The knife is somewhat different from the usual one in our understanding - asymmetrical, with notches on one side of the blade - such products have long been used by the inhabitants of Yakutia. Today they are the hallmark of this region of Russia.

History of origin

The republic is known in the world as the main supplier of diamonds. The musical instrument khomus is recognizable even in the most remote corners of the earth. Another famous invention is Yakut knives. Since ancient times, people of the Turkic language group have lived on such a vast territory. The ancestors of modern inhabitants came from Central Asia. The Yakuts call themselves “Sakha”. Having mastered the harsh laws of living in the northern regions, these people not only adapted to them, but also learned to benefit from them.

Since ancient times, the Sakha have learned to mine and process iron ore. Blacksmithing skills were not inferior to the products of blacksmiths in developed European countries. Russian Cossacks back in the seventeenth century, having begun to interact with Yakut hunters, noted the quality of their tools and hunting. Yakut blacksmiths knew how to smelt iron, bypassing the cast iron stage.

Archaeological work on the territory of settlement of this ancient people makes it possible to prove the centuries-old history of Yakut knives. In the studied burial grounds and sites, scientists find samples of knives that are very similar to Yakut knives. Over the millennia, they have retained their size, geometric parameters and appearance.

Varieties

The design of the knife has not changed over the many centuries of its existence, but the ratio of the blade to the handle may vary in each specific case. Different regions of Yakutia have their own standards for manufacturing this product. The classic Yakut working knife is a blade of 110-170 millimeters mounted on a wooden handle.

Among all the diversity, three main types can be distinguished. The first one is distinguished by its small size. The blade length ranges from 80 to 110 mm. It is made for children and women. Used for various household operations. The second type is the traditional and most common knife. The length of the blade is no more than seventeen centimeters. It is used by hunters and fishermen. No man can do without it. The third type is rarely made because it is large and looks like a military weapon. The length of the blade is from eighteen to thirty centimeters. They respectfully call him “hotokhon”.

The hunters themselves distinguish between tundra and taiga knives. The difference between them is the width of the blade. With a narrow blade, a tundra knife is more often used for drilling and rivers. with a wider blade, they are used for cutting game and livestock or working with wood.

Main distinguishing feature

The most important difference is that the blade of the Yakut knife is asymmetrical. The knife itself has a blunt and straight back with a sharp end. They sharpen it only on one (left) side. If you look at the knife from the handle, the side edges will appear completely different. The left side is convex and completely smooth.

All knives with an asymmetrical profile are sharpened on the working (right) side, but the Yakut knife is sharpened only on the left. This approach has its own explanation: the master most often processes wood. Having a left-sharpened knife, a person can precisely regulate the depth of planing. The same feature gives the accuracy of a multifunctional plane.

Slicing frozen meat or fish is much easier, the knife goes like clockwork. Skinning an animal and dressing it with such a knife is a joy because everything happens quickly and without delay. Another undoubted advantage: you can sharpen such a knife even in the field. A stone or, for example, the edge of a metal bucket is suitable for this.

Based on this feature, the Yakuts distinguish between knives for right-handers and left-handers. For a right-hander, you need a standard knife sharpened on the left side. For a left-hander, you will have to make a special mirrored knife.

Second feature

The right side of the blade is usually absolutely straight, with a longitudinal groove in the center. The presence of a fuller on one side of the blade is another feature of the Yakut. Craftsmen make knives with a short and thin fuller or a wide one along the entire length of the blade. The Yakuts call it Yos. The appearance of this feature is explained in different ways. The first version of the origin of such a detail is associated with the original material for making the knife from bone cut lengthwise. And the groove is nothing more than a hole from the bone marrow.

Another option: Yakut knives were made from two components. The base is made of soft iron, the hard part is for the blade. This was done to save durable steel. The groove in this case was like a compensatory leash, which appeared during the process of hardening the two components of the blade.

The flat right side plays an important role. It brings the cross-section of the blade closer to a quadrangular shape. Working with wood or sewing leather clothes requires force. The punching effect is enhanced by this special shape of the Yakut knife.

What is a gutter for?

There are several reasons for the relevance of the valley. In addition to saving iron, there are also practical indicators. In Yakutia, frosts below 30-40 degrees Celsius are not uncommon. A knife without a fuller is difficult to sharpen and edit. The fuller blade is thinner, very sharp, and holds an edge well. You can sharpen it quickly and easily.

