Pchak size and shape. Pchaki: national pride and universal knife. Advantages and disadvantages

Each people, depending on the characteristic geographical, climatic and socio-cultural conditions of life, adopted and received the greatest use of its own type of knife, which has distinctive features from similar tools of other nationalities. Among them belongs national Uzbek knife "pchak". Appearing, according to various sources, among the Central Asian peoples at the turn of the 14th-15th centuries, it has retained its form almost unchanged to this day.

General description of the Uzbek knife "pchak"

The name of the product comes from the Uzbek word "pechak", which means directly "knife". Pchak knives distributed throughout Central Asia with minor differences in proportions and decoration. Their characteristic features are a wide straight blade with one-sided sharpening and a thin (already blade) handle, which is attached flush with the butt.

The knife blade can be up to 50 mm wide. Its length is usually 16-22 cm. The section of the metal part is wedge-shaped, tapering from the butt to the blade. From the handle to the tip, the thickness of the knife gradually decreases: from 4-5 mm to zero. The descents are most often straight, less often - convex or concave. This geometry provides the product with excellent cutting properties.

Traditionally, carbon steel is used to make the blade. As a result of burnishing with ferrous sulfate, ferric chloride, or local varieties of clay, the metal surface acquires a specific dark color with a bluish or yellowish tint. Often the blades are hardened, decorated with an engraving or an embossed brand. It does Uzbek knife not only a necessary element of everyday life, but also distinguishes it as an object that characterizes the culture and life of an entire people.

The history of the spread of pchak knives since the times of the USSR

During the Soviet Union pchak uzbek knives could be found in the European part of the country in single copies, brought as souvenirs from tourist trips or expeditions in Central Asia. The most common was the production of the only knife factory in Uzbekistan in the city of Chust. To date pchak knives are made in semi-handicraft industries. Most of them are produced by the masters of the city of Shakhrikhan, Andijan region. There is a whole handicraft area where dynasties of blacksmiths and cutlers work.

Regular deliveries national Uzbek knives to Russia began to occur by the end of the 90s of the last century. It became possible to purchase them in retail trade: in specialized stores and oriental culinary shops. At the same time, specialized online stores, guided by increased demand, began to offer pchak knives: them a photo filled up many electronic catalogs. Today, not factory stamped products are in special demand, but products of specific craftsmen. Author's works are marked with engraved emblems of the manufacturer who made them. do-it-yourself pchak knife, depicting stars and a crescent in Islamic traditions.

Popular varieties of pchak knives: sharkhon and old Bukhara

On practice Uzbek knife pchak designed for household needs: cutting meat products, cleaning and cutting vegetables. Depending on the type of operations performed, knives of various shapes are used. Therefore, to complete the collection, it makes sense to purchase the main types of Uzbek knives the most common forms:

• kaike - with the tip of the blade raised up;
• tugri - with a straight blade and a smooth butt;
• kushkamalak - with a double fuller along the butt.

The most versatile in use are samples with a blade length of more than 14 cm. Such models are called "sharhon". They are very convenient for professional cutting of various products: without knocking on the cutting board, but in a fluffy manner, as in video culinary forums.

Along with the most popular Chust and the most common Andijan (Shakhrikhan) bees, you can find varieties called “Old Bukhara” in online catalogs. Their characteristic feature is an arcuately curved blade, evenly tapering towards the tip. Their second frequently used name is “Afghans”.

National Traditions of Finishing “Pchaka” Gift Samples

For souvenirs and collectibles, it is preferable to choose from piece goods from famous craftsmen. Each such pchak knife, a photo which can be seen on thematic sites and forums, is a masterpiece of a particular master. At the same time, custom-made knives go through all the necessary stages of hardening and sharpening, allowing them to be used in practice.

In addition to providing practical functions, gift pieces are finished in the best traditions of oriental color. To a large extent, this applies to the decoration of the handle, which Uzbek knives rather narrow in cross section, with a characteristic beak-shaped bend at the end. Valuable specimens are made from various types of wood, hoofed horns or metal. Often they are inlaid with mother-of-pearl or semi-precious stones.

Sharpening knives and care rules

The master in the manufacture sharpens do-it-yourself uzbek knife pchak on a corundum circle. The end of sharpening is determined by the tone of the sound that makes pchak knife, a video online can demonstrate this. You can adjust the sharpness of the blade from time to time simply on the bottom of the ceramic plate.

