The Yakut knife is a separate kind of edged weapon that has been used for a long time by the indigenous inhabitants of Yakutia. It is worth noting the fact that this tool is one of the most famous cultural objects of this people among residents of other regions and countries.
Blade
The blade that has the Yakut knife is pointed, and at the same time, on the one hand, the blade and almost straight butt. The main feature of this blade is the presence of an asymmetric sharpening, which was noted by the first scientists studying the life of the Yakuts. On the one hand, this blade is absolutely flat and has a dol, but at the same time, the opposite side of the blade is curved. This design is used to ensure that the Yakut knife does not “bury” heavily in the material during work, and for this reason different types of weapons are made for left-handed and right-handed people.
What is he like
In the process of archaeological excavations in the territory of modern Yakutia (Republic of Sakha), it was determined that the Yakut knife has a huge amount of correspondence with what weapons were used in ancient times.
There are many regional varieties of such a knife, but in the classic version it is a standard blade with a length of 110 to 170 mm, which is mounted on the handle of a birch burl.
It is also worth noting the fact that knives are made for different segments of the population:
- for children or women carry out knives, the length of which is from 80 to 110 mm;
- standard blade length, as mentioned above, from 110 to 170 mm;
- from 170 mm, knives are considered large and, in principle, practically military weapons, as a result of which they are extremely rarely manufactured.
Among other things, the blades differ in width:
- the tundra is distinguished by a rather narrow blade;
- the satin (or taiga) is equipped with a wider blade.
In the predominant majority of 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 woodwork. Therefore, depending on how this tool will be used, it is also determined which option is better to choose according to the width of the blade.
Traditionally, the working Yakut knife has a blade that is made of fairly mild steel. Its application is determined by a host of practical considerations. Thus, if you need to sharpen Yakut knives for hunting in the field, mild steel allows you to do this even with river pebbles or some other improvised material. Recently, knives with blades, which are made from specialized steel grades, have begun to be quite popular. It is worth noting that the Yakut knife (photo above) can even be made of Damascus steel.
The overwhelming majority of researchers ask a host of questions regarding where the dol appeared on the blade. There are a wide variety of versions, ranging from the fact that its use is required for 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 water. The only thing that can be reliably said - the Yakut knife (photo above) has a dol solely on the right side of the blade.
Lever
In the classic version, the handle is made of birch burl, which is pre-impregnated with the help of specialized oil. In cross section, it resembles an egg, which is directed with a sharp end towards the blade, and at the same time is completely devoid of any guards, stops and similar elements - a standard straight handle. The length is approximately 130-150 mm, which is slightly larger than the average width of the male palm. This size is determined not only by considerations of 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 the use of birch burl, there is also the use of pieces of birch bark, overlapping each other, and between the layers they are coated with glue. After gluing, the workpiece is carefully dried under a press, and then a handle is made of it.
Among other things, there are also scabbards, the handle of which is made of plastic, mammoth bone and other materials, but for the most part they relate to souvenirs and do not have practical benefits for everyday life.
Sheath
The Yakut knife Batuya also has unique sheaths. As standard, they are made of oxtail, inside of which is a wooden liner, loosely wrapping the blade. The main function is not to hold the blade itself, but to protect it from breaking, while the leather part of the scabbard is engaged in holding it. The possibility of making them from birch bark or standard stitched leather is provided, and a variety of wooden products are extremely rare.
Using a bull or cow tail in the sheath manufacturing process is considered the most optimal option for hunters, because if the knife falls or beats against any foreign objects, it will not make a lot of noise. Among other things, often the scabbard is made of ordinary leather, which practically does not let water through if properly processed.
How to wear and use it
In the predominant majority of cases, it is customary to carry a knife on the left side on a completely free suspension, that is, the blade should look to the left side. A sufficiently free suspension is needed in order not to interfere with the movement of the owner of this knife, and while wearing it on the left, it is quite convenient to pull out the weapon with your right hand: you just need to rest your thumb on the base.
In the days of the USSR, if a person wore or made a Yakut knife with his own hands, he violated the current legislation, although such non-compliance with the rules was very formal. Today, the production, carrying, storage and sale of such knives is regulated by a separate act of the government of Yakutia, according to which it is an integral part of the culture, as a result of which its use in everyday life is allowed in this region.
The Yakut real knife is actively used in the everyday life of the indigenous inhabitants of Yakutia and it is used in fishing, hunting, cooking, and also performing a number of other procedures. Thus, this universal tool has become one of the most important cultural objects of its people.
Masters
When considering handmade Yakut knives, one should not forget about their most important features - these are real knives that are actively used by the indigenous inhabitants of Yakutia in everyday life. Across the republic, it is practically impossible to find families in which at least one such knife was not present, which suggests that it is actively produced in artisanal conditions in rural workshops or forges. Almost every village here has its own local master (or even several) who is engaged in the production of knives using individual technology. It is for this reason that the nature of this weapon can vary depending on which particular village it was made in and which craftsman was involved in its production.
