Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 1st January 2023, 10:25 PM   #1
Pitt1999
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 91
Default What is the working knife of Georgia/the Caucasus region?

While the thread on my odd kindjal (place of origin yet to be determined) is developing, a question arose in my head. What was the working knife/utility knife/bolo knife equivalent of Georgia or the Caucasus region in general, if there was one? Kindjals are a little too nicely made to use for tasks that in today's parlance would be referred to as "bushcraft", cutting small bits of wood or brush clearing, carving, dismantling or dispatching your dead or wounded quarry.
Pitt1999 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd January 2023, 12:44 AM   #2
Ren Ren
Member
 
Ren Ren's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Russia, Moscow
Posts: 365
Default

Here is a universal shepherd's knife typical of the highlands of the Northern and Western Caucasus. Karachays and Balkars call it "Bichak", Abkhazians "Apsua Khuzba".
Attached Images
 
Ren Ren is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd January 2023, 03:22 AM   #3
Pitt1999
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 91
Default

Are there older examples of these around? This example looks quite recent.
Pitt1999 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd January 2023, 04:52 PM   #4
Pitt1999
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 91
Default

I was going through a thread regarding Khevsur weapons and found mention of a Khevsur knife that was called an Ursa knife. I would be curious if anyone has an example of one of these.
Pitt1999 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3rd January 2023, 04:16 AM   #5
Ren Ren
Member
 
Ren Ren's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Russia, Moscow
Posts: 365
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pitt1999 View Post
Are there older examples of these around? This example looks quite recent.
You are absolutely right, this knife was made about 10 years ago by the Karachai knifemaker Ramzan Tekeyev. He is one of the few craftsmen who makes "Bichak" knives in accordance with all traditions.

Kindjals were carefully kept, because they were a valuable item, a symbol of social status, and they were passed from father to son. Old utility knives are 100 times rarer because they were used "until the blade becomes an awl."
Ren Ren is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:40 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.