Kuban Cossack Kinjal Commission

[Jason Anstey]

Hi there,

Following up on my previous post here is the beginning!!!

I just received some progress photos of my first custom piece that is under way. My fiance is from Kuban Cossack ancestry, so I decided to have a Kinjal commissioned. After some research into Bulat (Russian Crucible Steel ) I found information on Ivan Kirpichev who is a master of this lost art of making this type of steel. I believe that Wootz is similar in metallurgy. Who better to make a Russian dagger than a Russian! The handle and scabbard are to be made by Oleg Krymlin.

I supplied some reference pics from my research to Mr Kirpichev but also gave he and Mr Krymlin free license on the detailing of the fittings with the only stipulation that it be understated rather than overly decorative.

Mr Kirpichev has kindly given me permission to post these pics.

So without further ado here is the progress thus far!