In the galaxy of Russian military knives, the Cherry knife stands out among others for its controversial origin. There are several versions of its appearance. Some are quite plausible, some cause outright bewilderment. Despite the dubious “pedigree”, gun lovers and collectors seek to get an unusual blade.
Description
Knife "HP-43 Cherry" has the following specifications:
- total length - 27 cm;
- blade length - 15.8 cm;
- width - 2.2 cm;
- thickness - 0.26 cm;
- weight (without scabbard) - 150 grams;
- scabbard - is;
- the handle is made of plastic.
The product is assembled from four parts - a blade, a guard, a handle and a nut. More detailed description:
- Blade. With one-sided sharpening, with a bevel of the butt “pike” - they occupy about half the width of the blade. Near the crosspiece, the sharpening leaves a small heel where the mark is located. The fastening provides for a cylindrical threaded protrusion on the shank.
- Garda. Straight, without bends, with triangular projections, the vertices are rounded.
- Handle. Plastic, very durable with a metal top, it serves as a nut, fixing the blade with a handle during through-mounting. Symmetrical, with a thickening in the middle, with five transverse grooves, with cut even side sections and three horizontal recesses, the handle provides a reliable grip. Inside the recess for the shank. The color is usually green, but there are black patterns.
- Sheath. Made of two pieces of leather, connected by staples. There are holes for attaching the scabbard and small slots that provide for the installation of a fixing strap: it covers the handle, preventing the knife from falling out.
The knife got its unusual name because of the stigma. The stylized letter "P" was like a cherry. So there was an unofficial nickname, which later became a brand.
Versions
The main version of the appearance of the product called "scout knife" Cherry "" is the modernization of the army knife "NA-40". The model of the fortieth year did not impress the fighters very much during its use in the combat conditions of World War II. Significant changes were made to its design:
- the guard became straight;
- the blade of the blade has changed (to fix the handle);
- the wooden handle has become plastic and symmetrical;
- the color of the handle has changed, the main - green, as options - black, white, gray;
- wooden scabbard became leather.
It is believed that knives were produced at the Zlatoust instrumental-mechanical plant No. 391 and the Zlatoust instrumental factory-mill No. 259 named after Lenin V.I. (ZiK).
The second version suggests that the knife "Cherry" appeared in the 70s of the twentieth century. The stamps of the 40s on the blade are explained by the fact that for the manufacture of knives used the old reserves of blades for the "NA-40". They have long been stored in the warehouses of the Zlatoust plant since the war. According to the specialists of the plant, this could not be, because the plant did not have a similar arsenal with the stigma of military acceptance.
Some sources claim that the Cherry knife was made from blades of the Great Patriotic War by special order in a limited volume. The production was established not at the factory, but at one of the "mailboxes". Another version suggests that small, little-known artels and organizations having the right to do this (some society of fishers and hunters) were engaged in the manufacture of this type of knives.
History
ZiK specialists gave their conclusion:
- the Cherry knife (as model -43) never existed in nature;
- it is assumed that a number of blades with the technical characteristics of “Cherries” could be made of blades NA-40;
- production began no less than 30-40 years after the end of the war.
Most important: at the Zlatoust plant they did not manufacture such a blade. There are developments of NA-44, but the order for their production was withdrawn in 1945.
Replicas
The lack of accurate data on the origin of the knife did not deter manufacturers from the temptation to offer customers replicas of the famous blade. They differ among themselves in form, individual parts, material, configuration, as well as manufacturing countries.
The Cherry knife (Zlatoust offers its version) is made on the model of an army knife of 1940 with some modifications. It is as close as possible to the original, but at the same time it is not a cold weapon and belongs to the class of tourist knives. For the blade, steel 40X10C2M (EI-107) is used, the hardness of the blade is up to 58 HRC, the handle is made of elastollan, standard green or black. The material withstands very low temperatures, fits perfectly in the hand: it is elastic, flexible, wear-resistant. There is a sheath with a mount for hanging on a waist belt.
The variety of modern replicas allows you to choose an attractive model in accordance with your own idea of the Cherry model.