Yakut knife: history, features, tips for use. Yakut knife without forging with simple tools (from mechanical saw) Homemade Yakut knife

A real Yakut blade, in fact it has quite ancient history, this is confirmed by archaeological excavations. And, today, comparing knives of modern versions and those pulled out of the ground, there is practically no difference.

The finished product amazes with its elegance.

So we can safely say that today’s topic will concern the reproduction of an ancient Yakut knife with your own hands. It may be said loudly, but manual labor can also be associated with ancient methods of work. Interesting fact that in the past the Yakuts somehow in an interesting way bypassed the cast iron processing stage. And the products were forged directly from a steel alloy.

According to contemporaries, the quality of today's knives is in no way inferior to European manufacturers. And most importantly, the Yakuts do not lose the ancient methods of forging and making their products, but pass them on to their children.

Features of the Yakut knife

An important feature of the Yakut knife, which distinguishes it from other products, is its asymmetry. On one side there is a groove, quite large in size, which runs along the entire blade. And the opposite side has a convex shape. There are several explanations for such interesting forms:

in the old days, blacksmiths tried to save metal in this way, gradually drawing out the blade;
Since the Yakuts live in extreme conditions, at -50 °C, -60 °C, it is almost impossible to sharpen a solid product. And with such a fuller, the blade became thinner and more pliable;
when skinning a carcass, especially when skinning, the recess in the blade prevented it from “sticking.” And due to the small contact area and air space, the work became much easier;
the sheath was made from oxtail, removed like a stocking. And wooden inserts were made inside so that the knife would not break. They were also made from birch bark or sewn together with animal skin.

Clearly visible gutter.

Another important point, the blade is sharpened on one side. But the handle was and is still being made from birch rhizomes.

It is quite reliable and has good grip on the shank.

Varieties of the Yakut knife "Sakha"

In different regions of Yakutia there are different variations in knife making. But in general terms, it is a product with a length of 11 to 17 cm and a wooden handle, all made of the same birch. They call him simply and briefly - “Sakha”. There are twelve varieties. Their names will be presented in purely Yakut language “Sakha Rear”, in brackets there is a literal translation and a small transcript:

“Oluy bygychcha” (small blunt knife) - a blade for applying patterns on wooden products, its length is 3-5 cm.
“Otohut bygychcha” (very small) is a tool of a doctor, a healer, with a very thin and sharp end of the blade, the length of the blade is 3-7 cm.
“Uol oko kychchahar bygychcha” (knife for a boy) - a knife for a boy, length 7-11 cm.
“Die bygychcha” (house knife) is a home helper with a length of 9-14 cm.
“Tabakhyt bysaka” (for a reindeer herder) - for cutting a deer carcass, the edge of the knife is very thin and beak-shaped, the blade is thin, “delicate”, its length is 9-12 cm.
“Kyra bult bykhaga” (small for hunting) - a small hunter’s knife, length 9-14 cm, soft hardening.
“Balyksyt bykhaga” (fishing tool) is an equipment for a fisherman; it is quite wide, the butt is thin, the tip is slightly bent upward. The handle is made of birch bark.
“Bult bykhaga” (for hunting) is a hunting wedge, its length is 15-18 cm.
“Mas үүһүн byһychcha” (wood knife) - designed for woodworking, its length is 12 cm. Designed for cutting shaped parts of furniture and other wooden products.
“Mas үүһүн byһаҕа” (large knife for wood) is a blade for working with wood, but larger in size than the previous one. Provides processing of large parts with a wide, thin blade. Strongly hardened.
“Badaai” (large heavy knife) is a large wedge, its length is up to 25 cm.
“Bolot byhakh” (knife-sword) - even larger and heavier, blade length up to 30 cm.

Varieties.
Small handmade blades.

Small knife.

Medium blade.

Original blade.

In the Republic of Sakha, since 1995, by government decision, the Yakut knife has been recognized as a cultural part of the people inhabiting it. And thanks to this decision, the blade can be worn without any permission. And use it for Everyday life and on the farm.