Subject to corrosion, the metal of the blade requires careful handling. Blades must not be left wet after use. They should be stored in a suspended state or on a stand, you need to wipe dry.

Depending on national traditions, geographical location and culinary preferences, each nation and nationality has its own knife, different from others. Uzbek, Finnish, Tajik, Indian - each of them is different. A Russian knife implies its use: on a hunt, on a camping trip, in close combat, for self-defense. The Japanese knife is associated with the samurai sword, which is the sharpest blade in the world. French cleavers resemble a saber with a handle. Knives are especially popular among the Central Asian peoples.

Uzbek knife - pchak

According to various sources, the pchak knife appeared among the peoples of Central Asia in the 14-15th century. To this day, its form has not changed. The name of the blade comes from a similar Uzbek word "pechak". Literally translated as "knife". Such forms of the knife are used throughout the Central Asian territory with minor changes in proportions and special decorations.

The width of the blade is within 5 centimeters, while its length is no more than 22 centimeters. The wedge-shaped section gradually decreases from the butt to the blade. The thickness of the knife, which is up to five millimeters near the handle, decreases closer to the edge of the blade. Excellent cutting qualities of the knife are achieved by slopes of various shapes: from straight to curved. The Uzbek pchak knife, the photo perfectly emphasizes its beauty, has an excellent balance.

Uzbek knives in 20-21 centuries

In the 20th century, the Uzbek handmade knife could be seen on European territory only in private collections of connoisseurs of Central Asian art. Very often they were brought home or to close friends after a tourist trip as a beautiful souvenir. Uzbek knives (the photo illustrates the beauty and a large selection) were industrially made only in the city of Chust, which is located in Uzbekistan.

Today, Uzbek knives are made almost by hand. The city of Shahrikhan, which is located in the Andijan region, is famous for the craftsmen who make the Uzbek pchak knife. This city has an area where several generations of blacksmiths and cutlers live and work. There are also knife makers in other parts of the country, but their work is not as well known. Author's knives are signed with branded emblems with the obligatory addition of stars and a crescent to emphasize the Islamic religion.

Varieties of pchak knives

The Uzbek knife is used in economic life, as well as in the kitchen. Given the different design options for the sharp end, there are several forms of pchak knives:

• blade "kaike" - the tip is raised to a height of up to eight millimeters - traditional Uzbek handmade knives;
• blade "tugri" - the end of the blade is sharp, the back of the knife is straight;
• blade "tolbargi" - another name for willow leaf, the butt of the knife is slightly lowered, which is practical when butchering animal carcasses;

• blade "Kazakhcha" - on the blade, not far from its sharp part, there is a depression, and the sharp end of the knife is above the line of the butt; a knife is used to work with fish;
• blade "kushmalak" - a distinctive feature is the presence of a doubled fuller along the butt.

The size of the Uzbek knife is:

• small (chirchik) - less than fourteen centimeters;
• ordinary (sharkhon) - up to seventeen centimeters;
• large (cow cutter) - up to twenty-five centimeters.

Finishing and decoration of Uzbek knives

Uzbek handmade knives are a masterpiece of the master's work. Each knife is made in a single copy. It goes through all stages: steel processing, hardening, finishing and sharpening. The master applies an ornament on the handle and blade. Expensive knives are decorated not only with national drawings. Here they add a generic family sign, add their own inscriptions, the “islimi” floral ornament, etc. The more carefully each part of the applied ornament is made, the more valuable the Uzbek knife is.

The handle is made of apricot, sycamore, plexiglass, parts of bones and horns are added. Often the handle is made from brazed sheet metal. The shank of the blade coincides with the shape of the handle and, expanding at the bottom, ends with a bend in the idea of ​​a hook. If the handle is made of wood or bone, then it is not decorated. If plexiglass was used, then it is supplemented with colored inclusions and wire. The handle made of horn is decorated with rhinestones and mother-of-pearl. The metal handle is decorated with engraving, rhinestones against the background of floral ornaments.

The bend at the bottom of the knife, or pommel, completes its design. It is made in the form of a hook to make it comfortable to hold the handle of an Uzbek knife. On the bottom of the handle there is always a notch for a convenient location of the little finger. The pommel is made of a hollow horn or special metal inserts.