When cutting a carcass, a wide groove allows the knife to come into contact with the meat only with the back side. The gutter remains free, the skin from the animal is easier to remove due to the reduction of the contact area. Blood flows freely through the recess in the blade.

The presence of a gutter allows you to lighten the weight of the product. When a craftsman forges a Yakut knife, he tries to make it light so that it does not sink in water. The fisherman, having dropped the knife from his hands, is sure that he will not drown, or at least not immediately go to the bottom. A special handle helps you stay afloat.

Handle

At first glance, the knife handle does not have anything special. It is made from birch burl - this is a kind of growth on a tree trunk. Impregnate the finished pen with special oil. The length of the handle is thirteen to fifteen centimeters. When ordering individually, the width of the palm is measured; the handle should be slightly wider, without any guards or stops. The shape of the handle resembles an egg, the narrow part of which is directed towards the blade. Taking such a knife in his hand, the hunter feels comfortable and reliable.

Sometimes the handle is made of birch bark. Fishermen have a special requirement for such products: the craftsman must make a Yakut knife such that the handle can keep it afloat. Products with handles made of plastic or mammoth bone play the role of souvenirs. They are not used in everyday life.

Scabbard for "Yakut"

The Yakut knife needs a unique sheath. Initially, they used oxtail for this purpose. The stocking was turned inside out and a wooden insert was inserted inside. The dimensions of the insert had to be larger than the knife itself. His task was not to hold the knife, but to protect it from breakage.

The knife goes into the sheath two-thirds of the length of the handle. In this position, the sheath firmly held the product by the handle, and the blade remained free. They could build a sheath from birch bark or wood. A cord was attached to the body for attachment.

Traditional wearing

The Yakut knife is worn on the left side or in front. Free hanging does not interfere with human movements. The hunter quickly pulls out the knife with his right hand, while resting his thumb on the base of the sheath.

The blade of the knife faces to the left, directed at the person when removed from the sheath. It has always been this way, it is a tradition.

Significance of the invention

Modern craftsmen, while observing all traditional requirements, make a Yakut knife, the design of which is passed down from generation to generation. The hope that the invention will not become obsolete, and the fire of love of the masters will be passed on to descendants, is very great. Modern experts of edged weapons highlight this knife with a universal and unique design.

The philosophical basis of the knife is to use it only for creativity and work. The master creates his product as an assistant, and not for war or harm.

In Yakut families, a child from the age of five received a knife. The mothers were not afraid that the boy would get hurt. The first blood and a small cut taught the baby to be careful, careful, and therefore rational. The first knife was made specifically for a child's hand.

A man should have several knives: for household purposes, for woodworking and for hunting. On special occasions, an elegant knife was worn, which emphasized the status of its owner. On ordinary days it hung above the bed. None of the household members had the right to touch him. passed on by inheritance to the eldest of the sons.

Historical phenomenon

The Yakut knife is an exceptional historical phenomenon. He is put on a par with the famous “Finnish woman”. Several decades ago it was classified as a bladed weapon and banned. Today it is written about in the legislative acts of the Russian Federation. Since 1995, the “Regulations on the procedure for manufacturing, marketing, purchasing, carrying and transporting the Yakut knife on the territory of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)” have been adopted.

This knife is suitable for repelling an enemy attack; it is an indispensable friend in hunting and fishing. The Yakuts themselves often call it their third hand. They believe it is better to lose a gun than to be left without a knife.

Yakut knife. from Anton Khodzhimirzaev.

The distinctive and most important feature of this knife is the dol. It is not a bloodstream! It performs at least three functions

1. Actually geometry. On the side of the valley the descent is straight, on the other there is a lens, which makes it an excellent tool for planing wood.
2. Metal saving. During the forging process, the wedge is stretched in width and length, resulting in a full-size knife with minimal steel consumption.
3. A forged fuller turns the blade into a channel, i.e., with low hardness, we obtain maximum bending strength.

So, an old Soviet file was chosen as the source material.

We saw off a small piece and weld it well to the rod

Slowly heat the workpiece in the forge. The color rendering is poor, and it’s light outside, so it’s difficult to determine the heat colors by eye; I use a magnet. At a temperature of 723 C (I don’t remember exactly), steel loses its magnetic properties and this means that somewhere in this range you can knock on it. For file steel (у10-...13), approximately the same temperature is the quenching temperature. Not everyone can be checked this way.