The manufacture of products is also not punishable by law, and many craftsmen are engaged in forging knives. As a rule, they are very similar to their ancestors, the only thing that distinguishes them is steel. Previously, it was used softer, so that it could be sharpened in any conditions, but now they use anything for this purpose.

Springs, springs, bearings, files, parts from any equipment, etc. The only difference is this, but otherwise the process has not changed.

Blade size drawing.

To start manufacturing, make a drawing for yourself, and always refer to it while working. Small errors are acceptable. But it’s better to calculate everything in advance.

To make it, you can take any item from the above, but to avoid problems, choose a more rectangular shape. It will be easier to work with a file, let's try step by step instructions, making a knife at home:

Cut a piece of the required size from the file and weld a rod to it for easy heating in the forge.
Carry out the first heating slowly, when the color reaches incandescence (bright red), the temperature will be about 750 °C. It’s better to check with a magnet; professionals distinguish by color. If the workpiece is not magnetic, it's time to start forging it.
It is better to use two types of sledgehammers: a heavy one, 4 kilograms, and a lighter one, 1.5 kilograms. We forge with a heavy hammer, if the workpiece cools down, put it back into the forge, watch its color, otherwise you can simply break it. You need to forge along the entire length to a thickness of 2-3 mm.
Don't forget about the shank and the radius of the leading edge. You can immediately forge the slopes to make working on sandpaper easier.
Forge a large fuller with the sharp side of a smaller hammer. We align the wedge and carry out normalization in oil. Don't forget a vacation for a couple of hours.
We remove all irregularities with sandpaper and bring the shape to its normal form. We correct the slopes if necessary, and grinding and polishing - be patient.

File. Warm up and cook.
Don't forget to reheat.

We continue to forge.

If it does not change the geometry, then everything is done correctly, and you can continue with other stages.

Lever

Everything can be done simply with the handle; anyway, we won’t be able to make a real Yakut blade, it will be a replica, and nothing else. Therefore, we select an unnecessary small block of wood and go ahead:

First of all, we drill a hole for the shank, insert the blade and select “caps” for a tighter fastening. At this stage, it is better to wrap the wedge with masking tape.
We mix epoxy with sawdust, pour everything into the hole, insert the shank and drive in the prepared wood chips along the edges. We make sure that everything fits securely and leave it to dry for 24 hours.
The next step is to draw the center lines and begin to plan the future handle from all sides. And in all available ways.
Having reached a round shape and normal diameter, we grind the handle, soak it in oils, and then dip it in boiling wax for 30 minutes. This is at the request of the owner of the blade.

Let's drill.

Epoxy.

Marking.

Planing.

The work must be carried out carefully, one wrong move and the handle is damaged. You will have to clean the shank from the epoxy resin, which will already be like stone, and do all the work all over again.

Sheath

The easiest way is to make wooden ones; for this, two wooden blanks are taken, the width of which is larger than the resulting knife itself. Then, placing a blade 2/3 long on them, mark the grooves with a pencil. And we select them using a chisel and carefully sand them with sandpaper.

The next step is to carefully remove the excess from the outer sides with a plane. Then we check the fit of the knife in the sheath; if everything is good, we glue both halves with epoxy resin and sand the outside.

We apply the blade. Quite an original scabbard made of wood. You can also sew separate sheaths from leather, the process is much more complicated, but aesthetically more pleasing to the eye. There is an article on our website: how to make a sheath at home from leather. We really hope that it will help you. Yakut knife

represents

traditional look

Archaeological excavations provide an indication of the centuries-old history of edged weapons in Yakutia. Moreover, modern products differ little in size and geometry from ancient samples.

Iron ore has been mined in Yakutia since ancient times. Steel was smelted without going through the cast iron stage. The resulting metal was processed by local blacksmiths. Yakut craftsmen learned to make hunting knives with their own hands. Moreover, the knives they made were in no way inferior in quality to the work of blacksmiths in European countries.

