Russian knife - Taiga (RosArms, Zlatoust)

nozh2002

nozh2002

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I bought just recently three russian knives from RosArmsUSA. I was pretty impresed by look, usability and quality of my first and second russian knives, so I decide to add more to my collection.

Initially I was bit sceptical, because I get used to poor production quality of almost anithing made in USSR (only weapon systems were made right under commies). But I was surprized by quality of this knives made in Russia - it is like 75 years old curse lifted now and you may see real russian staff now. It is not just beautifull, but very well made!

This is first one Taiga. Huge knife - I realize it only when hold it in my arms, picture kind of confuse me, because of blade width it looks like medium size knife - similar proportions (same as Ranger RD6, see photo below with KaBar and RD6).

Length - 7 1/2" (190mm)
Width - 1 9/16" (39mm)
Thickness - 13/64" (5 mm)
Weight - 12.63oz (358g)
Steel - 110X18 MShD (1.1C 17Cr like 440C in same range)

Blade is KaBar like, but wider also blood grove is only on one side and very thin. Steel on my opinion - premium stee, I did not run fomal testing, just sharpened it and use a bit around house, it fell like all this ATS-34, VG-10, 440C etc.

The trade mark of Zlatoust - birch bark handles, but each model has as option birch bark, leather or birch nodule handle. This one is leather. Leather sheets are quite thin - 5 times thiner then KaBar has a pretty comfortable. Handle shape is quite 3Dimentional, hard to explain very handy, it is like thin fish and fits hand very well. Handle treated with some compound based on bee wax which penetrate into handle - no any film or anything like this on handle, it is not sticky and it is not slick eather - some propritary compaund formla. Zlatoust is 150 years old bladesmith city like Zolingen or Seki - they have some trade secrets...

I was amaized how they manage to make leather handle looks nice with this wight and yellow stripes on bleckish background.

Guard and pommel is aluminium and as I notice wide and thin pommet is almost on all RosArms knives. And this is very usefull design, espcially for chopping etc.

In comarison with other knives - I think it plays in Bowie league, like KaBar 1217 or Ranger Knives RD6. Taiga is bit bigger and also looks bit more like custom, IMHO:

Taiga means huge endless forest which covers almost all Syberia region. So this is suitable name for this solid substantial knife. Again it is just beatifull and very well made!

Same with a lot of big pictures:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=383789

Thanks, Vassili.
 
That is a good looking knife! I can't blame ya' for being so happy with it.

The Birchbark handle is definitely a touch of class in the modern world of G-10, carbon fiber, micarta, and rubber.
 
Today I first tryed it - did some chopping in the backyard. It is some kind of rose - bush wich fall down with the fence. It is pretty hard byt not dry. I also put on test Ranger Knives RD6 and KaBar Next Generation (real one with Sandvic). I did about two hours of chopping - chop branches from about 1 1/2" but in average 1/2" thick, I tried to use all knives evenly.

RD6 is havy, but gravity center is too close to handle which make hard to do chopping move it is OK but not flying. Also bottom of the handle has some sharp angle which wound my palm little bit, and this bother me, especially when you do hard chopping and palm is already tiered. Also G10 is kind of slippery in comparison to Kraton or leather.

KaBar is better balanced for chopping. But what I found that round handle not informative enough - my arm does not feel orientation of the blade and sometimes it is turned a bit one side or another and in result it ruine chopping.

Taiga is heavy enough and well balanced. But most important, handle is thin and wide especially at the end which orientate blade just right. It was most comfortable to chop. However all knives did well in terms of job being done, but I have more "pleasure" with Taiga.

After chopping I inspect edges - all knves do not have any visible damage.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I think I'm gonna have to pick up one of the Russian knives. If you don't count the last 80 years, they have a great history of craftsmanship.
 
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