We pull out the piece of iron. I use a 1500 g sledgehammer

My rod fell off(((It was better to weld! Now we take pliers

I pulled it out into a plate like this. Now I’m forming the shank. Responsible place!

And the radius of the leading edge.

I forge the slopes, the wedge bends, this can be fixed...

already looks like a wedge!

I forge the dol with a sharp edge of 600 g of hammer. The geometry we need has already been formed. We align in a common plane, we carry out normalization...

And simmer it in oil. I thought it would be more effective

I don’t notice the leash after hardening

After hardening, the wedge did not scratch the glass, so the tempering was done for only 1 hour at 200 degrees.

Grind off the excess using sandpaper. Raise your shoulders a little.

I'M VIOLATING SAFETY!!! But it’s very difficult to create a flat surface on sandpaper any other way.

Now is the time to check the wedge for cracks and overall strength. I took several shots, but none of them showed that I was completely standing on it. Take my word for it) holds 60 kg calmly

Nothing fell off

And now the sanding. Now this is a very long and tedious process...

We grind and polish...

After 1200 sandpaper

Now on the felt circle. It's better to do this with an assistant!

Nice shot) Almost a selfie against the backdrop of the setting sun

Now the handle. Apple material

We drill for the shank. The diameter of the drill is selected according to the width of the shank in the middle of its length

We adjust the wedge using a jigsaw file or a needle file, or a thin knife, or all of the above. And we plan out the chops

Pour epoxy glue mixed with sawdust

It turned out a little unsightly, so to speak It can be better, but it can’t be worse!

We remove everything unnecessary

We draw a center line and dance from it.

I shoot the rest with a blunt

After roughly removing the material it looks like this

It’s a pleasure to polish the handle of a Yakut knife)

Now according to the old scheme: wet and grind, reducing the grain of the sandpaper. I finish with a sponge.

And impregnation in linseed oil. Later, I dilute wax, rosin and flaxseed in a water bath and process it completely. Then there will be a scabbard....

Hello everyone, I suggest you study the instructions on how to very simply make a knife in the Yakut style, having a minimal set of tools. Although of course the fact that it is Yakut, the point is controversial because forging is not used in the manufacture of the blade. In any case, the blade here is very strong and can be sharpened to a blade-like state, since it is made from a saw blade. As for the fuller, characteristic of a Yakut knife, it was made by etching, and it turned out no worse than a real forged Yakut knife. If the project interests you, I suggest you study it in more detail.

Materials and tools used

List of materials:
- mechanical saw blade;
- a block for making a handle;
- steel rod;
- sheet brass;
- oil for impregnating wood.

List of tools:
- grinder;
- orbital sander or other;
- drill;
- tap and die for thread cutting;
- sandpaper;
- ;
- a device for etching;
- nail polish;
- hammer, vice and other simple tools.

Knife making process:

Step one. Main profile
First, let's cut out the main profile from the saw; there will be very little work here. The author easily copes with this task on a sharpening machine. Just be careful about overheating the metal, since we will not be hardening it in the future. If the workpiece is too hot, dip it in water from time to time.

Step two. Grinding and bevels
We grind the planes; for this, the author has a Velcro disk with sandpaper installed on the sharpening machine. After polishing the planes, we also form the slopes; the author does all this by eye. It should be noted that a real Yakut knife has a trigger on only one side, and which one depends on whether you are right-handed or left-handed.

Step three. Etching
We will make the fuller on the blade by etching, it’s quick and simple. We take nail polish or any waterproof paint and paint over all those areas that will not participate in electrolysis. We leave only the abstract part in the center, from which, when etched, a valley will be formed.

For etching we need a jar, pour water with a lot of table salt into it. We will have a blade as one electrode, and a steel plate and the like can be used as the other. We apply voltage to the electrodes and observe the process; the longer the electrolysis goes on, the deeper the dol will burn out. The power supply can be used with a voltage of 6-24V or something like that, the current is more important here. Some craftsmen perform etching using a welding machine, this happens quickly.
After etching, we lightly polish, remove the paint and get an excellent Yakut blade.