Design

Structurally, the Yakut knife has remained virtually unchanged over the centuries of its existence. However, the dimensions of the blade and handle often differ - depending on the will of the master and regional preferences. In different regions of Yakutia they use their own ratio of blade and handle lengths.

Blade

The peculiarity of the blade is its asymmetrical shape. The butt is always straight and even, and the blade is very sharp. The blade is sharpened only on the left side. If you look at it from the side of the handle, the side edges appear completely different: the left one is convex, the right one is flat.

The right side of the blade is completely flat. Thanks to this, the cross-section of the blade approaches the shape of a quadrangle.

On the right side of the blade there is a dol (yos), which can be of different shapes - depending on the model. Some gunsmiths make a notch over almost the entire area of the blade, leaving only a small border next to the butt. Other craftsmen make a small groove, shifted towards the handle. On the side of the handle, the fuller is wider, tapering closer to the tip.

The need for Yos arose for several reasons:

The appearance of the fuller is due to the appearance of a compensatory leash upon contact different types metals The fact is that the steel for Yakut knives is selected both hard and soft.
The presence of a fuller facilitates the process of sharpening and straightening the blade at low temperatures.
Yos functions as a channel for draining the blood of prey.
The presence of a groove makes the design easier.

The blade of a real knife from Yakutia has an unsharpened, flat side, which enhances the penetrating effect of the weapon. Thanks to this design feature, the piercing power of the weapon increases, and it becomes possible to work with thick skins.

There is an extensive classification of Yakut knives by size. Of the variety of edged weapons, three large groups can be distinguished:

Small. The length of the blade is 8–11 cm. It is used not only for hunting, but also for domestic purposes.
Average. Blade length 11–17 cm. This type of hunting weapon is the most common.
Long. The length of the blade varies between 17 and 30 cm. It is the least common. Reviews from hunters indicate that this class of knives is a powerful military weapon.

There are also knives with even larger blades. However, they are more likely to be classified as axes and spears. An example is batas from batiyya. The length of their blades reaches 40–60 cm.

The width of the blade is important. Narrow blades belong to the tundra class. With their help it is convenient to cut or make holes in any material. Wider blades belong to the taiga class. Such blades are used for butchering carcasses and processing wood.

Lever

The classic Yakut working knife is mounted on a handmade wooden handle. The handle is made from birch burl. This material is a stem growth and is particularly durable. It is also possible to use birch bark. The finished handle is impregnated with special oil, due to which it acquires moisture-resistant characteristics.

The handle has an ovoid shape. This design makes it possible to avoid turning the knife in your hand during operation.

The narrow part of the handle is directed towards the blade. Stops are not used. The handle is long enough, which allows you to comfortably work with a knife while wearing mittens. In addition, the longer the handle, the higher the cutting ability of the knife.

The installation of the blade into the handle is of particular interest. First, make a wide hole in the center of the handle. Next, the sharp shank is inserted into the handle. After this, wedges-chops made of soft wood are mounted on the sides. As a result, the blade is secured in the knife handle.

Sheath

For a Yakut knife, the most simple and functional sheath is used. They are made from the tail of an ox. The skin from the tail is removed with a stocking, after which it is put on a wooden blank. As a result, the skin takes on the desired shape.

Also, birch bark or wood is used as a material for making sheaths.

The knife is recessed into the sheath by two-thirds of the handle. The blade hangs freely in a wooden sheath case.

Carrying a knife

The Yakut knife is placed on the left side of the body (for right-handers) or in front. The hunter must be able to quickly draw the weapon from its sheath with his right hand. In this case, the thumb rests on the base of the sheath. The blade is positioned with the sharp side to the left.

The sheath is equipped with a leather belt or cord. With their help, the weapon is fixed on the belt.

Sharpening

The Yakut knife is sharpened from the fuller side, that is, to the right of the right-hander and to the left of the left-hander. The block is applied to the cutting edge at an angle of 5–7 degrees and the blade is sharpened in an upward direction. Sharpening is carried out until a thin shiny line is formed on the cutting edge, which represents the sharpest part of the blade.

