Uzbek pchak medium(40X13, plexiglass handle) 2

Pchak (from the Uzbek word Pichoq – knife) is a traditional knife of the Uzbeks and Uyghurs, widespread with slight variations in detail throughout Central Asia. Pchaks traditionally feature a single-edged blade with a full flat grind, set into a narrow handle with a round cross-section. A narrow tang extends from the blade at the spine level. These are utility knives meant for kitchen work, although among the Uyghurs, the pchak was a male attribute, so it must have also been used as a weapon. Pchaks were made from various materials; for the wealthy, they could feature high-quality steel with lavishly decorated elements, though such pieces were rare. Wootz and Damascus steel were mostly reserved for sabers, while mass-produced pchaks were made from carbon steels of lower hardness.

This particular stainless steel pchak belongs to the Kayke type, where the tip of the knife is raised above the spine line. It is worth emphasizing that the vast majority of Uzbek stainless steel pchaks are forged. In Russia, even when speaking of handcrafted knives, only harder stainless steels like 95x18 or H12MF are forged. Uzbek craftsmen source the material for their knives from scrap parts such as engine valves, tools, etc., which means it must be forged down. Yerma-type handle, meaning it is not a solid block but consists of a metal liner and handle scales - in this case, quite bright scales made of polymer glass (plexiglass). This is the Uzbek equivalent of a hidden tang configuration, where instead of a thin rod, a wider tang goes inside the handle. The sheath, featuring a form traditional to knives from this region, is made of thin leather decorated with an embossed ornament.

Overall length: 283 mm

Blade length: 156 mm

Blade width (max.): 36 mm

Blade thickness (max.): 3 mm

Steel (according to Russian nomenclature): 40x13