Kazakhcha Style Pchak?

RobT · 5th May 2022, 12:02 AM

Hi All,

Given the wealth of information provided to me in my previous pchak post, I decided to see what ya'll make of this old veteran. The pitted blade and broken tip show that it has had a hard life (the hilt scales look like something taken from a Hallstatt burial site). If the tip were intact, the blade would measure about 21.3cm (8-3/8") and the spine is about 5.5mm (about 7/32") at the hilt. Distal taper is slight (only really present in the clip point). The bolsters appear to be copper. Immediately behind the bolster, the hilt scales are decorated with a vertical row of dots sandwiched between two vertical lines that parallel the bolster. Behind the second of these lines is a third line. The scales are held onto the tang with three steel rivets. Two of the rivets are encircled by a pattern of four dots but the rivet at the butt has six dots. The scales (antler?) aren't really eared but do widen out towards the butt. Just before the butt, the scales are notched and that notch is echoed in the tang. There is a portapee loop at the end of the tang. The sheath is formed from two pieces of leather stitched along the edge and spine. Presumably the leather covers two pieces of wood which appear to be also held together with twine or a thong up by the throat. The shape of the sheath matches the blade shape and the blade fits perfectly. Given the good condition and apparent newness of the sheath, it would appear that the knife was in use relatively recently.

Sincerely,
RobT

5th May 2022, 12:02 AM	#1
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 458	Kazakhcha Style Pchak? Hi All, Given the wealth of information provided to me in my previous pchak post, I decided to see what ya'll make of this old veteran. The pitted blade and broken tip show that it has had a hard life (the hilt scales look like something taken from a Hallstatt burial site). If the tip were intact, the blade would measure about 21.3cm (8-3/8") and the spine is about 5.5mm (about 7/32") at the hilt. Distal taper is slight (only really present in the clip point). The bolsters appear to be copper. Immediately behind the bolster, the hilt scales are decorated with a vertical row of dots sandwiched between two vertical lines that parallel the bolster. Behind the second of these lines is a third line. The scales are held onto the tang with three steel rivets. Two of the rivets are encircled by a pattern of four dots but the rivet at the butt has six dots. The scales (antler?) aren't really eared but do widen out towards the butt. Just before the butt, the scales are notched and that notch is echoed in the tang. There is a portapee loop at the end of the tang. The sheath is formed from two pieces of leather stitched along the edge and spine. Presumably the leather covers two pieces of wood which appear to be also held together with twine or a thong up by the throat. The shape of the sheath matches the blade shape and the blade fits perfectly. Given the good condition and apparent newness of the sheath, it would appear that the knife was in use relatively recently. Sincerely, RobT Attached Images