When sharpening Yakut knives, stones of different grain sizes are used. Rough sharpening is done with a coarse-grained stone, and final sharpening is done with a stone with fine grains.

The Yakut knife is a national treasure of the Sakha people along with mammoths, diamonds and khomuses. The traditional Yakut knife bykhakh, the design of which has remained virtually unchanged over the centuries, is widely used to this day in all areas economic activity people. In everything it is focused on the convenience of long and painstaking work and is simply designed to separate meat from bones, plane frozen fish, and repair broken sleds.

Blacksmiths Alexander Danilov and Alexander Protopopov agreed to show and tell how this legendary item is made.

I met the masters at the exhibition of achievements professional excellence Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) "Profi Expo-2015" in Yakutsk

Within a few hours we had already begun the manufacturing process.

Alexander Danilov has been interested in knives since childhood. At first I started carving wood, then I became interested in jewelry, which later turned into work. I started trying to make knives just like that, for myself. I bought blades for planes and shaped them into a knife. Then he began to forge.

Alexander has been making Yakut knives for twenty years, eight of which he devoted to reviving traditional cheese ore smelting.

Blacksmith Alexander Danilov demonstrates a kritsa made in the traditional way from iron ore from which Yakut knives are made in his workshop.

Since ancient times, the Yakuts had developed the mining and processing of iron ore, as well as the art of blacksmithing. Moreover, according to the testimony of Russian Cossacks, who came into conflict with the Yakuts in the 17th century, the quality of the iron obtained from ore by Yakut blacksmiths was not inferior to the best foreign samples.

To make a Yakut knife, blacksmiths use alloyed tool steel of various grades.

Exclusive knives are made from ore.

Even in ancient times, people collected valuable ore from rivers and made weapons from it.

Preparing such ore takes a very long time. It needs to be burned, enriched, crushed, and then the metal must be smelted. From 20 kg. ore usually yields 10-11 of the required metal.

Coal also needs to be prepared independently. This costs blacksmiths much less.

Typically, it takes 2-3 days to make one knife.

Knives can be gift or work. They are mainly used by workers - they are used in the kitchen, hunting, fishing and at home. Gift cards are made to order, usually decorated with engravings and other decorative elements. A gift set in the form of a custom-made knife with engraving and a lighter decorated with the same image looks very stylish.

Alexander continues to level the blade. The first feature is the asymmetry of the blade profile. It is sharpened only on the left side (if you hold the handle towards you), which is different from other knives with an asymmetrical profile, which, as a rule, are sharpened from the side of the working hand, i.e. on the right side of the blade. The sharpened side of the blade of a Yakut knife is slightly convex.

There is an explanation for these features. For Yakut main material for processing - this is wood. The convexity on the blade makes it easier to remove chips, giving the necessary force, the master accurately and easily adjusts the depth of planing. In this case, the knife turns into something like a high-precision multifunctional plane. In addition, it simplifies cutting meat or fish (including frozen fish), as well as cutting up animal carcasses, removing skins from animals and dressing them. At the same time, the process of sharpening the tool is significantly simplified.

He grinds and sharpens workpieces.

On this machine, the workpiece already takes the shape of a traditional knife. The Yakut one is sharpened on one side, on the other the burr is only removed. It can be easily sharpened using available materials, such as river pebbles.

The right unsharpened side of the blade is equipped with a fuller, which the Yakuts call yos. This is another feature of the Yakut knife. According to one of the exotic versions, this detail has been present since the times when the knife was made entirely from bone sawn lengthwise, and the yos was nothing more than a channel from the bone marrow.

The flat, unsharpened side of the blade on the right side is called bykhah haptahaya. This edge plays a special role: it makes the cross-section of the blade close to a quadrangular shape. This enhances the piercing action, for example for piercing thick leather (for example, when sewing clothes) or drilling shallow holes.

Hardening of blanks

Alexander Protopopov worked as an excavator operator for 30 years, retired at 45 and since then began making knives. At first it was a hobby, then a job.
“I still have a teacher - Semyon Vasilyevich Vinokurov. I show him my work. It seems to me that a person should study all his life,” the blacksmith shares.

