Yakut knives: forging, sharpening, drawing

The knife, somewhat different from the usual one in our understanding, is asymmetrical, with notches on one side of the blade - such products have long been used by the inhabitants of Yakutia. Today Yakut knives are the visiting card of this region of Russia.

History of occurrence

The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is known in the world as the main supplier of diamonds. The musical instrument khomus is recognized even in the most remote corners of the earth. Another famous invention is the Yakut knives. Since ancient times, the people of the Turkic language group live on such a vast territory. The ancestors of modern inhabitants from Central Asia came. The Yakuts themselves call themselves "saha". Having mastered the harsh laws of living in the northern regions, this people not only adapted to them, but also learned to take advantage of them.

From the earliest times Sakha learned to extract and process iron ore. Forge skill was not inferior to the products of blacksmiths in developed European countries. Russian Cossacks back in the seventeenth century, beginning to interact with Yakut hunters, noted the quality of their tools and hunting. Blacksmiths of the Yakut know how to smelt iron, bypassing the stage of cast iron.

Archaeological work on the territory of the settlement of this ancient people allows us to prove the centuries-old history of the Yakut knives. In the studied cemeteries and parking lots scientists find patterns of knives that are very similar to Yakut knives. After millennia, they retained their dimensions, geometric parameters and appearance.

Varieties

The design of the knife has not changed over many centuries of its existence, but the ratio of the blade and handle can vary in each specific case. In various regions of Yakutia there are standards of manufacturing this product. A classic Yakut working knife is a 110-170 millimeter knife mounted on a wooden handle.

Among all the diversity, there are three main types. The first is distinguished by its small size. The length of the blade is from 80 to 110 mm. It is made for children and women. Used for various operations in the household. The second type is the traditional and most common knife. The length of the blade is no more than seventeen centimeters. It is used by hunters and fishermen. Without him, no man can do. The third kind is rarely made because it is large and looks like a combat weapon. The length of the blade is from eighteen to thirty centimeters. It is respected by "hotokhon".

The hunters sing out tundra and taiga knives. The difference between them is in the width of the blade. With a narrow blade tundra knife is more often used for drilling and river. A taiga knife with a wider blade is used for cutting up production and livestock or working with wood.

The main distinguishing feature

The most important difference is that the blade of the Yakut knife is asymmetric. The knife itself has a blunt and straight back with a sharp tip. Grind it with only one (left) side. If you look at the knife from the handle, then the side faces will be completely different. The left side is convex, completely smooth.

All knives with an asymmetric profile are sharpened from the working (right) side, but the sharpening of the Yakut knife is made only on the left. This approach has its own explanation: the wizard most often processes the tree. Having a left-handed knife, a person precisely regulates the depth of planing. The same feature gives the accuracy of the multifunctional plane.

Cutting frozen meat or fish is much easier, the knife goes like clockwork. To remove the skin from an animal, to make it with such a knife brings joy, because everything happens quickly and without delay. Another definite plus: you can sharpen such a knife even in the field. For this purpose, a stone or, for example, the edge of a metal bucket is suitable.

On this basis, the Yakuts distinguish knives for right-handed and left-handed people. For the right-hander, you need a standard knife, sharpened on the left side. For the left-hander it is necessary to make a special mirror knife.

The second feature

The right side of the blade is usually absolutely straight, in the center there is a longitudinal groove. The presence of a stake on one side of the blade is another feature of the Yakut. Masters make knives with a short and thin dolly or a wide blade full-length. The Yakuts call him yosom. The appearance of such a feature is explained in different ways. The first version of the appearance of such a detail is associated with the original material of making a knife from a cut along the bone. And the trough is nothing but a hole from the bone marrow.

Another option: Yakut knives were made of two components. The base is made of soft iron, the hard part is for the blade. This was done to save solid steel. The chute in this case was like a compensatory leash, which appeared in the process of hardening the two components of the blade.

