Ceremonial sword of a Masonic lodge "Peter Zu Warheit»

The Knight's sword in a shape of a cross is an attribute of ritual of initiation into Masons and subsequent promotion to higher degrees within the Masonic hierarchy. "A naked sword in hands of the Brothers is a punishing law to penalize evildoers and traitors, but it is also to protect the innocent."
On the crosshair of handle are secret numbers "58/22/10" (an encrypted date of Foundation) with a rectangle box; on the reverse with German abbreviation of its name"P.Z.W" ("Peter Zu Warheit").
The Lodge "Peter Zu Warheit" was formed in St.Petersburg on May 22, 1810. Its members were chief officers of the Russian army, middle rank officials, lawyers, pastors, physicians and merchants, of almost exclusively German origin. Its membership included prominent persons: the master of the yard of HIM I.A.Gagarin, Senator P.I.Golenishchev-Kutuzov.
Meetings of Masonic lodges were designed in a form of intriguing theatrical ceremonies, borrowed from medieval craft shops and from the knights' Orders. Thus, each lodge was supposed to have a double-edged sword, which was used in the ritual of initiation of new members. Leon N.Tolstoy vividly described adoption of Pierre Bezukhov into lodge members and similar ritual blades were charged at Pierre’s naked chest.
Masonic swords and spades were preserved in large collections of Masonic paraphernalia; among them was the Moscow Rumyantsev Museum. After conversion of the repository of Russian antiquity into the Lenin's library Masonic collection was completely transferred to the Historical Museum.