Central Asian Knives

[blue lander]

Here's my pichok from Uzbekistan. It's completely brand new. Two stories to share about it.

1: I was showing a Central Asian fellow my sword/knife collection. He didn't speak much English but he seemed to know a thing or two and enjoyed seeing my collection. I showed him this Pichok, he glanced it at and said "junk" and went back to playing with my other sword. I asked him why, and he pointed to the back of the blade where it met the bolster. he seemed to indicate that it should be curved, like yours, rather than straight like mine. The fact that it wasn't indicated it was no good.


2: I struck up a conversation with an Uzbek man at a bar and mentioned I had a pichok. Long story short, he said they were made of junk metal and he'd never use one.

[ariel]

Originally Posted by blue lander

Here's my pichok from Uzbekistan. It's completely brand new.

........

2: I struck up a conversation with an Uzbek man at a bar and mentioned I had a pichok. Long story short, he said they were made of junk metal and he'd never use one.

Generally, he was correct: anything made by a multitude of mom-and-pop outfits for souvenir purposes is likely to be junky.
There still are real and acknowledged masters in that part of the world, who make first class examples, but they are few and far between.
That being said, I am wondering whether your bar acquaintance used the same criteria as the old native users: yes, the blades are soft and the edges turn relatively easily, but that was local preference. Soft blades did not break easily, and that was what the shepherds wanted. And there was no lack of ceramic pialas around:-)

[blue lander]

I think his exact answer when I asked him why he wouldn't use one himself was "Because I know what kind of metal they make them out of." I presume he's talking about junky tourist ones.

He was an older guy but who knows how much he knew about knives or metallurgy.

[harrywagner]

Originally Posted by blue lander

I think his exact answer when I asked him why he wouldn't use one himself was "Because I know what kind of metal they make them out of." I presume he's talking about junky tourist ones.

He was an older guy but who knows how much he knew about knives or metallurgy.

No doubt. There is a huge difference in 'stan' knives and Uighur knives, and even an amateur like myself can easily tell them apart. The Uighurs knives often come with a sheath, a hand-tooled leather sheath that was custom made for that knife. The 'stan' knives are hilarious. Campy and fun, but not worth a second look. And the Uighurs finish both sides of the knife. Typically the 'stan' knife makers follow the time honored Islamic knife making habit of only decorating the 'seen' side. Don't get me wrong - I don't mean to pick on the 'stan' knife makers. I have a few of those and I am quite fond of them. Some are quite nice, some just campy enough to be fun. Photos attached.

[Gavin Nugent]

A Central Asian knife fan here.

Here are some of my antique examples for viewing...others are hidden away here too, more on those when I locate them.

Gavin

[ariel]

Nice scabbards:-)
How about baring the blades?

[harrywagner]

Originally Posted by SwordsAntiqueWeapons

A Central Asian knife fan here.

Here are some of my antique examples for viewing...others are hidden away here too, more on those when I locate them.

Gavin

Thanks. Those do look nice. I would love to see a few more pics, especially of the bottom piece. Thanks again!

[Gavin Nugent]

I'll save further naked images for individual threads when time permits.

For now here are a couple of links that show some more of their naked beauty;

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...43&postcount=8

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...2&postcount=53

And one for good luck;
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...9&postcount=48

Gavin