How are such knives made?
The fact that the Yakut hunting knife has not practically changed its shape over the past few years does not mean 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 so that all elements are perfectly suitable for the conditions of the area. In such a knife, absolutely everything is done to ensure the maximum degree of functionality and convenience. In particular, for example, the Yakutian knife, the manufacture of which is carried out according to classical technology, has a much more complex blade compared to the famous Finnish knife.
A distinctive feature of modern Yakut knives is that there is a selection on the blade. First of all, in the old days, when blacksmiths had to extract iron on their own, the raw materials were considered extremely expensive, and therefore they tried to save them in every way, as a result of which the blade was pulled wide and a dale formed. If the knife is used in extreme conditions (for example, at a temperature of less than -50 ° C), then in this case the absence of a groove does not allow to straighten or sharpen it, while a blade having a sufficiently wide dol is distinguished by its sharpness, subtlety, and in this regard, as quickly corrected and sharpened. In the process of cutting the prey, the blade, having a sufficiently wide trough, will come into contact with the meat exclusively on the back side, in connection with which the recess in the knife blade will remain free, and the skin will be removed as easily as possible due to the small touch area.
The main material for the manufacture of handles is a cap, which is a special growth that appears on the roots of birch. It is characterized by extremely strong and strong wood, and also has a pretty beautiful pattern. Among other things, birch wood itself, sets of birch bark or with various inserts from it are also used directly.
Special attention should be paid to the unique sheath design. The knife is recessed approximately 2/3 of the handle and is already held there due to friction. In this case, the blade is absolutely free hanging in a separate wooden liner. Due to this, the owner can as easily as possible take out or put in a knife with a blade even after blood has frozen on it or fat during the winter cutting of game.
Knife features
The standard appearance of this knife differs, at first glance, with a simple and extremely simple design, as a result of which it may seem to an ordinary person that using it is absolutely inconvenient. However, in the hands of the master, this instrument in the process looks like a musical instrument, and if you actually take such a knife in your hands, any doubts about the inconvenience disappear at the very first moment.
The tree, which is used to make the handle, allows you to achieve a very, very good grip with the palm of your hand, as a result of which the knife does not slip. The cross section of the handle is made in such a way that it is convenient to hold the knife in your hand, regardless of what work it is used for. Of course, there are a wide variety of variations, including Potapov's Yakut knives, but the standard one is one of the most universal among all that exist today. Among other things, if we consider in principle various ethnic knives, it can be called the most practical and perfect, despite the fact that at first glance it is extremely simple.
Philosophy
According to their philosophy, the Yakut knives of Nikolai Potapov, like any others, are products designed exclusively for the creation and performance of various works. The master in the manufacturing process first of all makes an indispensable assistant for a person, and not some kind of deadly weapon that will be used with aggressive intentions.
At the same time, the very design of this knife initially determines this, and if, for example, we take even the format for attaching the sheath to the belt, then it is made in such a way that after reaching the knife it turns out to be a blade to itself, and not to the outside. It is worth noting the fact that this feature is not any innovation and is provided in accordance with centuries-old technology. Among other things, one cannot fail to say that even thoughts of aggression with this knife are disrespectful to the blacksmith who made it, and at the same time the masters themselves were venerated no less than shamans. Of course, today they are not afraid of blacksmiths, but a respectable attitude and respect for the representatives of this profession has survived to this day.
Knives for children
The Yakut Tatarin knife, like the classic model, can be made for children. In the olden days, a child from about the age of five began to learn how to make all kinds of crafts or simple wooden toys using this tool. At an earlier age, his parents planted him next to them, after which they started making wooden toys, and in the process, the child remembered the movements of his ancestor in order to repeat them in the future. When the father understood that his baby was ready to work with such an instrument, he went to the blacksmith and placed an order for a small knife, after which he gave it to his son. It is worth noting that the mothers were not afraid of any injuries to the child, since the technology of this knife excludes the possibility of serious injuries, while minor cuts teach him to work carefully, rationally and accurately.
Despite the fact that the classic Yakut knife is universal, each Yakut has three to four different knives that are used for different purposes. At the same time, it is worth noting the fact that there is also the most beautiful knife with a variety of inserts, which is festive and is passed on from generation to generation in the family. This knife is constantly hanging over the bed of the owner of the house, and no one can touch it (especially for children).
How are they used
If the knife is made to work with various wood products, you can’t 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 downward curved back side of the blade, which eliminates damage to the stomach and intestines of the prey during the cutting process, since otherwise the meat may deteriorate.
Of particular importance is the lightweight grip design indicated above for fishermen, as they often drop their knives into the water, as a result of which the tool must be buoyant or at least sink as slowly as possible.
Thus, Yakut knives can be called very unusual and at the same time extremely practical tool that is manufactured and used to this day. Fishermen, hunters and lovers of many other crafts actively use such knives even outside of Yakutia, which already indicates that it is extremely practical, unlike samurai swords and many other types of ethnic weapons, which are no more than a tribute traditions.