bears a raised five-pointed star overlaid by a sickle and hammer, topped by sun rays and within a laurel wreath. The reverse has a finely-detailed raised depiction of the Spasskaya Tower. Both the throat and middle adornments also bear integral loops with suspension rings accommodating a hanger, similarly included. The hanger is composed of a lemon-yellow cotton twill belt, with the obverse bearing three bands of machine-embroidered multi-coloured bands. One end of the belt features a magnetic metal clip meeting an analogous clasp at the opposite end. The belt has two integral bronze loops connecting to dual short straps with functional spring clips. Each strap completes with a functional spring clip meeting the analogous suspension loops on the scabbard. The belt finishes with an adjustable buckle bearing a raised five-pointed star overlaid by a sickle and hammer, within a laurel wreath. The reverse of the belt bears an illegible stamped maker’s mark. It measures 1060 mm in length. Minor, age-appropriate oxidation and material fatigue is evident to the dirk and hanger, respectively. It is in an overall near extremely fine condition.