Circassian Riding Crop With Hidden Dagger

This typically Circassian riding crop is in the tradition of the large family of Cossack and Caucasian Nagaïkas. But unlike the nagaikas, which have a very flexible part, here it is a flexible riding crop
The metal part is silver, the background part  of which is covered with a kind of enamel (niello) The decoration is made up of wire of twisted silver soldered on this background.
The handle separates into 2 parts, and hides a sharp dagger blade, the back of which is decorated in "guilloché".
Dagger blade length = 9 cm. Total length of the metal part of the handle = 18 cm
The body of the riding crop seems to be made of bamboo.
The interesting particularity is that this part of the object is covered not with textile, but with a braiding of very fine steel wires and brass wires. See the photo. (Small accidents of use). This technique is rare and must have been expensive.
The whip finally ends with a classic light leather loop.
This beautiful, very unusual object should appeal to lovers of objects related to horse riding, as well as lovers of objects linked to the history of these caucasian peoples.
Ref Y-2302