Sheath for Uzbek knife

For an Uzbek knife, a sheath is considered an obligatory element. Masters used leather or dense fabric. The knife is located deep in the sheath, which does not require an additional lock. Inside the scabbard there are wooden inserts that protect them from being cut from the inside. National Uzbek knives are worn on the left side on the belt. To do this, a wide loop is added to the scabbard.

If the case is made of fabric, then it is decorated with national embroidery. Leather sheaths were decorated with brass and copper inserts. On black leather, craftsmen place a multi-colored pattern in a traditional style. It is not uncommon to see wooden cases.

Rules for storage and care

The blade of the Uzbek knife was forged from carbon steel. Previously, until the twentieth century, worn-out weapons or pieces of iron brought from other fears were used for this. Blade hardness should be between 50 and 56 Rockwell units. Given the low hardness of the material, the owner of the knife always undermines the blade. For this, it is not necessary to use special grinding bars. The soft material is easy to sharpen with a stone or the back of a bowl.

There are general rules for caring for a knife:

1. Sharpening of steel must be carried out from the butt to zero. The use of this type of blade sharpening allows you to cut very thin slices of food.
2. It must be remembered that soft steel sharpens well if a ceramic product is used, and may bend or dull when cutting hard foods or bones.
3. Carbon steel is quite porous. After use, the knife must be rinsed immediately and wiped dry.
4. If rust has appeared on the blade of an Uzbek knife, you can get rid of it with the help of mild cleaning products or sand.

Uzbek knives should be stored, after wiping, on a wooden knife stand. Their location in limbo is also welcome.

Uzbek kitchen knives

To work in the kitchen, you need to have several types of Uzbek knives. Small ones are great for peeling fruits and vegetables. Medium-sized vegetables can be easily cut and finely chopped. Large Uzbek kitchen knives are used to work with meat. A thin curved blade perfectly develops fish.

The Uzbek pchak knife can serve not only in the kitchen, but also be a wonderful gift. It is believed that such a gift from a best friend can protect from ill-wishers. A knife placed under a child's pillow protects the health of the baby and mother, attracts wealth and prosperity. The image of the Uzbek knife in embroidered items, on forged items, on ceramic items protects the owners from all sorts of misfortunes and troubles.

The Uzbek people have traditional weapons that are popular far beyond the borders of Uzbekistan. Thanks to the raised tip of the blade and the narrow handle, the Uzbek knife is easily recognizable. The history of the appearance of this blade goes far into the past.

The first Uzbek knives were discovered during excavations of settlements and ancient burials on the territory of Uzbekistan. The specimens found were created in the 4th-14th centuries and represent a narrow blade with a smoothly rounded edge. Archaeologists and historians attribute this width to grinding as a result of use.

The Uzbek knife is usually called “pchak” (pichok, pichak), which means “knife” in Uzbek and some other languages ​​​​of the Turkic group. Pchak blades were distinguished by their versatility: they were used both in battle and in the household. On ancient knives, images with emblems of craftsmen who forged weapons have been preserved. Most often, the invariable symbols of Islam are found on the blades - the star and the crescent.

It is believed that the masters preferred to put on the blade a number of stars equal to the number of their sons.

Ancient blades were made in the oldest city of the Ferghana Valley - Chust. This settlement was an ancient metal processing center. Traditionally, hereditary craftsmen were engaged in their production. In Soviet times, there was a knife factory in Chust, which is now closed. Later, pchaks began to be made in another ancient Uzbek city of Shakhrikhan. The production of ancient weapons is still concentrated in these cities, but now only private craftsmen make the pchak knife.

There is no historical evidence of the origin of the shape of the blade of the Uzbek knife, but there is a version according to which, in the time of Tamerlane, because of the fear of armed uprisings, the conquerors forced blacksmiths to forge blades with a rounded edge, since it is difficult to inflict a stab wound with such weapons.

Due to this feature, since the second half of the 20th century, the pchak has not been considered a melee weapon.

Kinds

Depending on the shape of the blade, Uzbek knives are divided into types presented in the table.

