Sakha is one of the Turkic nations, living further north of all. Sakha people managed to survive in the Extreme North conditions thanks to mastering iron-smelting processes and breeding cattle and horses. The severity of climate may be shown by the lowest temperature officially recorded where people live permanently -97.6℉. Breeding horses and cattle in such harsh environments demanded advanced technology of that time, including ferrous metallurgy. Thus, the Sakha civilization stood on two backbones: unpretentious and hardy Sakha horse breed and skillful blacksmiths.
The ultimate survival tool for the Sakhas in the north has always been and still is the Sakha knife. As our famous poet wrote – it is the tool for survival. Its perfection is simplicity functionality and practicality. One can do virtually anything with its help. Making Sakha knives in its base has been preserved for centuries, the tools of the trade being passed from one generation to another.
The Sakha knife has a unique asymmetrical blade. One side of the blade is convex just like in convenient knives, but what distinguishes Sakha from other knives is the other side which is flat with a fuller. This allows for simpler sharpening. There are many theories about the fuller. Here are some: the fuller is needed to make the blade stiffer; the fuller makes the blade lighter and easier to sharpen; the fuller decreases the resistance of the cut material due to lesser contact patch.
The knife handle has one-axis symmetry and it is egg-shaped in the cross-section. This tells a person where the cutting edge of his knife is without looking and gives a comfortable grip, especially when splitting wood. Traditionally handles are made of birch burl – light, durable and pleasant to the eye.
Wooden sheaths have a through channel for the blade and a ledge for the handle to rest. This ledge is used to fix the gimbal and it also prevents cuts when grabbing the knife. Unsheathing is easily done by one hand, which may be vital in critical conditions. The scabbard is usually dressed in leather, birch bark, or whole cow tail skin.
As time went by traditional Sakha knives underwent certain changes. Instead of bloomery iron modern craftsmen use various steel alloys, powder steels, Damascus and Bulat steels. The materials for the handle range from mammoth tusks to horns and bones. One can say that the Sakha knife is switching from a utilitarian role to a status symbol. Modern Sakha knives are decorated with precious stones and metals, becoming works of art.