Step four. Garda
We make the guard from sheet brass; we will need to cut a slot hole. First, we drill a series of round holes with a drill, and then bore them with a needle file. You can also saw through the gap using a drill and an appropriate attachment.

Step five. Shank and butt
We need to lengthen the shank of the knife so that we can attach the handle. An interesting fact is that the handle is assembled on a threaded connection; no glue is used here. We will need a metal rod, hammer one end of it and make a slotted hole. If you use copper and aluminum, you can easily unforge the rod when cold. We drill holes and fix the rod with rivets.

The other end of the rod needs to be threaded. The backplate will be screwed here; it is made of sheet brass; we drill a hole in it and also cut the thread.

Step six. Making a pen
Before installing the handle, be sure to wrap the blade with electrical tape or tape to avoid injury.

For the handle we need to find beautiful wood, we will need a small block, you can also use bones or animal horns. We drill a hole for the shank along the material and the handle can be assembled. The handle is pulled together by the back and there is no need to glue it together.
Next, we cut off the excess with a regular hacksaw and proceed to processing the handle on a sharpener, and then on a disc grinder. If desired, you can also use wood files to form the desired handle profile.

Finally, we proceed to manual processing, for this we use sandpaper. We achieve such a result that the wood looks like bone and is perfectly smooth.

Step seven. Impregnation
We saturate the handle with oil, it will protect it from the harmful effects of moisture. Of course, the oil will reveal all the beauty of the wood. You can use flaxseed oil, it is widely available. Danish oil is also good; it is absorbed into the wood as deeply as possible.

The Yakut knife is a national treasure of the Sakha people along with mammoths, diamonds and khomuses. The traditional Yakut knife bykhakh, the design of which has remained virtually unchanged for centuries, is widely used to this day in all spheres of economic activity of the people. In everything it is focused on the convenience of long and painstaking work and is simply designed to separate meat from bones, plane frozen fish, and repair broken sleds.

Blacksmiths Alexander Danilov and Alexander Protopopov agreed to show and tell how this legendary item is made.

I met the masters at the exhibition of achievements of professional skills of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) “Profi Expo-2015” in Yakutsk

Within a few hours we had already begun the manufacturing process.

Alexander Danilov has been interested in knives since childhood. At first I started carving wood, then I became interested in jewelry, which later turned into work. I started trying to make knives just like that, for myself. I bought blades for planes and shaped them into a knife. Then he began to forge.

Alexander has been making Yakut knives for twenty years, eight of which he devoted to reviving traditional cheese ore smelting.

Blacksmith Alexander Danilov demonstrates a kritsa made in the traditional way from iron ore from which Yakut knives are made in his workshop.

Since ancient times, the Yakuts had developed the mining and processing of iron ore, as well as the art of blacksmithing. Moreover, according to the testimony of Russian Cossacks, who came into conflict with the Yakuts in the 17th century, the quality of the iron obtained from ore by Yakut blacksmiths was not inferior to the best foreign samples.

To make a Yakut knife, blacksmiths use alloyed tool steel of various grades.

Exclusive knives are made from ore.

Even in ancient times, people collected valuable ore from rivers and made weapons from it.

Preparing such ore takes a very long time. It needs to be burned, enriched, crushed, and then the metal must be smelted. From 20 kg. ore usually yields 10-11 of the required metal.

Coal also needs to be prepared independently. This costs blacksmiths much less.

Typically, it takes 2-3 days to make one knife.

Knives can be gift or work. They are mainly used by workers - they are used in the kitchen, hunting, fishing and at home. Gift cards are made to order, usually decorated with engravings and other decorative elements. A gift set in the form of a custom-made knife with engraving and a lighter decorated with the same image looks very stylish.

Alexander continues to level the blade. The first feature is the asymmetry of the blade profile. It is sharpened only on the left side (if you hold the handle towards you), which is different from other knives with an asymmetrical profile, which, as a rule, are sharpened from the side of the working hand, i.e. on the right side of the blade. The sharpened side of the blade of a Yakut knife is slightly convex.

There is an explanation for these features. For Yakuts, the main material for processing is wood. The convexity on the blade makes it easier to remove chips, giving the necessary force, the master accurately and easily adjusts the depth of planing. In this case, the knife turns into something like a high-precision multifunctional plane. In addition, it simplifies cutting meat or fish (including frozen fish), as well as cutting up animal carcasses, removing skins from animals and dressing them. At the same time, the process of sharpening the tool is significantly simplified.

