Russian dirk, the hilt of the dirk consists of a cross-guard with inversed quillons and disc-shaped finials. In the centre of the obverse face of the grip is a gilt and red enamel badge, which represents the badge of the Order of Saint Anne; the Imperial crown surmounts the badge. Both the obverse and reverse faces of the guard are engraved in Cyrillic script with the words 'For Gallantry'. The polished white ivory grip is of rectangular section, and has a plain, gilt brass ferrule at the top and a decorated pommel cap. The obverse face of the pommel is decorated in low relief with the cypher of Tsar Nicholas II and a band of laurel. The dirk has a very prominent tang button.

The steel blade is straight, of flattened diamond section running from the rectangular-sectioned shoulder. The point is probably a little shorter than when the dirk was new and shows signs of inexpert grinding. The obverse of the blade is engraved at the shoulder in Cyrillic script with the name 'ZLATOUST', which is the name of the town in which the dirk was manufactured. Like many such weapons, the dirk was made in Zlatoust in one of the armament factories set up by the Imperial Government, to the east of the Urals. Engraved on the blade some 75mm from the guard is the Imperial Russian eagle over a coat of arms, which bears the shields of all the Russia's, surmounted by the Imperial crown. Below this there is a small patch of engraved decoration, which incorporates diamond hatching and foliage sprays.

On the reverse of the blade in a similar position to the eagle on the obverse is the cypher 'N. II' which is foliated, with a crown above and a small patch of engraved decoration, which incorporates diamond hatching and foliage sprays below. The black leather scabbard has two gilt lockets, each with a ring at the back edge, and a gilt chape with a square tip. The external shape of the mounts does not conform to the usual form but presumably a large amount of artistic licence was permitted.

The dirk is of considerable importance, the badge of the Order of Saint Anne with the Imperial crown above indicates a class of decorated weapons, where the owner of the dirk was permitted to mount his award for gallantry on the weapon.