MatthewVanitas
Member
Been doing some study here in Tajikistan over the summer (the landlocked mountainous country between China and Afghanistan), and, as always, been keeping an eye out for interesting knife/gun issues, alongside my literature and music interests.
I've attempted to find some cool Tajik knives here, but the situation is tragic. I've been to most of the bazaars in the capital, as well as the smaller one in the Ismaili Muslim city of Khorog. I've found one single guy who specialized in hand-made knives, and even those weren't terribly appealing. I couldn't tell much about his construction, as the join between scales and blade was globbed with a big wad of solder, stamped with a mark. If it's traditional, that's cool, but it looked a bit odd. They ran about C40 each for the small ones ($12), so I might go pick a couple up.
The rest of the knives in the bazaar were, without exception, Chinese or Pakistani junk. There were a large number of improbably large SAK ripoffs with 35 blades/tools, and other odd creations like hammers with blades in the handle, etc. Prices were high, easily $20 for a bulky Chinese SAK.
One of our Tajik teachers carried a decent-quality large tactical folder stamped "BUCK" on our trip to the mountains, not sure if real or ripoff. If real, it might have been brought as a gift from the States.
I did see some awesome knives at the museum. Basically small work knives, reminiscent in form of the things Bark River makes, but ornamented with silver, leather, maybe some semiprecious stones. The exhibits of traditional attire seemed to show that utility knives were commonly carried until Soviet times. The northern Tajik trad outfits were quite cool: blue robe with a knee-length black cloak, sash with sheathed knife tucked in, and high leather boots.
Bear in mind that this area is a global crossroads, having Persian, Buddhist, Greek, and Turkic/Mongol influences. "Furthest Alexandria", the easternmost city personally founded by Alexander the Great, is located in the modern Tajik city of Khorog. Cultural roots go way-back here.
I'll make some last trips to the bazaar, ask around about knives, but it appears the old ways dropped off pretty fast with Soviet industrialization, and then Chinese imports after independence. They do have some very cool old-fashioned axes here, but they're a little bulky to pack back.
Just thought folks might enjoy a little local color. Will be back in the States at the end of the summer.
I've attempted to find some cool Tajik knives here, but the situation is tragic. I've been to most of the bazaars in the capital, as well as the smaller one in the Ismaili Muslim city of Khorog. I've found one single guy who specialized in hand-made knives, and even those weren't terribly appealing. I couldn't tell much about his construction, as the join between scales and blade was globbed with a big wad of solder, stamped with a mark. If it's traditional, that's cool, but it looked a bit odd. They ran about C40 each for the small ones ($12), so I might go pick a couple up.
The rest of the knives in the bazaar were, without exception, Chinese or Pakistani junk. There were a large number of improbably large SAK ripoffs with 35 blades/tools, and other odd creations like hammers with blades in the handle, etc. Prices were high, easily $20 for a bulky Chinese SAK.
One of our Tajik teachers carried a decent-quality large tactical folder stamped "BUCK" on our trip to the mountains, not sure if real or ripoff. If real, it might have been brought as a gift from the States.
I did see some awesome knives at the museum. Basically small work knives, reminiscent in form of the things Bark River makes, but ornamented with silver, leather, maybe some semiprecious stones. The exhibits of traditional attire seemed to show that utility knives were commonly carried until Soviet times. The northern Tajik trad outfits were quite cool: blue robe with a knee-length black cloak, sash with sheathed knife tucked in, and high leather boots.
Bear in mind that this area is a global crossroads, having Persian, Buddhist, Greek, and Turkic/Mongol influences. "Furthest Alexandria", the easternmost city personally founded by Alexander the Great, is located in the modern Tajik city of Khorog. Cultural roots go way-back here.
I'll make some last trips to the bazaar, ask around about knives, but it appears the old ways dropped off pretty fast with Soviet industrialization, and then Chinese imports after independence. They do have some very cool old-fashioned axes here, but they're a little bulky to pack back.
Just thought folks might enjoy a little local color. Will be back in the States at the end of the summer.