Advantages and disadvantages

The positive aspects of pchak explain its popularity among different categories of users. Knife Benefits:

1. Unusual appearance in oriental style. Such a blade immediately catches the eye.
2. Versatility. The product is indispensable in the kitchen, because with such a knife you can cut any food.
3. Long service life due to the ability of the blade not to become dull for a long time.

In addition to the positive aspects, the Uzbek pchak has a number of disadvantages:

1. The knife needs constant care, because when in contact with a humid environment, the blade quickly rusts.
2. In cases where the handle consists of two linings, a strip of cardboard is often laid between them inside, which can get wet with prolonged contact with water, so the knife cannot be soaked.
3. The price of the product is high. For a blade that can replace a whole arsenal of various devices, you will have to pay much more than for a set of classic kitchen knives.
4. A dull blade is difficult to sharpen at home; only a specialist can give it its former sharpness.

Despite the above disadvantages, the Uzbek knife is very popular with true connoisseurs of edged weapons.

Product Features

The Uzbek pchak has a peculiar appearance and a wide blade, which has a wedge-shaped cross section. At the point, the butt is narrowed. Since ancient times, the blade has been cast from both ordinary iron and high-quality steel. In cases where the knives were made of poor quality material, they were additionally treated with copper sulphate or clay.

On the blade, narrow valleys are traditionally cut, usually from above, parallel to the butt. Such elements do not have a functional purpose and carry only a symbolic function. The blade is usually decorated with an ornament, and the hilt with decorative inserts. The scabbard is made of leather or fabric with wooden inserts inside. Outside, the product is decorated with semi-precious as well as precious materials.

Blade

Depending on the purpose, the width and shape of the blade vary slightly:

• massive wide blades are suitable for chopping vegetables;
• medium universal models are good for cutting bread, dough products;
• for processing fish, separating meat from bones, a long, narrow blade is suitable.

All of the above types of blades have one thing in common - a sharp line of rise from the butt to the tip.

Lever

The Uzbek pchak has a thin handle, its section has a rounded shape. It is attached at the level of the butt and expands towards the end. Sometimes a hook-shaped bend is made at the end of the handle, next to it there is a notch for the little finger or its imitation. The knife handle has specific part names.

The handle is of two types:

1. Yerma - consists of two overlays-dies, attached to the shank with rivets. Such a handle can be type-setting from various stones and other materials.
2. Sukhma is a one-piece handle inserted into the shank. Such a handle is most often made of horn, wood, silver, brass.

The handles are additionally decorated with national ornaments made of precious or semi-precious stones, metals, pieces of colored glass, and plastic.

Components of a knife

The difference between working and collectible models

Depending on the purpose, Uzbek pchaks are divided into working and collection ones. For working models intended for use on the farm, the strength of the blade and the degree of its sharpening are important. In the production of such blades, high-strength carbon steel is used, which is additionally oxidized to increase hardness.

Among the working models are common:

• naryn-pichok - intended for cutting dough and products from it;
• kassob pichok - used for slicing meat.

Blades of collection models are made of stainless steel. Particular attention is paid to the material of the handle, as well as its decoration: handles are complemented with inserts made of expensive wood, horn, bone, precious metals or stones. For collectors, the place where the knife was made is important, as evidenced by the tamga (stamp) on the blade, which is decorated with engraving and carving with plant motifs. The best souvenir specimens are richly decorated with expensive materials and precious stones, their cost reaches several thousand dollars.

Souvenir knives, in addition to decorating collections, are used in national rituals and ceremonies. In particular, pchak is placed under the pillow if you want to conceive a child, since it is believed that in this case a boy will be born. So that the newborn does not cry, and also to protect him from dark forces, it is customary to place a pchak under his pillow along with a piece of bread and peas.

Collectible

Care and sharpening

Pchak, which is constantly used in the kitchen, is best stored in a stand that ensures the absence of moisture. After each use, to prevent rust, wipe the blade dry and then lubricate with vegetable oil.

Common ways to sharpen at home are:

1. Sharpening with stone. First, the tool is sharpened with a rough bar, passing along it with the cutting edge forward. The blade must be positioned at an angle of approximately 20° to the surface of the bar, after which the tool must be ground.
2. Sharpening on musat. The tool is placed at an angle of 45 °, driven with pulling movements towards itself along the entire plane of the musat, always observing safety precautions.