He grinds and sharpens workpieces.

On this machine, the workpiece already takes the shape of a traditional knife. The Yakut one is sharpened on one side, on the other the burr is only removed. It can be easily sharpened using available materials, such as river pebbles.

The right unsharpened side of the blade is equipped with a fuller, which the Yakuts call yos. This is another feature of the Yakut knife. According to one of the exotic versions, this detail has been present since the times when the knife was made entirely from bone sawn lengthwise, and the yos was nothing more than a channel from the bone marrow.

The flat, unsharpened side of the blade on the right side is called bykhah haptahaya. This edge plays a special role: it makes the cross-section of the blade close to a quadrangular shape. This enhances the piercing action, for example for piercing thick leather (for example, when sewing clothes) or drilling shallow holes.

Hardening of blanks

Alexander Protopopov worked as an excavator operator for 30 years, retired at 45 and since then began making knives. At first it was a hobby, then a job.
“I still have a teacher - Semyon Vasilyevich Vinokurov. I show him my work. It seems to me that a person should study all his life,” the blacksmith shares.

Craftsmen also make knives from Damascus steel. This process is so complicated that it cannot be conveyed in a couple of sentences.

- "They cool in oil, and quench in a furnace. Oil can be heated to quench in it. Okay, carbon steel is quenched at 780-1000 degrees, the oil will ignite at this temperature. It is cooled in oil, it ensures rapid and uniform cooling, which is very It’s important for carbon steel that it doesn’t crack when it cools suddenly.” - says beegg technologist

The handle of a Yakut working knife is traditionally carved from a single piece of birch burl - a very strong wood with a rich texture. It is smooth, devoid of any stops and quite long. With a long handle, it is more convenient to work in the cold with gloves on, and the elongated lever increases the chopping ability of the knife. The cross-section of the handle resembles an egg. This shape was chosen so that during some work the knife does not rotate in the hand. The method of mounting the blade into the handle is interesting. First, a wide central hole is made and the pointed shank is driven into the handle. Then wedges made of soft wood are inserted on the sides of the blade. They are bursting, and they clamp the blade in the handle. In order to protect the wooden handle from moisture, it is impregnated with special oils.

The sheath of real Yakut knives is simple and functional. They are made from an oxtail, removed with a stocking, and a wooden insert inserted into it. The knife is recessed into the leather sheath 1/3 of the handle and is fixed there due to friction. The blade hangs freely in a wooden insert inside the scabbard.

This makes it possible to freely insert and remove a knife with a blade on which blood and fat freeze when cutting game in winter. By the way, the Yakut knife can be removed with one hand, resting the thumb on the mouth of the sheath. The sheath is worn on the belt, on a free suspension from a leather strap in a position from inclined to horizontal.

On the blade of Alexander Danilov’s knives there is a stamp with an image of an ancient drawing of an eagle.

Polishing the scabbard

Decorative elements on the master's table.

The scabbard is covered with leather

Leather is made in a neighboring ulus

Now the skin needs to be properly glued and stitched

While you can sharpen the knife itself

Scabbard firmware

The Yakut knife is a traditional weapon of the northern Sakha peoples, having a blade length of 110-170 mm (on average) and a wooden handle. The blade is made of mild steel, it is used for hunting and fishing, so you need the ability to sharpen/edit “in field conditions.” Yakut knives have varieties: for children and women with a blade length of 80-110 mm, a sword with a length of 500 mm and others. It is not a bladed weapon and can be purchased and used without special permission.

Real Yakut knives sell for 3 thousand rubles and more.

Read in this article

Main characteristics of the Yakut knife: size, shape

The Yakut knife has an individual size and original shape, therefore it is considered a unique product. Moreover, its parameters have been preserved since ancient times and have not undergone any fundamental changes.

Story

The history of Yakut knives has no beginning; no written evidence or even drawings of this type of weapon have been preserved. Researchers believe that the Yakuts in ancient times used imported metal to make weapons, although there is also a version that the people themselves could smelt the necessary material from ore.

And the fact that imported metal was most often used is confirmed in documentary records from 1978 - at that time folklore data about the peoples of Yakutia was collected.