Craftsmen also make knives from Damascus steel. This process is so complicated that it cannot be conveyed in a couple of sentences.

- "They cool in oil, and quench in a furnace. Oil can be heated to quench in it. Okay, carbon steel is quenched at 780-1000 degrees, the oil will ignite at this temperature. It is cooled in oil, it ensures rapid and uniform cooling, which is very important carbon steel so that it doesn’t crack when it cools sharply,” says the beegg technologist

The handle of a Yakut working knife is traditionally carved from a single piece of birch burl - a very strong wood with a rich texture. It is smooth, devoid of any stops and quite long. With a long handle, it is more convenient to work in the cold with gloves on, and the elongated lever increases the chopping ability of the knife. The cross-section of the handle resembles an egg. This shape was chosen so that during some work the knife does not rotate in the hand. The method of mounting the blade into the handle is interesting. First, a wide central hole is made and the pointed shank is driven into the handle. Then wedges made of soft wood are inserted on the sides of the blade. They are bursting, and they clamp the blade in the handle. In order to protect the wooden handle from moisture, it is impregnated with special oils.

The sheath of real Yakut knives is simple and functional. They are made from an oxtail, removed with a stocking, and a wooden insert inserted into it. The knife is recessed into the leather sheath 1/3 of the handle and is fixed there due to friction. The blade hangs freely in a wooden insert inside the scabbard.

This makes it possible to freely insert and remove a knife with a blade on which blood and fat freeze when cutting game in winter. By the way, the Yakut knife can be removed with one hand, resting the thumb on the mouth of the sheath. The sheath is worn on the belt, on a free suspension from a leather strap in a position from inclined to horizontal.

On the blade of Alexander Danilov’s knives there is a stamp with an image of an ancient drawing of an eagle.

Polishing the scabbard

Decorative elements on the master's table.

The scabbard is covered with leather

Leather is made in a neighboring ulus

Now the skin needs to be properly glued and stitched

While you can sharpen the knife itself

Scabbard firmware

The Yakut knife is gaining popularity among hunters, fishermen, tourists and collectors of edged weapons. Let's take a closer look at the Legend of Yakutia and the most FAQ, namely: what it looks like, how to sharpen a Yakut knife and features.

History of appearance

For the Yakuts, hunting is the main activity: this is how they obtained food and warm animal skins. Every hunter is sensitive to weapons. A knife is an irreplaceable, mandatory attribute. The first appeared in boys at the age of 5 years. The father gave it to his son.

At the same time, parents were not afraid for their children. It was believed that the child would cut himself a couple of times, but in the end he would learn to be careful. The gift was carefully kept, used to solve everyday problems, and in adulthood, small knives were replaced by real adult weapons.

The instrument has a centuries-old history, confirmed by archaeological research. At the same time, finds from ancient times do not differ much from modern items in size and shape. This speaks of durability and functionality.

The peoples of Yakutia independently learned the process of making edged weapons. These lands are rich in iron ore, which they managed to extract. Craftsmen smelted steel, bypassing the cast iron stage. The material obtained as a result of simple actions was processed in blacksmith shops. The result was blades whose quality was no worse than European ones.

Note! Back in the 17th century, Russian Cossacks began to interact with Yakut craftsmen and adopted the experience of making Yakut knives and other types of weapons.

Design

Over the centuries-old history, the real Yakut knife has not undergone significant changes. The main difference that may catch your eye is the size of the handle and blade, which are often determined by the preferences of the blacksmiths and the region of residence.

Blade

The first thing a person pays attention to when picking it up is the asymmetrical blade. Traditionally, the left side is convex and the right side is flat. There is a recess in the middle, which is called yos. Its shape and size are different. It can occupy almost the entire surface from the handle to the end, and some craftsmen prefer to make a small groove shifted closer to the handle.

The presence of jos is explained by several factors:

compensation of the properties of hard and soft metals, reducing the risk of deformation during forging and hardening;
facilitating the process of sharpening and straightening at low temperatures;
blood flow to facilitate cutting of animal carcasses;
lightweight design;
some scientists suggest a version about saving metal.

