Reacquainting myself with items in my collection...

These two Russian made knives got some TLC last evening.
Both were made by the 'A&R Zlatoust' company.

I believe both of these knives have 1/4" thick blades. The smaller knife has a steel guard with an aluminum pommel, and the bigger knife has an aluminum guard and aluminum pommel. Both have walnut handles.
Their blade steel is a Russian Stainless comparable to American 440C.

It's obviously the wood that benefits most from the ren wax treatment done on these stainless steel knives, but the metal received the full treatment as well....

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Politics aside, my collection includes about 20 or so Russian made knives. Their solid feeling construction and fit & finish have impressed me.
They also tend to be quite unique, having their own flair.

My currently owned Russian made knives consist of these 4 brands...

*A&R Zlatoust
*Kizlyar
*RosArms
*Nord Crown

My Nord Crown knife is the highest end of the four brands of Russian knives that I currently own, a firm pretty much known world wide as a quality Art Knife company.
My only Nord Crown...
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I happen to enjoy some diversity in my collection, and having knives from different parts of the world is a part of that diversity.
 
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And, this morning, with it being July 4th, (our great US Independence Day), I picked out this small USA made fixed blade knife for receiving some of my routine TLC.

It's a Great Eastern Cutlery knife, (located in Pennsylvania USA), made under their 'Tidioute' brand.
The blade is crafted out of 1095 carbon steel, handle scales made of Stag, and it's pins/guard/shield are made of nickel silver.

Being Independence Day, I felt it was fitting to pick an American made knife out for some TLC'ing, and the British Penny is in the photo for size comparison AND... to represent the Nation our Country got it's Independence from.
👍🇺🇸👍

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This one received some TLC today.

It's a WW2 era Folding Machete made by Camillus Cutlery under a US Military contract. I believe they were part of a plane's bailout kit for the Army Air Force (AAF).
There seems to have been 3 companies making them for the military... Case, Camillus, and Cattaraugus.

I picked this specimen up at a locally held Gun Show a few years back, my having paid $75 for it.
In my opinion, these are an under-rated military WW2 collectable. Why do I say that? Well, I think that it's cool/unique factor is quite over the top. I mean... a FOLDING MACHETE made for the US military!... How freaking cool is that! And yet, they can still be had for a pretty affordable price. For the condition this one is in, $75 was a steal of a deal, but $150 to $175 is fairly common, which in my opinion is a very low price to purchase such a sliver of history.
👍🇺🇸😃🇺🇸👍

Anyhow, although it obviously has an aged patina look, it's cutting edge looks to be totally factory issue/unused.
I believe it's overall aged appearance was simply gained by handling and storage during it's 75+ years of it's existence.

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I set up this display shortly after purchasing the machete.
I also found a picture online with some description of them and showing the machete in the open and folded positions... So, I made a copy of the photo and affixed it into the display's interior 👍
 
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jfk1110 said:
Something about those Russian blades definitely grabs one's attention!!!!

Me like!!!!👍👍👍
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Thank you!
Yeah, the Russian knives do offer a unique touch to my already very eclectic collection of "interesting objects'.
I'm really glad to have included them into the mix 👍

I decided to TLC another one of my A&R Zlatoust knives today... They call this one their 'Grizzly' model. It's a well made and very nimble in the hand Bowie knife.
Although it's has an over 8 1/2" blade, and has a decent thickness (5mm), it does start to progressively distal taper just past the half way point of the blade's spine to the blade's tip. It also incorporates a full flat grind, so it's light weight feel is pretty amazing for the pretty large knife that it is.
It wouldn't make for a good chopper, but I imagine that it's balance and nimbleness would be pretty well liked by folks that practice Bowie fighting tactics. It has an unsharpened false swedge, but of course someone wanting it for such a use could sharpen that area.

The US located vendor that I purchased two thirds of my Russian knives from, had been out of stock for over a year on this model.
I got tired of waiting, so I wound up getting this one from a vendor in Finland 👍

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Here is a video put up by someone on youtube about this model knife.
The only difference between the one in the video and my specimen, is that the video shows a Birch wood handle, where mine is a Walnut wood handle...

 
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TC said:
Nice one. Reminds me of the Böker Arbolito "El Gigante".
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I actually also have the Boker Arbolito 'El Gigante'.

