Russian knives - who interested?

Serguisz, thank you for the review. The folders in your pics are exactly the ones I found very interesting. It is unfortunate that the quality is so bad.:(
 
El Cid,
Don’t despair, please! There are a lot of decent fixed blades made in Russia. You can get highly artistic knife made in the single piece only (damascus blade, hand crafted ivory handle and premium leather sheath with artistically burned pattern) for merely $400 or so. You can get nice damascus blade for $200 or wootz one for $300 – this is probably impossible anywhere more in Europe. Yes indeed, I’m not missing the sense of the terms – Russian metallurgists and forgers are experimenting with wootz secret restoring pretty successfully!

You can get simply but decently made puukko-styled fixed blade with nice leather sheath for $40 only.

I just should have somewhat more time to get in order my images, then I could show them at my homepage. It’s under construction now but I have no ideas when I could finish it...

However the folding knives certainly are not the strongest point of Russian manufacturers. Igor Skrilev and NOKS are trying to replace well-thought-out design and execution quality with odd look and overloading their knives with only seemingly useful gadgets. You would get for your money only oddly looking piece what can’t perform the most of functions it is probably intended for.

Dmitry,
No offence please, I’m just telling about what I saw with my own eyes.
 
Thanx, Serg.

Of course, you are right. I saw some posts on russan forums, which told me the same things about NOKS (OSA - masochist's dream), but I haven't tested this knives. Skrilev is famos for his "vapourware" abut his knives, especially Smersh and OSA series.

I must agree whith you again about russain folding knives (i post about this in this thread). Except, maybe, production of Shokurov and other hand-made ( or partially hand-make ) folders, mostly whith damascus blades.
 
Have you guys ever seen the work of Zaza Ravashvili? It's exquisite. Jack Levin also does nice work. I'm most interested in Russian antique knives. I have a couple of beautiful 19th century kindjals.
 
<a href="http://www.sergium.izet.pl/images/knives/russian/juzny_krest_1.jpg" target="_blank"><IMG align=right SRC="http://www.sergium.izet.pl/images/knives/russian/juzny_krest_1_tn.jpg" border="2"></a>Here is very decently made Russian knife from Yuzny Krest Company, I have got it at IWA year ago. It cost $40 only and it is worth every penny of the price.

Igor Skrilev asked about $80 (89 EURO) for his SMERSH-2 knives. Is the exotic name with the great aftertaste of carrion worth extra $40?

For someone who does not know. SMERSH stands from Smerc Shpionam (Death to Spies) - it was the counter-intelligence service in Stalin times, set up in 1943. The main idea was - if we will put before the firing squad all people the spies will be neutralized also. So the investigation if someone is spy or not usually was pretty short...
 
They said me the steel is close to 440C in composition. I don’t remember its Russian symbol, maybe Dmitry could know it. Seems to be hardened to somewhat lower HRC than Böker harden their blades...
The handle is made of birch bark pieces the same way as Ka-Bar or Camillus make their leather handles.
Brass handguard (if this can be considered as handguard).
Birch pommel, lanyard hole is lined with brass pipe.
Top-opened dark-tan leather dangling sheath what covers almost entire handle.
 
Steel is 95X18, which stands for ~0.95% Carbon and 18% Crome. This is 440C analog.
My Yuzhniy Krest is hardened to 56.2 HRC, but holds edge sharpness very well.
 
Neand, welcome and thanks for the great links. I wish I could read Russian. At least I got to look at some great picture and got to read whatever was in English.

This thread has been tremendously interesting and informative. Thank you for starting it Dmitry.:)
 
Don't feel bad. Russian is fairly hard to read and even harder to write. I studied it for 5 years and could not even start to read a novel in Russian. Best I can do is get by in conversation.
 
Sergiusz, Is that knife, the one with the birchbark handle, available for order from somewhere? I love birchbark handled knives. If you have any info on where I might order one, please let me know...

--Matt
 
Matt,
I have got mine at IWA (Nuremberg, Germany) year ago. BASKO Knife Company have sold them at their booth. No ideas about availability in America, sorry.
Probably Dmitry could know how to get them in Russia, maybe they sell overseas also.
 
Getting this knives in Russia is not problematic, but selling overseas can be a trouble. I think, russain laws forbids this. I'll check this issue and confirm or contradict it.
 
Yes, I check this and now I'm sure that I can send knife to US. But it will be your risk.
Anybody want to risk with his money?
 
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