"Reconstructing the uniforms of the regular army of the Bukhara Emirate 1920
This subject is little studied, the information is sketchy and incomplete, so many details are reconstructed by analogies to Russian uniforms, which served as models for the Emir's army. In addition were used informations on the army of Bukhara from earlier times. This work will require many more additions and refinements, so the author will be grateful for any information that can clarify and supplement the illustrations showing one of the most interesting armies of the period.
We know that by 1920 the armed forces of the Emirate consisted of a regular army and a militia. In different sources the number of these contingents vary, but in the regular army was more than 8.000 infantry and 7.500 cavalry. Further from 16 to 40 guns, of which about were 10 breech-loading, rifled mountain guns. In the fightings were also in use about sixty copper and iron muzzle-loading guns of obsolete models. In the militia, led and assembled by local lords, were up to 27.000 men, cavalry and infantry. A significant number of the militias were armed with outdated firearms, using both flints and matchlocks, hunting rifles or carried only edged weapons, but also among the militia were troops armed with quite modern small arms.
As model for the regular Bukharan served the Russian uniform with some local specialities. For headdresses were hats of different sorts, and the boots were of same type as used by the local Bukharans. The uniforms of the senior officers were decorated with different pomp and originality, often were as uniforms used expensive robes with sewn on rank ditinctions. It is impossible not to mention a feature which often caught the eye of contemporaries – in the Bukhara Army officers often wore both epaulettes and shoulder boards of not only different patterns, but also showing different ranks and in different colours and sizes. In some regiments the soldiers had yellow ciphers painted on their shoulder straps, but on same person could be shoulder straps with different ciphers. So to show the system of rank distinctions in the Bukharan army is not possible. In general military ranks followed those of the Russian army…"
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