Psychologists noticed: the vast majority of men (this applies not only to hunters), passing by windows with piece forged knives, as a rule, slow down and at least briefly examine this product. Sometimes their attention is attracted by Russian knives from the Nazarov's forge. Is such a reaction of men to blades accidental?
Man as a knife owner
This circumstance can be explained by the presence of genetic memory in men. After all, the love of weapons is inherent in them since the time of the prehistoric. Just a couple of centuries ago, leaving his house, a man must have taken a good knife on the road.
Times change. The male habit of carrying a knife has sunk into oblivion. Today, acquiring a decent blade has already ceased to be a problem. Russian knives of high quality and quite reasonable prices are now made in Vorsma and Pavlovo (cities of the Nizhny Novgorod region, known to lovers as knife centers of the country.) They are more technologically advanced, better and more durable than cheap imported stampings. Their blacksmithing consists of the required steps:
- Metal is cut in the shape of a blade. The guards are cut down on the blade, then the necessary holes are drilled in the blade.
- Grinding and turning. Blades are polished with abrasive materials. The thickness of the cutting edge is set, the product is prepared for polishing.
- A characteristic corporate ornament is applied to Nazarov’s blades. They are etched and decorated with black chrome and lightening.
- Knives are being assembled. They are decorated with fittings. Their parameters are checked. Finished products are packaged.
Nowadays, not only hunters, collectors, bodyguards seek forged knives. No, no, yes, and such a desire awakens in the layman. In this case, he, as a competent consumer, will turn to the websites of branded online stores, on the pages of which there are reviews, including about Russian knives from Vladimir Nazarov. Looking ahead, we say that by choosing them, the buyer will not regret it.
Knife range of Nazarov's forge
Initially, we dwell on the assortment of cutlery of this company. Depending on personal preferences, everyone who is interested in Nazarov’s knives can choose a damask knife for himself, according to his needs:
- hunting (boning, skinning, butchering);
- fishery (with siretor, pen, fillet);
- tourist (with a siretor, folding);
- kitchen (chef's knife, killer whale, steak knife, loin) ;
- national (Yakut, tanto, Uzbek);
- copies of famous knives (finca, cossack plastun) ;
- machetes (choppers, hatchets, cleaver, kukri);
- custom or souvenir;
- limited edition.
The most popular of these types are hunting and folding knives. Below we will talk about them in more detail.
Which metal blades should you choose?
This question is the starting point for most buyers. Nazarov’s forge is known for its principled attitude to product quality. As you know, a good blade is always wear-resistant, that is, the metal of its blade should resist friction, and the blade itself should retain its shape and weight during operation.
However, according to the statistics of reviews, even experts more often than others acquire Nazarovsky damask knives. In their reviews, based on their personal experience, without a shadow of doubt, they call their cutting abilities the best. The owners of Damascus also consider the simple maintenance of such blades (dry wiping and lubrication) to be absolutely anti-corrosive.
Help on the history of Damascus steel
For the first time, the manufacturing technology of the legendary metal appeared about 1300 BC in Asia Minor. Knives and swords were made from crucible high-carbon (up to 2%) steel with patterned heterogeneity mainly in Persia and India.
According to Pliny the Elder (later in ancient Rome they also mastered this technology), the best steel was produced precisely in the Ancient East. In Damascus itself, which gave the name to this steel, there was the largest market for the sale of cold steel made of it. There is a legend that, acquiring a high-quality Damascus blade, Indian warriors checked its quality, encircled it. Straightened, the blade was supposed to return to its original state and not have the slightest bend.
However, our ancestors in Ancient Russia historically preferred Damascus steel damask , more adapted to mechanical stress at low temperatures.
Gratitude to Sir Walter Scott from Mr. Nazarov V.V.
Vladimir Nazarov considers the Damascus blade, of course, a promising type of product for his forge. Judging by customer reviews, there is a long-term growing demand for this assortment position. Moreover, this phenomenon is more subjective than objective.