I think they do have some similar lines, but the Grizzly has about a 3/4 inch shorter blade, and is 5mm thick compared to El Gigante' 1/4" thick blade. The Grizzly is much more nimble.
While the El Gigante is not a chopper, it would likely be just fine doing occasional light to medium chopping in a pinch.
Imo, I would recommend against doing any chopping with the Grizzly, it literally is built more as a big stealthy fighter. The Grizzly is more a cutter and thrust knife, than an all around outdoor tool.
The Grizzly is serial numbered and listed as a cold weapon in Russia.

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Btw, the Agentinian made Boker Arbolito 'El Gigante' is truly a thing of beauty!
And, it's a better all around tool than the Grizzly would be.
Both very nice for what each one was meant to be.
👍😊👍
 
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PocketKnifeJimmy said:
I actually also have the Boker Arbolito 'El Gigante'.

I think they do have some similar lines, but the Grizzly has about a 3/4 inch shorter blade, and is 5mm thick compared to El Gigante' 1/4" thick blade. The Grizzly is much more nimble.
While the El Gigante is not a chopper, it would likely be just fine doing occasional light to medium chopping in a pinch.
Imo, I would recommend against doing any chopping with the Grizzly, it literally is built more as a big stealthy fighter. The Grizzly is more a cutter and thrust knife, than an all around outdoor tool.
The Grizzly is serial numbered and listed as a cold weapon in Russia.

View attachment 1861941

Btw, the Boker El Gigante is truly a thing of beauty!
And, it's a better all around tool than the Grizzly would be.
Both very nice for what each one was meant to be.
👍😊👍
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Yes, I've seen you mention the El Gigante before. Very nice, on my watch list. Without scale or a side-by-side they struck me as having a similar profile. Of course, the direct comparison shows the differences. (Why, at 200 feet, in the fog, you could mistake one for the other!)
 
TC said:
Yes, I've seen you mention the El Gigante before. Very nice, on my watch list. Without scale or a side-by-side they struck me as having a similar profile. Of course, the direct comparison shows the differences. (Why, at 200 feet, in the fog, you could mistake one for the other!)
Click to expand...
The Grizzly is basically a Bowie knife marketed as a "Hunting Knife". But, it has more fighter Bowie in it than Hunting Bowie.
You may like this short video clip.
It starts off with Doug Marcaida handling the Grizzly knife, and he's impressed by it. Watch how easily he gets a feel for it and handles it like he's had it forever... Really cool!
He mentions it's light weight as a positive... Well, obviously, with him preferring fighting knives.
Right after he handles the Grizzly, he is handed another knife that is described as being "tactical". But, although Doug is courteous and polite, and does say that it's also a good knife, you can tell he wasn't impressed as he was with the Grizzly...

 
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Thanks for sharing Jimmy.

You mentioned the grizzly being a “cold weapon” in Russia, and having a serial number. Could you elaborate? What’s a cold weapon?
 
JM2 said:
Thanks for sharing Jimmy.

You mentioned the grizzly being a “cold weapon” in Russia, and having a serial number. Could you elaborate? What’s a cold weapon?
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It seems that the Russian government has certain criteria to distinguish a knife being a legal civilian tool, or a weapon.

If it is considered a legal civilian tool, it can be made and sold to the public without any restrictions.

If it deemed as being a weapon, it has to be serial numbered and can only be owned by a civilian having some sort of permit to own issued by the government.

The Grizzly knife is restricted in Russia, as it is deemed as being a weapon.
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
It seems that the Russian government has certain criteria to distinguish a knife being a legal civilian tool, or a weapon.

If it is considered a legal civilian tool, it can be made and sold to the public without any restrictions.

If it deemed as being a weapon, it has to be serial numbered and can only be owned by a civilian having some sort of permit to own issued by the government.

The Grizzly knife is restricted in Russia, as it is deemed as being a weapon.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the information.

So is firearms hot weapons and knives cold weapons?
 
JM2 said:
Thanks for the information.

So is firearms hot weapons and knives cold weapons?
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Based on the definition I found online, a gun would be a "firearm"... I guess the fire part of that word would automatically mean that it is the opposite of the word cold that is used in the term "cold weapon".

Here is the definition for Cold Weapon that I found online...

