Yakut knife for hunting, photo. Yakut Knife Batyaya

Yakut knife is a separate type of cold steel, which for a long time is used by the indigenous inhabitants of Yakutia. It should be noted that this tool is one of the most famous cultural objects of this people among residents of other regions and countries.

Blade

The blade, which has a Yakut knife, is sharpened, and at the same time with one side of the blade and a practically straight shoe. The main feature of this blade is the presence of asymmetric sharpening, which was noted by the first scientists involved in the study of the life of the Yakuts. On the one hand, this blade is absolutely flat and has a dent, but at the same time the opposite side of the blade is arched. This design is used to ensure that during the work the Yakut knife does not "bury" heavily in the material, and it is for this reason that left-handed and right-handed people make different weapons.

How does it happen?

In the process of archaeological excavations in the territory of modern Yakutia (the Republic of Sakha) it was determined that the Yakut knife has the largest number of matches with what weapon was used in ancient times.

There are many regional varieties of this knife, but in the classical version it is a standard blade from 110 to 170 mm in length, which is attached to the handle of the birch cap.

Also worth noting is the fact that knives are made for different segments of the population:

• For children or women perform knives, the length of which is from 80 to 110 mm;
• The standard length of the blade, as mentioned above, from 110 to 170 mm;
• From 170 mm knives are considered large and, in principle, almost a combat weapon, as a result of which they are made extremely rarely.

Among other things, the blades differ in width:

• The tundra is distinguished by a fairly narrow blade;
• Alas (or taiga) is equipped with a wider blade.

In most cases, Yakut knives are used for hunting, as well as for cutting or drilling. At the same time in the taiga, it is used for cutting livestock and prey or in the process of conducting a variety of works on wood. Therefore, depending on how this tool will be used, it is also determined which version of the width of the blade is better to choose.

Traditionally, a working Yakut knife is distinguished by a blade that is made of a fairly soft steel. Its application is conditioned by a mass of practical considerations. Thus, if you need to sharpen Yakut knives for hunting in the field, soft steel allows you to do this even with the help of river pebbles or some other improvised material. Recently, knives with blades, which are made from specialized steel grades, have become very popular. It is worth noting that the Yakut knife (photo above) can be made even from Damascus steel.

The vast majority of researchers are asked a lot of questions about where the blade came from. There are a wide variety of versions, beginning from the fact that its use is required for the blood flow, and ending with the fact that its use is necessary to reduce the weight of the blade itself so that the knife does not sink in the water. The only thing that can be said reliably is the Yakut knife (photo above) the dol has exclusively on the right side of the blade.

Lever

In the classic version, the handle is made of birch cap, which is pre-soaked with a special oil. In the cross section, it resembles an egg that is pointed with a pointed end toward the blade, and is completely devoid of any hordes, stops and similar elements - a standard straight handle. The length is approximately 130-150 mm, which is somewhat larger than the average width of the male palm. This size is determined not only by the convenience of this tool, but also by the fact that the knife should not sink if it is immersed in water. In addition to using a birch cap, we also find use of birch bark pieces overlapping each other, and glue them between layers. After gluing, the workpiece is carefully dried under the press, and then the handle is already made of it.

Among other things, there are sheaths, the handle of which is made of plastic, mammoth bone and other materials, but most of them are souvenirs and do not have practical benefits for everyday life.

Sheath

Yakut Knife Batyaya has also a unique sheath. In the standard version they are made of a bull's tail, inside of which there is a wooden liner, loosely clasping the blade. The main function is not to keep the blade itself, but its protection against scrap, while the leather part of the scabbard is engaged in the retention. It is possible to make them from birch bark or a standard leather shoe, and extremely rare are a variety of wooden products.

The use of a bull or cow's tail during the production of scabbards is considered the most optimal option for hunters, since if the knife falls or it beats about some foreign objects, it will not make much noise. Among other things, often the scabbard is made from ordinary leather, which practically does not pass water in the case of proper treatment.

How it is worn and used

In the majority of cases, it is customary to wear a knife from the left side on a completely free suspension, that is, the blade should look to the left side. Sufficiently free suspension is needed in order not to interfere with the movement of the owner of this knife, and while it is worn on the left it is convenient enough to pull the weapon with your right hand: you just need to press your thumb into the base.

In Soviet times, if a person wore or made a Yakut knife with his own hands, he violated the current legislation, although such non-observance of the rules was very formal. To date, the production, carrying, storage and sale of such knives are regulated by a separate act of the government of Yakutia, according to which it is an integral part of culture, so that its use in everyday life is allowed in this region.

The Yakut real knife is actively used in everyday life of the indigenous people of Yakutia and it is used for fishing, hunting, cooking, and also performing a number of other procedures. Thus, this universal tool has become one of the most important cultural subjects of its people.

Masters

Considering Yakut knives handmade, do not forget about their most important features - these are real knives, which are actively used by native inhabitants of Yakutia in everyday life. It is practically impossible to find such families in the whole country that did not have at least one such knife, which indicates that it is actively produced in artisanal conditions in rural workshops or smithies. Almost every village has its own local master (or even several), which is engaged in the production of knives by individual technology. It is for this reason that the nature of these weapons can vary depending on what particular village it was manufactured in and what kind of craftsman was engaged in its production.