The interest in forgotten weapons from this very ancient steel in the new era was revived in the century before last by romantic literature (in particular, “Ivanhoe” and “Talisman” of Sir Walter Scott). Since then, demand, in fact, has not decreased. It was thanks to literary incidents that legends appeared that the knight acquired a damask blade by the weight of gold, and that he “cut through the enemy’s armor like butter.”
In reality, such statements are nothing more than literary exaggeration.
The opinion of experts. Is it preferable to give preference to a knife made of Damascus steel?
The steel with which the Nazarov's forge works is one of the most prestigious and popular grades: x12MF, Damascus, U10, steel 95 x 18, XB5 (diamond steel), 65 x 13, damask steel , S390, Elmax. Experts identify four leaders among the above blade metals:
- S390 steel (first in hardness, second in anticorrosion properties, first in cutting performance).
- Elmax - chromium-molybdenum-vanadium steel (third in hardness, first in anticorrosion properties, third in cutting properties).
- Damask steel is a forged and hardened alloy of iron and carbon (the second place in hardness, the third in anticorrosion properties, the second in cutting qualities).
- Damascus steel XB5 is tool alloyed containing chrome and tungsten (second in hardness, third in anticorrosion properties, and second in cutting properties).
As you can see, even among the products of the Nazarov's forge, Damascus blades have worthy competitors. However, a lover of patterned steel would have inserted his remark: “In quality, but not in the exterior!”
Damascus knife "Gadfly 2" from Nazarov
Obviously, the preferences of customers and the demand for damask blades are due to the generic properties of the latter: an attractive characteristic pattern on the blade, long preservation of the initial sharpening, a unique combination of hardness and ductility. These properties are guaranteed by branded blades from Damascus, Vladimir Nazarov.
The knife “Ovod2”, produced by its forge and equipped with a Damascus steel blade, is in high demand among hunters. The manufacturer claims 400 layers of steel in the blade. Knife characteristics inspire respect: blade length - 147 mm, thickness - 4 mm, width - 32 mm. The handle of a knife 130 mm long, according to users, is quite convenient. Owners note its ease of use and long-term maintenance of sharpening.
Recall: for a metal of this kind, a well-known anti-corrosion care is required (wiping and lubrication after its use).
Branded nomenclature of hunting knives
In addition to Ovoda2, hunters willingly use Nazarov’s other Damascus hunting knives:
- "Mongoose" (blade characteristics: length - 145 mm, width - 40 mm, thickness - 2.4 mm, handle length 125 mm).
- "Cossack Plastun" (blade characteristics: length - 195 mm, width - 31 mm, thickness - 3 mm, handle length 125 mm).
- “Boning” (blade characteristics: length - 149 mm, width - 30 mm, thickness - 3 mm, handle 120 mm long).
- "Omul" (blade characteristics: length - 110 mm, width - 35 mm, thickness –3 mm, handle 135 mm long).
- "Fighter" (blade characteristics: length - 145 mm, width - 25 mm, thickness - 3.2 mm, handle length 125 mm).
- "Varan" (blade characteristics: length - 138 mm, width - 31 mm, thickness - 2.4 mm, handle length 125 mm).
- "Gyrfalcon" (blade characteristics: length - 120 mm, width - 32 mm, thickness - 2.4 mm, handle length 125 mm).
Note that in the acceptable range for most hunters cost range are Nazar hunting knives. Prices for most of them are about 5500 rubles, and only the cost of "Varan" is noticeably different - 9150 rubles.
Legal nuance
It is important for hunting lovers to be sure that their knife does not belong to knives, that is, possession of them is allowed by art. 1 Federal Law “On Weapons”. In view of the above, it is certainly preferable for users to buy hunting knives from well-known companies. Prices are not so high. Persons who purchased them from their hands can put themselves at a certain risk.
Fans of such hunting equipment know: the certificate included in the purchase package should be protected. Indeed, in the event of a law enforcement issue regarding the availability of knives for the resolution of the situation, it will be sufficient to present it. The certificate also legally indicates that the knife (for example, the same "Gadfly 2") does not apply to melee weapons.