A cold weapon (or white arm) is a weapon that does not involve fire or explosions (such as the act of combustion) as a result from the use of gunpowder or other explosive material. Ranged weapons that do not require gunpowder or explosive materials and melee weapons are cold weapons, including: knives, daggers, swords, bayonets, clubs, axes, spears, slings, bows, and crossbows. Firearms, explosives (such as grenades, mines, bombs, rockets, and missiles), and similar weapons which rely on heat or burning are not classified as cold weapons but as firearms.


I would say that out of my 20 or so Russian knives, three quarters of them are listed as cold weapons in Russia, and these knives have the required serial numbers on them.
The non cold weapons do not have serial numbers.
 
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PocketKnifeJimmy said:
It seems that the Russian government has certain criteria to distinguish a knife being a legal civilian tool, or a weapon.

If it is considered a legal civilian tool, it can be made and sold to the public without any restrictions.

If it deemed as being a weapon, it has to be serial numbered and can only be owned by a civilian having some sort of permit to own issued by the government.

The Grizzly knife is restricted in Russia, as it is deemed as being a weapon.
Click to expand...

Jimmy & JM2 JM2 :

IIRC "civilian" knives are not allowed to have a guard in Russia. Hence, any knife with a guard is considered a restricted weapon.
 
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I received this Buck Custom Shop made Harley Davidson exclusive Bowie knife today. It was made in 1984, and it's in mint condition.
I gave it some Renaissance Wax TLC 👍

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I also worked a little bit on the walnut display/storage box that it came with.
It's in nice shape, but it's hasps were flimsy and damaged, needing replacement. One shown here in this picture...

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Here's a picture showing the display/storage box after my installing some new replacement hasps and giving the whole thing a coating of Renaissance Wax...

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TC said:
Jimmy & JM2 JM2 :

IIRC "civilian" knives are not allowed to have a guard in Russia. Hence, any knife with a guard is considered a restricted weapon.
Click to expand...

I believe it's a wee bit more complicated than that.
As an example, here's one of my Russian made knives that I gave a routine wipe down on today. Notice it has a guard, but it is not considered a cold weapon in Russia.
The designer is supposedly a well known ex Russian military personnel that designed the knife to skirt the "cold weapon" rules set by the authorities in Russia. It meets Russia's sporting/non cold weapon category, and therefore is non serial numbered.
As one can see, it has an obvious weapon look about it. How they met the requirements to keep it off the Russian cold weapon list, I have no idea. But, again, it does have a guard, but is not a cold weapon.

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By the way, both edges are factory sharpened.

The following web page gives some good insight on this model, and mentions it not being a "cold weapon" 👍


I enjoy having unique items, (such as this knife), in my collection 👍😊👍
 
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PocketKnifeJimmy said:
I believe it's a wee bit more complicated than that.
As an example, here's one of my Russian made knives that I gave a routine wipe down on today. Notice it has a guard, but it is not considered a cold weapon in Russia.
The designer is supposedly a well known ex Russian military personnel that designed the knife to skirt the "cold weapon" rules set by the authorities in Russia. It meets Russia's sporting/non cold weapon category, and therefore is non serial numbered.
As one can see, it has an obvious weapon look about it. How they met the requirements to keep it off the Russian cold weapon list, I have no idea. But, again, it does have a guard, but is not a cold weapon.

View attachment 1864258View attachment 1864259

By the way, both edges are factory sharpened.

The following web page gives some good insight on this model, and mentions it not being a "cold weapon" 👍


I enjoy having unique items, such as this knife, in my collection 👍😊👍
Click to expand...

Perhaps then it was about the length of the guard. Or the laws changed since then...???

'twas just something stuck in my mind about RU knife restrictions. Perhaps the source info was wrong. BTW, I bought one of those Kizlyar daggers a year or so ago. Unlike most I've seen here and elsewhere it isn't a bayonet type grind and doesn't have serrations. Just a symmetrical leaf shape blade. .... just found a pic (not mine):

 
TC said:
Perhaps then it was about the length of the guard. Or the laws changed since then...???

'twas just something stuck in my mind about RU knife restrictions. Perhaps the source info was wrong. BTW, I bought one of those Kizlyar daggers a year or so ago. Unlike most I've seen here and elsewhere it isn't a bayonet type grind and doesn't have serrations. Just a symmetrical leaf shape blade. .... just found a pic (not mine):

Click to expand...
I've been wanting one of those for years. Too bad what's going on in Ukraine :(.
 
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