The unsharpened flat side is a feature of the Yakutia knife, which increased the penetrating power several times. That is, the weapon easily entered the body of the caught victim, the sharp blade cut it, and the hunter could easily process even thick skins.

Small ones could be used not only for hunting, but also in everyday life. The length ranged from 8 to 11 cm.
The middle ones were used mainly for hunting. Their size is 11–18 cm.
Long ones reached 17–30 cm and were less common. It was a military weapon used in battles.

There is a division in width. Narrow blades are more common among tundra dwellers. They simplified the task of cutting holes in various materials. Thick - used in taiga conditions. Better suited for processing wood and animal carcasses.

Lever

The classic version is a handmade handle made of wood. More often, a burl is used for this - a durable stem growth. Birch bark is used as an alternative. The finished handle was thoroughly impregnated with oil to make it moisture resistant.

The ovoid shape prevented the knife from turning over in the hand when working. The narrow part is located closer to the blade. At the same time, the long handle makes it possible to use edged weapons with warm mittens and does not allow you to drown in water if you fall. There are no stops.

Wooden wedges are installed in the handle.

Installing the blade into the handle requires special attention. First of all, the master makes a wide hole in the central part of the handle. After this, the sharp shank is mounted into the handle.

Then wedges made of wood are installed on the sides. As a result, the blade is secured in the knife handle. To many, this method of fastening may seem unreliable. However, it was developed by the Yakuts to be able to quickly change the blade, because they were consumables due to the low quality of steel used. It follows from this that a real Yakut knife cannot be folding. This is a modern modification.

Marking.

Traditional sheaths should be as simple and functional as possible. They are made from the tail of a bull, which is removed with a stocking and then stretched onto a wooden blank. This is how the skin takes on the required shape. Birch bark or wood are also used.

The weapon is freely immersed to 2/3 of the handle, and the blade hangs. This allows you to immerse the knife with frozen blood and fat into the sheath without any obstacles.

Varieties of Yakut knife

The length and shape of the blade varies. It depends on the region of residence. Several types are known:

Bykhych- the shortest type, used in almost all types of activities. Nevertheless, it did not deserve popularity among men and was used by women and children in solving daily household problems. Blade length 8–11 cm.
Bychakh- the most common type with a blade length of 11–17 cm. Every respectful man was obliged to have such a knife in his belt. It was perfect for both hunting and solving everyday problems.
Hitohon- a combat option, but since the peoples of Yakutia practically did not fight, it can be seen quite rarely. Its length exceeded 17 cm.
Batuya- a hybrid of a spear and a sword, the length of which could sometimes even exceed 60 cm.

Sharpening

Any knife loses its relevance if it is not sharpened properly. The tools of Yakutia were distinguished not only by their form, but also by their method. Let's take a closer look at how to properly sharpen a Yakut knife.

Sharpening features

So, on a knife you can identify a convex side and a flat side with a joss. Many argue that sharpening is done from the convex side.

However, this opinion is wrong. If you adhere to traditions, then they sharpen from the side of the valley. For a right-handed person it is located on the right, and on the left for a left-handed person.

This fact is easily explained:

Convenience, user comfort. The side to be sharpened is located on the handy side.
Product service life. If you sharpen from the lens side, sooner or later you will reach a notch in the blade and then the knife will be impossible to use for its intended purpose.

note! First, coarse-grained whetstones are used for rough sharpening, and fine-grained ones are suitable for final work.

Sharpening angle

You can even sharpen the blade with a pebble, which is convenient in camping conditions. In order not to damage the weapon and improve combat qualities, you should adhere to a certain angle of inclination.

The block is applied to the edge at a sharpening angle of no more than 5–7 degrees and moved upward from the handle. The steps are repeated until a thin shiny line appears on the edge - this is a sharp cutting part.

It is not advisable to use mechanical sharpeners, since in the absence of experience, the edge of the blade can become very hot, which will lead to a loss of strength of the material.