How are such knives made?

The fact that over the past few years the Yakut hunting knife has not changed its form, says not that it is a backward or primitive weapon; on the contrary, over the centuries it has been possible to determine the most successful and universal shape of this knife in such a way that all elements are perfectly Suitable for the conditions of this area. In this knife, absolutely everything is done to provide the maximum degree of functionality and convenience. In particular, for example, the Yakut knife, made according to classical technology, differs by a much more complex blade, in comparison with the famous Finnish knife.

A distinctive feature of modern Yakut knives is that there is a sample on the blade. First of all, in the old days, when blacksmiths had to extract iron independently, the raw materials were considered extremely expensive, and therefore they tried to protect it in every possible way, as a result of which the blade was stretched to the width and a dol- lar was formed. If the knife is used under extreme conditions (for example, at a temperature of less than -50 ° C), then the absence of a gutter does not allow it to be adjusted or sharpened, while a blade having a fairly wide dent differs in its sharpness, delicacy, and In this regard, the most quickly corrected and sharpened. In the process of cutting up the blade, the blade having a sufficiently wide trough will touch the meat exclusively with the back side, so that the groove in the blade of the knife will remain free, and the hide will be removed as simply as possible by a small touching area.

The main material for the manufacture of handles is the cap, which is a special growth that appears on the roots of the birch. It is distinguished by extremely strong and strong wood, and also has a beautiful pattern. In addition, wood birch itself, birch bark sets or various inserts from it are also used directly.

Special attention should be paid to the unique design of the scabbard. The knife is heated about 2/3 of the handle and is already held there by friction. The blade is completely free to hang in a separate wooden insert. Due to this, the owner can easily remove or insert a knife with a blade even after the blood has frozen on it or the fat during the winter cutting of the game.

Features of the knife

The standard form of this knife differs, at first glance, simple and extremely simple design, so that an ordinary person may think that it is absolutely inconvenient to use. However, in the hands of the master, this tool looks like a musical instrument in the process of work, and if you actually take such a knife in your hands, any doubts about the inconvenience are dispelled at the first moment.

The wood used to make the handle makes it possible to achieve very, very good grip with the palm, so that the knife does not slip. The cross-section of the handle is made in such a way that the knife is comfortable to hold in the hand, regardless of what works it is used for. Of course, there are a wide variety of variations, including Potapov's Yakut knives, but the standard is one of the most universal among all existing today. In addition, if we consider in principle different ethnic knives, it can be called the most practical and perfect, despite the fact that at first glance it is distinguished by its extreme simplicity.

Philosophy

According to his philosophy, Nikolai Potapov's Yakut knives, like any others, are products intended solely for the creation and performance of various works. The master in the process of making first of all makes an irreplaceable helper for man, and not some deadly weapon that will be used with aggressive intentions.

In this case, the very design of this knife initially predetermines this, and if, for example, to take even the format of fastening the scabbard to the belt, it is made in such a way that after getting the knife it turns out to be a blade to itself, and not to the outside. It should be noted that this feature is not any innovation and is envisaged in accordance with the centuries-old technology. Among other things, one can not help saying that even thoughts of aggression with this knife are contempt for the blacksmith who made it, while the masters themselves in the old days were revered as no less than shamans. Of course, today blacksmiths are not afraid, but the respectable attitude and respect for the representatives of this profession has survived to this day.

Knives for children

Yakutian knife Tatarinov, like a classic model, can be made for children. In the old days the child was already starting from about the age of five to begin teaching all kinds of crafts or simple wooden toys with the help of this tool. At an earlier age, his parents put him next to him, then proceeded to make wooden toys, and in the process, the child memorized the movements of his ancestor in order to repeat them in the future. When the father realized that his baby was ready to work with such a tool, he went to the blacksmith and made an order for a small knife, and then gave it to his son. It should be noted that mothers were not afraid of any injuries to the child, because the technology of this knife excludes the possibility of serious injuries, while minor cuts teach him careful, rational and accurate work.

Despite the fact that the classic Yakut knife is universal, each Yakut has three or four different knives used for different purposes. It should be noted that there is also the most beautiful knife with a variety of inserts, which is festive and passes into the family from generation to generation. This knife is constantly hanging over the bed of the owner of the house, and no one can touch it (especially children).

How they are used

If the knife is made for working with various wood products, it is not possible to use it normally for cutting meat and food. For the reindeer herders, a separate version of the knife is performed, in which there is a curved downward side of the blade, which allows to exclude damage to the stomach and intestines during extraction, as otherwise the meat can deteriorate.

Especially important is the aforementioned lightweight handle design for fishermen, as they often drop the knives into water, so that the tool must be floating or at least sink as slowly as possible.

Thus, Yakut knives can be called a very unusual and at the same time extremely practical tool that is manufactured and used to this day. Fishermen, hunters and amateurs of many other crafts actively use such knives even outside Yakutia, which already shows that it is extremely practical, unlike samurai swords and many other types of ethnic weapons that are no more than a tribute Traditions.