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Old 30th November 2017, 11:45 PM   #2
ariel
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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Very, very nice!
It is indeed Uzbeki knife P’chak ( which means exactly what it is : a knife, Turkic dialect).

This variety with gradually narrowing blade and distinctly curved profile is usually generally referred to as “ old Bukhara” or “ old Khokhand” , and in Russian is usually called “ Afghanka” ( kind of feminine of Afghani).

The entire north of Afghanistan is populated mainly by Uzbeks and Tajiks, the latter being the second largest minority behind Pashtuns.

Please notice the nielloed coat of arms of Afghanistan, the Blue Mosque in Mazar -I- Sharif. This city is ~ 60% Tajik.

I think this P’chak actually comes from Afghanistan, made by an Uzbeki bladesmith for an Uzbeki owner.

Generally, the majority of Uzbeki knives have blades of two forms: Kaike, with the raised tip, and Tugri, with straight spine. The story goes that Tamerlane banned the manufacture of straight bladed variety to minimize their use as stabbing weapons.

Last edited by ariel; 1st December 2017 at 09:31 AM.
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