Carrying a knife

The sheath is hung on the belt on the left or in front. The weapon is pulled out by resting the thumb on the base of the sheath. The sharpened side is located to the left. For left-handed people, knives are designed individually and are worn on the right side.

These rules were strictly observed by the hunters, because following them, they could freely get their weapons and take a fighting position.

The suspension itself is free. It should not hinder the owner's movements.

Yakut knives can be used to solve many household tasks, cleaning fish and hunting. But improper storage of it will significantly affect its service life and operation. By following simple rules, you can extend it:

This bladed weapon must be stored in a dry room, away from moisture and heat sources. It is best to organize an individual box or casket.
It is better to entrust the restoration of the blade to a professional craftsman.
To keep it for a long time appearance wooden handle, it is recommended to regularly lubricate it with linseed oil.
To treat sheaths made of bull leather, it is recommended to regularly treat them with colorless shoe polish. For sheaths made of wood, oil is suitable.
After cutting meat, it is recommended to treat the blade with alcohol without touching the handle.

Historical and cultural significance

Many years of archaeological excavations and the wild interest of scientists in the history of origin cannot be underestimated.

The fact that despite improved technologies, the shape of the blade, the method of making the handle and sheath, and the wearing rules are preserved to this day is in itself unique. This speaks of it as a functional invention that has passed through the years into our modern society. Without exaggeration, this is one of the most important factors for the survival of the peoples of Yakutia in the harshest climate.

In addition to its performance characteristics, it is distinguished by its rich historical past, because the prototype of the steel product was knives made from bones, where yos is an area filled with bone marrow. The Yakut knife will probably be found in the collection of edged weapons.

note! This is one of the symbols of the republic along with Jew's harp, venison And diamonds.

Knowing the features, you can not only add to your collection, but also gain faithful assistant on hunting and fishing. In addition, a handmade Yakut knife made of Damascus steel will be a wonderful gift for a man for the holiday.

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 are business card this region of Russia.

History of origin

The republic is known in the world as the main supplier of diamonds. The musical instrument khomus is recognizable even in the most remote corners of the earth. Another famous invention is Yakut knives. Since ancient times, people of the Turkic language group have lived on such a vast territory. The ancestors of modern inhabitants came from Central Asia. The Yakuts call themselves “Sakha”. Having mastered the harsh laws of living in the northern regions, these people not only adapted to them, but also learned to benefit from them.

Since ancient times, the Sakhas have learned to mine and process iron ore. Blacksmithing skills were not inferior to the products of blacksmiths in developed European countries. Russian Cossacks back in the seventeenth century, having begun to interact with Yakut hunters, noted the quality of their tools and hunting. Yakut blacksmiths knew how to smelt iron, bypassing the cast iron stage.

Archaeological work on the territory of settlement of this ancient people makes it possible to prove the centuries-old history of Yakut knives. In the studied burial grounds and sites, scientists find samples of knives that are very similar to Yakut knives. Over the millennia, they have retained their size, geometric parameters and appearance.

Varieties

The design of the knife has not changed over the many centuries of its existence, but the ratio of the blade to the handle may vary in each specific case. Different regions of Yakutia have their own standards for manufacturing this product. The classic Yakut working knife is a blade of 110-170 millimeters mounted on a wooden handle.

Among all the diversity, three main types can be distinguished. The first one is distinguished by its small size. The blade length ranges from 80 to 110 mm. It is made for children and women. Used for various operations in 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. No man can do without it. The third type is rarely made because it is large and looks like a military weapon. The length of the blade is from eighteen to thirty centimeters. They respectfully call him “hotokhon”.

The hunters themselves distinguish between tundra and taiga knives. The difference between them is the width of the blade. With a narrow blade, a tundra knife is often used for drilling and rivers. with a wider blade, they are used for cutting game and livestock or working with wood.

Main distinguishing feature

The most important difference is that the blade of the Yakut knife is asymmetrical. The knife itself has a blunt and straight back with a sharp end. They sharpen it only on one (left) side. If you look at the knife from the handle, the side edges will appear completely different. The left side is convex and completely smooth.

