Uzbek Pchak 8 (carved black hornbeam, stabilized birch insert)

The Pchak (from the Uzbek word Pichoq – knife) is a traditional knife of the Uzbeks and Uyghurs, common throughout Central Asia with slight variations in detail. Pchaks traditionally have a single-edged blade with a full flat grind set in a (mostly) narrow, round-profiled handle. The narrow tang extends from the blade level with the spine. These are utility knives, intended for kitchen tasks, although among the Uyghurs, the pchak was a man's attribute and therefore must have also been used as a weapon. Pchaks were made from various materials; for the wealthy, they could be crafted from high-quality steels with richly decorated handles, yet such pieces were rare. Bulat and Damascus steel were more commonly used for sabers, while mass-produced pchaks were made from low-hardness carbon steels.

This particular pchak is a "kajke" type – the tip of the knife is raised above the spine line. The blade is made of highly hardened (58-60 HRC) U8 steel (Russian: Y8). The value of the knife is determined by its lavish handle, constructed from carved black hornbeam with an insert of stabilized Karelian birch, decorated with sadaf (mother-of-pearl). The sheath, in a traditional form for knives from this region, is made of artificial leather with a plastic insert and decorative embossing. The blade has a dark grey hue typical for pchaks; in the past, this effect was achieved by treating the blade with clay of a special chemical composition. I cannot guarantee that the same method is used today.

Overall length: 270 mm

Blade length: 133 mm

Blade width (max.): 30 mm

Blade thickness (max.): 3 mm

Steel (according to Russian nomenclature): Y8