The flat right side performs an important role. It approximates the section of the blade to a quadrangular shape. To work with wood or sew clothes from the skin it is necessary to exert force. The breakdown effect is enhanced by such a special form of the Yakut knife.

What is a trough for?

There are several reasons for the actuality of the stake. In addition to saving iron, there are practical indicators. In Yakutia, frosts below 30-40 degrees Celsius are not uncommon. A knife without a stake is hard to sharpen and reign. Blade with a thallier thinner, very sharp, well-kept point. It can be sharpened easily and quickly.

A wide chute when cutting the mascara allows the knife to touch the meat only on the back side. The gutter remains free, the hide from the animal is removed more easily by reducing the area of touch. The blood flows freely in the blade.

The presence of the gutter makes it easier to weight the product. Master, when forging the Yakut knife, tries to make it easy for him not to drown in the water. The fisherman, dropping a knife from his hands, is sure that he will not drown, or at least not immediately go to the bottom. A specific hilt helps to stay afloat.

Handle

The handle of the knife at first sight does not have anything special. They make it from a birch cap - this is a kind of build-up on the trunk of a tree. Saturate the finished handle with a special oil. The length of the handle is thirteen to fifteen centimeters. When the individual order is measured the width of the palm, the handle should be slightly wider, without any guards or stops. The shape of the handle resembles an egg, the narrow part of which is directed towards the blade. Taking such a knife in his hand, the hunter feels comfortable and reliable.

Sometimes the handle is made of birch bark. The fishermen have a special requirement for such products: the master must make the Yakut knife so that the handle can keep it afloat. Products with handles made of plastic or mammoth bone play the role of souvenirs. They are not used in everyday life.

Sheath for "Yakut"

A kind of sheath is needed for a Yakut knife. Initially, the bull's tail was used for this. He was turned out with a stocking inside out, inside he inserted a wooden insert. The dimensions of the liner should be larger than the knife itself. His job was not to hold the knife, but to protect him from breakage.

The knife is sheathed by two-thirds of the length of the handle. In this position, the sheath firmly held the product by the handle, and the blade remained free. Could build a sheath of birch bark or wood. For attachment to the body attached lace.

Traditional wearing

The Yakut knife is worn on the left side or in front. Free suspension does not interfere with human movements. The hunter quickly pulls out the knife with his right hand, while resting his thumb against the base of the scabbard.

The blade of the knife looks to the left, directed at removal from the scabbard per person. So it was always, it's a tradition.

Significance of the invention

Modern masters, while observing all the traditional requirements, make a Yakut knife, the drawing of which is passed on from generation to generation. The hope that the invention will not become obsolete, and the fire of love of the masters will be transmitted to the descendants, is very great. Modern specialists of cold weapons distinguish this knife with a universal and unique design.

The philosophical basis of the knife is to use it only for creativity and work. The master creates his product as an assistant, not for war or harm.

In Yakut families the child received a knife from the age of five. Mothers were not afraid that the boy would be hurt. The first blood and a small cut taught the baby to be careful, accurate, and therefore rational. The first knife was made specially for the children's hand.

A man should have several knives: for domestic purposes, for woodwork and for hunting. In ceremonial cases, they put on a smart knife, which emphasized the status of its owner. On ordinary days, he hung over the bed. None of the household had the right to touch him. Family heirloom was inherited by the eldest of the sons.

Historical phenomenon

The Yakut knife is an exceptional historical phenomenon. He is put on a par with the illustrious "Fink". A few decades ago, he was considered a cold-weapon and was forbidden. Today it is written about in the legislative acts of the Russian Federation. Since 1995, the "Regulations on the procedure for manufacturing, marketing, purchasing, carrying and transporting a Yakut knife on the territory of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)" have been adopted.

This knife is suitable for repelling an enemy attack, he is an indispensable friend in hunting and fishing. The Yakuts themselves often call it their third hand. They think it's better to lose a gun than to be left without a knife.