The process of sharpening an Uzbek knife is complex and long. That is why it is advisable to turn to specialists to give the blade sharpness.

whetstone

Video

Talking about Uzbekistan, I cannot but tell about the Uzbek national knife - pchak. Pchak or pechak (uzb. Pichoq - “knife”) is the national knife of the Central Asian peoples - Uzbeks and Uighurs. Traditionally, it has a straight wide blade made of carbon steel with a wedge-shaped section with one-sided sharpening, sometimes with a narrow fuller along the butt. A thin handle, round in cross section, is attached at the level of the butt, slightly widens towards the head, sometimes ending in a beak-shaped pommel. It can be made of horn, bone or wood, also inlaid with colored stone. Pchak is worn in a wide straight leather scabbard. Distributed throughout Central Asia with slight differences in ornament and proportions.

In Uzbekistan, they are made mainly in the eastern and central parts of the country - there were no such knives in Khiva, only imported ones. In Bukhara, in the very center of the city, there are several workshops where pchaks are made, but the prices here are somehow exorbitant, apparently calculated for tourists who come for a day.

Tools in the workshop

The main blank for a knife is an automobile valve, but they are also made from some cheap stainless steel, but it is carbon steel knives that are most valued. There is better steel, there is Damascus, but the prices for such knives are appropriate.

After forging, the knives receive a handle made of fiberglass, plexiglass, metal, horn, bone, and then they are roughly sharpened on a grinding wheel.

After polishing, they are often applied with a pattern or inscriptions.

I still don’t understand why the knife is covered with a thin layer of hot paraffin (?)

Let him cool down

Apparently in order to then draw a sketch with a special brush, which in the future will be a drawing or an inscription

The final sharpening is done on such a grindstone

Sometimes, at the request of the client, a gift inscription is applied

Workshop

Well, the knives themselves

I bought one for myself in the market in Tashkent - an excellent knife in the household! Sharpening on a fork

Uzbek knife pchak (history of origin, working hypothesis).

Once upon a time in 1991, as a student at the Department of Archeology of Moscow State University, I went on an archaeological expedition organized by the Museum of Oriental Peoples to Samarkand. One of the first impressions that struck me then in a village near Samarkand were old people (babais) constantly meeting on the street in wadded robes (chapans), belted with a belt, on which one could often see a knife hanging in a sheath. As the "senior comrades" explained to me at the time, old people are allowed to walk the streets with a knife, because the knife is considered an element of the national costume. I gathered my courage and asked an old man to show me his knife. Not without pride, he took it out of its scabbard and showed it (in the village they knew that I was from an archaeological expedition and were treated with respect). I had never seen such an instance before. It was very unusual - a thin hilt at the base of the blade, expanding to the pommel (as if ending with a "head"), made of horn, and a straight wide blade with a smooth rise to the back, forming a rather sharp tip. The knife was polished so that I could see my reflection in it, and on its blade, closer to the handle, there was an ornament made in "Arabic script". The old man called it a pichok (knife) and said that I could buy the same one at the market on the outskirts of the city.

On the next weekend, I went to the market and after a long bargain with the seller, I became the owner of the largest copy of those that he had on the counter that day. After returning from the expedition, for many years I became the owner of a knife that all my friends envied.

Figure 1. Pchak from Samarkand, 1991.

Today, of course, things are different. Buying a pchak in Moscow is not a problem. But when buying pchak, many do not know what they are buying.

The history and origin of the pchak is hazy and confused.

Today, pchak is called the traditional national knife of the peoples living in Central Asia - Uzbeks and Uyghurs.

The specimens of the 19th-20th centuries closest to modern ones (ethnographic material that became known to modern science after the entry of Central Asia into the Russian Empire in the second half of the 19th century, obtained as a result of various expeditions), which are now presented in museums, show us a completely different type knife - with a narrow blade and a long and smooth rise to the point. Explain this shape of the blade simply. The blades of these pchaks are sharpened to the limit, and the change in shape occurred as a result of long-term practical use.

