The knife of weapons 27 was clearly born during the USSR.
At that time, Uzbekistan was the Soviet Socialist Republic of Uzbekistan. In Chust there was a large state enterprise for the production of knives. This company had a workshop for the production of souvenirs. The government allowed to increase the prices of decorated products by 15-20%. It was there that they were used to produce roughly decorated knives with the words
"Чуст"/"Chust" and "Эсталик учун Чуст"/"Estalik uchun Chust".
Also in every Soviet republic there was a branch of the "Art Fund of the USSR", which conferred the title "Folk Craftsman" - "Master of Traditional Crafts". It was difficult to get this title, but it gave great advantages. The Art Fund provided a workshop almost free of charge, supplied craftsmen with materials that it was difficult or impossible to buy legally (such as precious woods, mother-of-pearl, jewelry stones, mammoth bone), organized participation in exhibitions, and sells handicrafts.
Prices at the Art Salons belonging to the Art Fund were high - 3-5 times higher than the products of the enterprise in Chust. In addition, the Art Fund’s stores were located not only in Uzbekistan, but throughout the Soviet Union. Being a "Folk Craftsman" was very prestigious and profitable. Each master who made traditional knives had his own stamp and - which is very important - permission to make knives. Otherwise he would face 3 years in prison. But the quality of its products was controlled by the Artistic Council and it had to comply with high standards.
The knife of the type "Estalik" performed by the master did not have an inscription, there was no need for this. He necessarily had plates made of horn decorated with inserts made of mother-of-pearl, semi-precious stones (for example carnelian), colored glass on the handle. The inserts were surrounded by chains of miniature metal nails.
Here is a photo of an Estalik type knife that belonged to me. It was made in the early 2000s and its quality was slightly inferior to the quality of knives made by the “Folk Craftsmen” of the Art Fund of the USSR.
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