All knives with an asymmetrical profile are sharpened on the working (right) side, but the Yakut knife is sharpened only on the left. This approach has its own explanation: the master most often processes wood. Having a left-sharpened knife, a person can precisely regulate the depth of planing. The same feature gives the accuracy of a multifunctional plane.

Slicing frozen meat or fish is much easier, the knife goes like clockwork. Skinning an animal and dressing it with such a knife is a joy because everything happens quickly and without delay. Another undoubted advantage: you can sharpen such a knife even in the field. A stone or, for example, the edge of a metal bucket is suitable for this.

Based on this feature, the Yakuts distinguish between knives for right-handers and left-handers. For a right-hander, you need a standard knife sharpened on the left side. For a left-hander, you will have to make a special mirrored knife.

Second feature

The right side of the blade is usually absolutely straight, with a longitudinal groove in the center. The presence of a fuller on one side of the blade is another feature of the Yakut. Craftsmen make knives with a short and thin fuller or a wide one along the entire length of the blade. The Yakuts call it Yos. The appearance of this feature is explained in different ways. The first version of the origin of such a detail is associated with the original material for making the knife from bone cut lengthwise. And the groove is nothing more than a hole from the bone marrow.

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

Flat right side performs important role. It brings the cross-section of the blade closer to a quadrangular shape. Working with wood or sewing leather clothes requires force. The punching effect is enhanced by this special shape of the Yakut knife.

What is a gutter for?

There are several reasons for the relevance of the valley. In addition to saving iron, there are also practical indicators. In Yakutia, frosts below 30-40 degrees Celsius are not uncommon. A knife without a fuller is difficult to sharpen and edit. The fuller blade is thinner, very sharp, and holds an edge well. You can sharpen it quickly and easily.

When cutting a carcass, a wide groove allows the knife to come into contact with the meat only with the back side. The gutter remains free, the skin is removed from the animal more easily due to the reduction of the contact area. Blood flows freely through the recess in the blade.

The presence of a gutter allows you to lighten the weight of the product. When a craftsman is forging a Yakut knife, he tries to make it light so that it does not sink in water. The fisherman, having dropped the knife from his hands, is sure that he will not drown, or at least not immediately go to the bottom. A special handle helps you stay afloat.

Handle

At first glance, the knife handle does not have anything special. It is made from birch burl - this is a kind of growth on a tree trunk. Impregnate the finished pen with special oil. The length of the handle is thirteen to fifteen centimeters. When ordering individually, the width of the palm is measured; 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. Fishermen have a special requirement for such products: the craftsman must make a Yakut knife such 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.

Scabbard for "Yakut"

The Yakut knife needs a unique sheath. Initially, they used oxtail for this purpose. The stocking was turned inside out and a wooden insert was inserted inside. The dimensions of the insert had to be larger than the knife itself. His task was not to hold the knife, but to protect it from breakage.

The knife goes into the sheath 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. They could build a scabbard from birch bark or wood. A cord was attached to the body for attachment.

Traditional wearing

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

The blade of the knife faces to the left, directed at the person when removed from the sheath. It has always been this way, it is a tradition.

Significance of the invention

Modern craftsmen, while observing all traditional requirements, make a Yakut knife, the design of which is passed down from generation to generation. The hope that the invention will not become obsolete, and the fire of love of the masters will be passed on to descendants, is very great. Modern experts of edged weapons highlight 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, and not for war or harm.

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

A man should have several knives: for household purposes, for woodworking and for hunting. On special occasions, an elegant knife was worn, which emphasized the status of its owner. On ordinary days it hung above the bed. None of the household members had the right to touch him. passed on by inheritance to the eldest of the sons.

Historical phenomenon

The Yakut knife is an exceptional historical phenomenon. He is put on a par with the famous “Finnish woman”. Several decades ago it was classified as a bladed weapon and banned. 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 the Yakut knife on the territory of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)” have been adopted.

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