Archaeological data also do not give us an unambiguous answer to the question of the origin of the pchak: in Sogdiana (the territory covering modern Uzbekistan) in the 5th-8th centuries, two types of knives were common: 1. With a straight blade; 2.With curved blade. The maximum width of the blades of the found specimens is 1.8 cm, the stalk is lamellar with a narrowing from the blade to the tip (from 3 mm to 1 mm). All knives were of different sizes, with a total length of up to 14.5 cm, the length of the handle, at the same time, up to 3.5 cm. Both types were widespread and found in large numbers in Penjikent, Kayragach, and Shahristan. (Yakubov Yu. "Early medieval settlements of the mountainous Sogd. Dushanbe, 1988, p. 235).

It is worth noting the extremely poor preservation of the finds (the climate and layers of Central Asia are merciless to iron), which makes typology extremely difficult.

Figure 2. Images of found knives that date back to the 5th-8th centuries (numbers 4-6).

There are also archaeological data on knives found in the burials of nomads in Central Asia, dating back to the last quarter of the 14th century. These "Standard Utility Blade Design" knives represent a remarkably durable, consistent series. They have the following characteristic features. The back of the blades forms a weakly pronounced arc, smoothly descending towards the nose. The cutting edge is arcuate, but steeper than the back. The central axis of the blade and handle is shifted towards the back. The length of the blades ranges from 6 to 14 cm. The thickness is 1.5 mm, the width of the blade at the base is 1-1.5 cm (depending on the length). The handle is subtriangular in shape, 2-4 cm long. The width of the handle at the base is about half the width of the blade. The ratio of the length of the blade to the length of the handle is slightly more than 3:1.

The handle is always separated from the blade by strictly perpendicular ledges, which are structural features. A narrow - 1.5-2 mm wide and thick iron clip was welded to the base of the blade, which is a kind of lock that locks the knife in the sheath. This is a very fragile, often unpreserved part. Its presence is evidenced by the strict perpendicularity of the ledges and the traces imprinted by it, which can be seen on the unrestored metal.

The knives also had a wooden scabbard, which is fixed by traces of wood on the blades.
This type of knife was widespread among nomads already at the end of the first millennium AD.

Illustration 3. Image of nomad knives in the last quarter of the 1st millennium, type 3 according to Minasyan.

All mentioned types of knives have nothing to do with the current form of pchak. It is not yet possible to answer when and under what circumstances the hilt shank rose to the line of the back of the blade so that the hilt stalk is located in the upper third of the blade, and what it was connected with.
That is, ancient copies of knives show us a completely different structural type. The emergence of the modern type of pchak can be explained by the fact that it was introduced from outside or existed in the region, but such knives are still unknown and not described.

On the Internet, there is an opinion about the appearance of knives of a similar shape in Central Asia in the XIV-XV centuries. Their appearance is partly associated with the conquest of Asia by Tamerlane and "an indirect ban on local men to carry weapons / daggers." The authorities could not deprive the Uzbeks of the right to carry weapons, and the most common type of weapons, due to their availability, were knives or daggers. This is an age-old tradition, sacredly revered in the East. And then they turned to the pichakchik artisans (knife artisans), who were "convinced" to change the design of the knife for the population, turning it into a household item. To compensate for the loss of the combat qualities of the knife, Uzbek craftsmen turned to the external form. So a new form of hilt arose, very reminiscent of the hilt of a saber or card.

Changing the form simultaneously solved another problem - in the fights with knives (in Uzbek "pichakbozlik"), the opponents tried not to kill, but only to injure, otherwise it was supposed to pay the relatives of the victim a large "khun" for the murder - a ransom for blood. The emerging form of the knife reduced the likelihood of death in such knife fights.

But this point of view does not have full-fledged reasonable sources, transitional/early forms of pchaks are unknown.

It is possible to consider a hypothesis about the independent development of the pchak, which was originally an exclusively household (kitchen, cook, table) item and appeared in Central Asia under external influence, but so far its early finds are unknown.

It should be said right away that the typological form of the pchak (one line of the back and the handle) is found in different cultures, in different eras and refers, first of all, to knives for household (kitchen) purposes. For example, bronze knives of the Karasuk type.

Figure 4. Karasuk knives. (D.A. Avdusin, "Fundamentals of archeology")

Another example is the knives of the first millennium of Eastern Europe, which are characterized by a smooth line of transition from the back to the handle with a slight "top" in the central part. A stalk in the form of a narrow triangle 4-5 cm long, as a rule, is separated from the side of the cutting edge by a smooth ledge. The cutting edge of whole specimens of such knives is straight and only towards the end is bent upwards.