About the popular "invisible" penknives
Solid folding (pen) products are slightly inferior to hunting ones in popularity. Their convenience is beyond any doubt. It is noteworthy that these knives of Nazarov’s workshop are also made of Damascus steel. Put in their pocket, they easily become "invisible", without focusing on themselves the attention of those they meet. And at the same time, for many people, folding knives are a necessary and useful everyday item.
The Czech classic Karl Čapek remarked this remarkably: “... there are things of the same order as a penknife, a pencil stub, matches, a notebook, without which it is impossible to imagine a male representative. Should I tell you what a penknife is? Cutter, saw, weapon, lancet, chisel, screwdriver, drill, drill. That is, he is everything that turns a person into a master, sculptor, warrior, representing a complete arsenal, an orchestra instrument, a workshop on three blades. ”
Damascus Nazarov Folding Knives
The best possible way, folding knives from Nazarov correspond to this high praise of the writer:
- “Weasel” (blade characteristics: length - 105 mm, width - 18 mm, thickness - 2.4 mm, handle 120 mm long).
- "Junker" (blade characteristics: length - 80 mm, width - 23 mm, thickness - 3 mm, handle 110 mm long).
- Sibiryak (blade characteristics: length - 118 mm, width - 27 mm, thickness - 2.4 mm, handle 145 mm long).
- “Kid” (blade characteristics: length - 64 mm, width - 21 mm, thickness - 2.4 mm, handle 90 mm long).
- "The squirrel is big" (blade characteristics: length - 115 mm, width - 23 mm, thickness - 2.4 mm, handle 120 mm long).
We draw the attention of readers that the price (from 4400 to 5700 rubles) for these compact and solid, with steel blades of stainless steel Nazarov’s knives is quite affordable. User reviews about them indicate excellent value for money.
Best penknives
According to the owners, among the Nazarov folding knives, the Sibiryak and Yunker models stand out. Most of the laudatory odes are addressed to Sibiryak. It is called "real cleaver." The owners note its convenience: it is safe, does not cut hands, even if you have to change the grip several times. The accuracy of manufacture is not overlooked: the blade in the folded state is placed exactly in the center, the lock does not fail. Also there is no backlash in the unfolded state of the knife.
People who purchased folding knives from Nazarov’s workshop noted their excellent performance and compactness, often citing the Junker model as an example. The enthusiastic reviews about them often sound real odes of Damascus steel, which, for a long time maintaining its sharpness, "cuts everything into rubbish."
History of the Nazarov Forge
The history of the name workshop is not so long; it is approaching its fifteenth anniversary. However, it is noteworthy that its founders are enthusiastic professionals in instrumental and blacksmithing.
Nazarov V.V. is a second-generation blacksmith. He professionally engaged in “knife art” in 2004. Until that time, the future director at the same time studied at the Institute of NNGASU and worked as a mechanic-toolmaker of the 4th grade at the Vorsensky medical-instrument factory. His father Nazarov Vladimir Ksenofontovich previously worked in the forge of Vorsma as a blacksmith.
The birth of a family business was facilitated by the place of residence of its creators. Traditionally, hunting knives (Vorsma) were famous in Russia. The idea to found a forge specializing in the manufacture of high-quality forged knives was submitted by a friend of Nazarov-son Makashov Aleksey Alekseevich, who later took up his own business.
Invaluable help to the young promising company was then provided by the director of the company "Russian Bulat" Maslenikov Vladimir Sergeevich, who offered specialized premises for a blacksmith shop. In 2006, Nazarov’s forge acquired a hammer and production machines, a forging press. Since the end of 2009, the company has its own solid production assets: forge, grinding, assembly and thermal shops with a total area of 400 m 2 .
Conclusion
Today, Nazarov’s forge is one of the most prominent representatives of the craft of the knife center of Russia - the city of Vorsma. The company employs 23 people, all high-class specialists. Thanks to several similar companies, local forges (Vorsma) are famous in Russia.
Damascus blades of the Nazarov's forge are produced according to high quality standards, which is facilitated by multi-stage control in the manufacturing process. This fact is confirmed by numerous reviews containing words of gratitude from buyers.
Finishing the article, we can only join the grateful reviews and wish the workers of the forge further inspirational and creative work.