It is reliably known that the original shape of the blade is a prototype of the bones of large animals (in ancient times they acted as a chopping, cutting, piercing tool).

Is it a bladed weapon?

Yakut knives of different types are not, they belong to the category of household tools and are used for woodworking, fishing, hunting and other needs. In Soviet times, there was a legal ban on the manufacture, carrying and use of Yakut knives without special permission. In fact, such an element of the peoples of the North was simply not paid attention to.

Yakut knives are a mandatory element of the national costume; they are used by every representative of the fishing people of the regions of the Far North.

Features of the blade

Features of the blade include variability in its length:

• the most common sizes are 110-170 mm;
• for children and women – 80-110 mm;
• a large knife, can be used as a full-fledged military weapon, therefore it is made extremely rarely - from 170 mm.

They also make another version of the Yakut knife - “batyya”, which is a full-fledged sword with a blade length of 500 mm, having the same curved shape as a standard tool, and an asymmetric sharpening.

The blades also differ in width:

• tundra - characterized by a narrow blade;
• alas/taiga – the blade is wide.

The first option is convenient for use during hunting, fishing, herding a herd of deer; a tundra knife is used to cut and drill holes in wooden blanks. The taiga tool is used for cutting carcasses of hunted animals (or domestic animals) and as a cutter for woodworking.

Much controversy arises regarding the appearance of the fuller on the blade: some researchers believe that it is necessary for quickly cutting frozen meat and blood flow, others are confident that the fuller was made to lighten the weight of the knife (this made it convenient for long-term use and prevented it from drowning) .

Sheath

For a Yakut knife, the sheath is a mandatory attribute, which is also distinguished by its originality. Historically, they are made from oxtail skin, which is removed in a single stocking. A wooden spacer is inserted inside, but there should not be a tight fit of the blade. This sheath design is not associated with the need to hold the weapon; the Yakuts simply protect the steel of the blade from breakage.

Reliable storage of the knife in the sheath is ensured by the size of the sheath - it hides 2/3 of the weapon and fits tightly to the handle.

Modern sheath models are made of genuine leather (regardless of what part of the animal it comes from); there are options for birch bark or wood. Worn on a belt, attached to it with a loop.

Watch the video on how to make a sheath for a Yakut knife:

Handle

The weapons of the peoples of Yakutia, whose handles are made of plastic or mammoth bone, belong to the category of souvenirs.

What steel?

The traditional Yakut knife is distinguished by soft steel - such a blade will be convenient to sharpen even in “field conditions”, when you have to make do with stones and pebbles. But modern manufacturers are already offering consumers tools made of harder steel and even Damascus - this is practical, interesting, but is not the true weapon of the peoples of Yakutia.

4 types of steel for a Yakut knife

Where it was used and is used today

Previously, the traditional Yakut knife was used:

• when hunting - they used it to cut up the carcasses of hunted animals;
• while fishing - cutting ropes and nets;
• while staying in the tundra - the knife is suitable for cutting and processing thin tree branches, cutting moss and other needs.

Today, such cutting tools are often used for household needs: cooking (in particular cutting planed meat), woodworking, making hunting snares and fishing gear.

What is a Yakut knife like?

The Yakut knife comes in different modifications, the main difference is the length of the blade, but the quality characteristics remain unchanged.

Batu

Batu (batyya) is the most massive Yakut knife, the blade length is 500 mm. This model can be used both as a spear and as a sword. The peoples of the north rarely use it, mainly in the tundra or taiga, because with its help you can:

• cut a clearing in a dense thicket;
• cut branches for the fire;
• catch fish in the river (if you have experience with a spear);
• cut into pieces a large carcass of hunted game.

Watch the video about the Yakut knife Batuya:

Bychakh

The blade length of the Yakut knife called bychakh is 110-170 mm, and these are the most common parameters. Even modern Yakut men who are not professional fishermen have such weapons. The knife is used for any housework and hunting/fishing.

They are as comfortable as possible:

• cook food - he is excellent at peeling vegetables and cutting meat;
• clean thin tree twigs for making vines;
• cut nets, ropes, cables and so on.