Figure 5. Knives with a "blade back turning into a stalk without ledges", type 1 according to Minasyan.

Direct transitions of the line of the back of the blade (butt) into the handle are also found on Russian "table / kitchen" knives of the XV-XVI centuries from Zaryadye (Moscow).

Illustration 6. Knives from Zaryadye, dating back to the 16th-17th centuries.

A typologically similar knife shape is found even on the other side of the globe - gaucho knives in Argentina.

Figure 7. Gaucho knife from Argentina.

Finally, if we turn to the present, we immediately recall Japanese kitchen / chef's knives, which also have a configuration similar to the pchak, with thin handles and a direct transition from the back of the blade (butt) to the handle.

One cannot fail to say that Central Asia is a vast territory along which the Great Silk Road from China ran in ancient times, trade relations with India and the Mediterranean countries were carried out. This land is full of historical events. Today we learn about them from the writings of ancient Greek and Roman authors, medieval manuscripts of Arab scribes, discovered archaeological sites.
At the dawn of human history, until the 4th century AD, empires were created and collapsed on the territory of Central Asia: Persian, Alexander the Great and the Seleucids. The Greco-Bactrian, Krishan and Parthian kingdoms existed and disappeared. Later, part of these lands was part of the Sassanid state, in the Arab Caliphate. In the XI-XIII centuries. no less powerful states arose on these lands: the Ghaznavids, Karahnids, Ghurids and Khorezmshahs.

After the conquest of this territory by the Mongols, the Chagatai Khanate was formed, and then the huge power of Timur and his descendants.

The lands of Central Asia became the homeland of many Turkic nomadic tribes engaged in cattle breeding. But this is also the place where the most ancient agricultural cultures appeared.
Located at the crossroads of trade and migration routes, there has always been a cultural influence from the outside: the influence of nomads from the eastern degrees, the influence of Iranian (Persian) culture from Asia Minor (Persia), the Hellenistic influence, the influence of the cultures of India and China.

Undoubtedly, similar forms/types of knives of Indo-Iranian and Turkic origin - Iranian kard, Turkish bichag, Indo-Iranian peshkabz, chura, karud and khayber, Indian kirpan - influenced the appearance of the pchak among the Uzbeks. All these knives are more often dated no earlier than the 16th, or even the 17th-18th centuries, only peshkabs are sometimes attributed to the 15th century.
At the end of the "historical review", one can make an assumption about the emergence of pchaks already after the 15th century under the influence of the Indo-Iranian tradition with a "hard functional purpose" - a kitchen/chef's knife. The owners of pchaks are well aware of how great they are for cutting meat and vegetables.
But for Uzbeks, this is not just a good kitchen knife, but also a wonderful gift for a man, which has a sacred meaning. Edged weapons are an indispensable attribute of national clothing among many peoples of the East. Even those who, due to their social status, do not have the right to own long-bladed weapons (farmers and artisans), wear a knife in a sheath on their belt.

In contrast to the superstition that prevails among us that it is impossible to give knives (it supposedly brings misfortune), in Central Asia such a gift is still considered prestigious and desirable. According to the ideas of the peoples of Central Asia, sharp and pointed objects acquire the power of protective amulets that drive away misfortune and disease. And the pchak is also credited with a similar power of a talisman. A knife placed under the pillow in the head of an infant is considered a means of protecting his health. If an adult falls ill, a knife can be put on his head instead of a compress, thus protecting him from the action of evil forces.

A pchak presented by a son to his father demonstrates great attention and love, and such a gift is considered a great honor for the father.

The knife is also given to a “real dzhigit”, to each potential warrior - a young man who has reached the age of 18.
Most often, knives (household, not weapons), as elements of national clothing, are found among nomadic cattle breeders and hunters - North American Indians, the Argentine people of Gaucho, Yakuts, Buryats, Laplanders.

And in the case of pchak, there is a direct influence of the Turkic-speaking nomadic peoples who came in the Middle Ages to the territory of settled farmers - the Uzbeks.
In this part of the review, some aspects of the origin and purpose of the pchak were considered. In the second part, we will talk about the design and types of the modern pchak knife.