Yakut knife bychakh

Among the classic Yakut knives there is also a military weapon - the khotokhon, the blade of which is 170 mm long. Historically, the northern Sakha peoples rarely fought, so this instrument was not used often. But it was held in high esteem by hunters and fishermen, who spent long periods of time fishing in the tundra and taiga - the long blade allowed them to protect themselves from wild animals.

Modern khotokhon is exclusively a souvenir product and therefore, despite the fact that the parameters clearly correspond to the definition of “edged weapon,” it can be stored and purchased without special permission.

Yakut souvenir knife khotokhon

Other brand knives

Among other branded knives in Yakutia, the “bychycha” stands out, which is distinguished by a short blade - 80-110 mm. It is optimally suited for use by women; it is convenient for them to work in the kitchen - deboning meat, cutting food, including bread. Bykhycha is also used in household work - installing a yurt, cutting ropes, and so on.

This same small Yakut knife is given to children. Among the northern peoples, mastery of such an instrument is considered mandatory; the first skills are acquired at the age of 5 years and older.

Yakut knife bykhycha

Handmade Yakut knives made in Yakutia: price, where to buy real ones

Yakut knives, handmade and made in Yakutia, can be bought for 3 thousand rubles and more, but usually the cost does not exceed 6,000 rubles. You can buy a real instrument, made according to all the rules and strictly in the traditional style, on specialized websites - for example, Arm Knife.

The Yakut knife is worn on the belt on the right or left, the location depends on which hand the person has working (right-handed/left-handed). The instrument must be in a sheath; it has a loop on top, which is the locking element.

Yakut knives are not used for combat, so there is no need to ensure their quick removal - the sheath is closed like a strap.

How to make a Yakut knife with your own hands, what is needed for this

To make a Yakut knife with your own hands, you will need:

• file – source material, you need to find a Soviet-made one;
• metal rod;
• a furnace or the possibility of lighting an open fire;
• sledgehammer weighing 1500 g;
• the hammer is small, weighing a maximum of 600 g;
• machine oil, technical;
• emery wheel;
• sandpaper;
• felt circle.

These tools will be needed to make the blade. The handle is best made from hardwood.

Home making process

Algorithm for making a Yakut knife at home:

1. Saw off a piece of the required length from the file. The parameters depend on the exact size of the tool needed.
2. Weld a metal rod to the sawn edge.
3. Heat the workpiece in a forge or over an open fire. As soon as the steel stops reacting to the applied magnet, the process stops.
4. Using a sledgehammer weighing 1.5 kg, the blade is “pulled out”. You need to knock on the hot metal often, constantly turning the workpiece from one side to the other.
5. Use a sledgehammer to form a shank from a welded metal rod.
6. Forge the slopes on the blade. During this stage, the blade will begin to bend, but this is normal - the geometry will subsequently be restored.
7. The dol (“bloodstock”) is made with a piece of metal rod, which is applied to the workpiece. The structure needs to be warmed up a little in a forge or over an open fire. Then the dol itself is tapped with a light hammer, after which the rod is simply removed.
8. Align the blade in a common plane. As a result, it should be slightly curved and have a sharp tip.
9. Dipping the workpiece into boiling industrial oil is hardening the metal. Hardening time - 1 hour, temperature - 200 degrees.
10. On an emery wheel, excess metal (sagging) is removed and the plane of the blade is brought out.
11. Sanding - first with 1200 sandpaper (fine-grit), then with a felt wheel.

Watch the video on how to make a Yakut knife yourself:

The final part of the work is making the handle. It is better to use an apple tree for this. The work consists of cutting out a rectangular block with a hole into which the shank is inserted and filled with glue. Next, the handle is ground on a grinding machine and decorated with carvings as desired.

Sharpening a Yakut knife for right-handed and left-handed people

Another feature of the Yakut knife is the possibility of sharpening for right-handed and left-handed people: if a person has a “working” right hand, then sharpening work is carried out to the right of the fuller (respectively, for a left-handed person - to the left). The sharpening stone is applied to the cutting edge strictly at an angle of no more than 5 degrees.

The blade is sharpened with movements from top to bottom - from the butt to the edge, the process continues until a thin shiny line appears on the blade. In the Yakut language it is called “kylaan” and is the sharpest part of the knife.

Learn more about how to choose the best switchblade.

Yakut knives are easy to use, they are not classified as edged weapons, and are successfully used in the kitchen, around the house, and in hunting/fishing.