Ancient Caucasian daggers. Combat Caucasian Dagger

The Caucasian dagger is part of the national symbolism. This is a sign that the man is ready to defend his personal honor, the honor of the family and the honor of his people. He never parted with him. For centuries, the dagger has been used as a means of attack, defense and a cutlery.

Blade History

Traditionally, at the beginning of the last century, when a boy was born in the Caucasian family, he was given the first dagger. When he reached the age of 14, he was replaced by a larger one. But at all times the Caucasian dagger remains a work of jewelry art and has brilliant fighting characteristics. Once it was made of damask steel and Amuzgin steel. These recipes are now lost. The Mongol-Tatar invaders demanded tribute from the peoples of Azerbaijan in the form of daggers and arrows. These gunsmiths were famous throughout the world.

Another historical center for the manufacture of weapons and chain mail is the Dagestani village of Kubachi. Not far from him in another place called Amuzgi, forged swords for daggers and sabers. In Kubachi they acquired sheaths and handles, which were encrusted with silver and gold, and engraved. Weapons were one of the attributes of wealth. Amuzgin, Damascus and damask steel were considered the best. Hence the weapons were supplied to the Russian Empire, to the East and to Europe.

How were the blades forged in the old days?

In Amuzgi you can still find people who remember how old Caucasian daggers were made. Blacksmithing still lives there, but, unfortunately, has lost its uniqueness.

In those distant times the blade had to be processed 13 times. At the first stage, wrought iron was forged. It consisted of three types of steel (antushka - strong steel for the blade, dugalala - soft for the main part of the blade, alkhana - the strongest steel from which the substrate was made). All these parts were laid out in a pile of stripes, which the blacksmith brought into the forge with forceps, and then - on the anvil. This was how the welded iron was made, from which the shape of the future dagger was made, the sting itself and the rod. The blacksmith had a special cutter, which manually created two-sided grooves. The next stage is turning and cleaning until the blade becomes like a mirror. Then the blade was calcined and quenched in water.

Caucasian daggers from Damascus steel had even their own logo. The finished blade had a bluish color and a special ornate pattern, called Damascus. But much more interesting were daggers from damask steel. Surprisingly, the weapon possessed not only a fortress, but also flexibility. Such a sword easily bent into a circle. No matter what they cut with this blade, there was not a scratch left on it.

Bulat steel was also used in Russia, but India is its motherland. Somehow the technology was learned by the metallurgist Pavel Anosov, and the Zlatoust Weapons Factory began to produce weapons independently. Now the ancient ways of making this unique steel have been lost, most likely, irretrievably. In Syria in the XVIII-XIX century, tried to produce something similar in characteristics, but the fake was not in any comparison with the legendary bulat.

The technique of fighting with a Caucasian dagger

It took on a clear outline already in the Middle Ages. The style of combat is based on applying sharp cutting and stabbing blows with jumps and attacks. There is also a special technique, in which two daggers are used at once. This was considered aerobatics, since the striking force increased to a large extent.

Never Europeans could compete with Caucasians in the technique of dagger fights, preferring firearms. For close combat, this style is the most dangerous for the enemy. In the century before last, a dagger was used, called a quad, which was incredibly powerful and heavy, and also had a tetrahedral bayonet.

The main types of Caucasian daggers

The main purpose of the dagger is to inflict piercing attacks on the enemy. Now there are two main types - with a straight or curved blade. The first is called Kama, the second is Bebut.

The straight dagger has a blade sharp on both sides, sharply tapering towards the end. The handle is short, usually made of bone or horn, with an enlarged base and an elongated head. Out of metal are made overhead elements. Some kama have enhanced fighting properties due to the protruding middle part.

Bebut is a fighting Caucasian dagger, which differs from the kama only by the fact that its end is bent. It is not as widespread as the direct one.

Blades and bebutas, and kama in length from 40 cm. They have dol and ribs, which increase their strength.

Sheath for daggers is made of wood, covered with leather. The tip and the mouth are usually metallic. In order to be more convenient to attach the sheath to the belt, the upper cuff has a special ring.

These are common types of daggers, but any Caucasian people have some unique characteristics regarding the shape of the blade, hilt, etc. Of course, differences can be seen in ornament and ornaments.

Circassian Daggers

They were partially decorated with silver, and their device was simple. Circassian dagger refers to the Shapsugsky mountain type. What distinguishes it among others is the design using three rivets, whereas traditionally there are two. The additional one is called the eye, and it can be clearly seen from behind.

It is interesting that this people stood apart from the so-called krovnik - the dagger of a warrior who declared blood feud. Since he was finishing with a nickel silver with special application of red spots, the intentions of the owner were obvious to all. Only after revenge is accomplished, "blood" could be washed off.

Georgian daggers

They have their own distinctive characteristics. Blades are common to all semi-oval head, but in shape they are short and have the shape of a wedge. This dagger is Caucasian, the size of which does not differ from traditional ones. One of the main features is the handle. On it you can find nuzzles with hats-hemispheres, whose edges are carved as petals. The mouth of the scabbard is large and with a cuff, at the tip - triangular ledges. As a rule, they are connected by triple strips, between which are leather stickers. The handle and scabbard have a silver salary, additionally decorated with floral ornamentation, which is made of gilded engraving. It has specific features and a blade. It is decorated with a welding plate in the middle, and at the base - with figured slots with a silver or gold notch.

To the Georgian, the Khevsur daggers are very close. They are made of brass and iron. The shape of the blade is the same, but the ornament is not so ornate, more simple and made of copper.

Armenian daggers

Here, too, differences need to be looked for in detail. The head of the handle is extended upwards like an arch, on its sides there are notches, which are called interceptions. The hats of the wagons are conical, cylindrical or convex, round, but very low. Gaskets under them are also made in the form of rhombuses. The mouth of the scabbard is connected with the cuff and has triangular projections, like the tip. The edges of these protrusions are also cut off in the form of an eastern arch, and on the tops are festons in the form of tulips.

This Caucasian dagger has a device made of steel. As in Georgia, one can see a floral ornament here, but it will be combined with stylized inscriptions in Armenian, taushirovannymi gold and silver. The simultaneous use of these metals can be found. Often the details of the dagger are completely covered with taushirovaniem.

Azerbaijani daggers

They are very similar to the Armenian ones, but they are decorated not only with scabbards and hilt, but also with the blade itself. What distinguishes them is ornament, which besides geometric motifs also contains geometric and Muslim. The latter, as a rule, is made in the form of arches and wriggling branches with sparse leaves. In Azerbaijan there is a special art of a slotted ornament, which is also used for decorating daggers.

Dagestani daggers (Kubachi)

Still considered the best. The length of the blade is very harmoniously combined with the size of the handle and has its own specific features: the right deep dol is located higher than the left one.

This Caucasian dagger has a pattern resembling a drawing of welding steel. The type of blade is called Lezgin. Steel between the blades and the dolphins must be subjected to the procedure of bluing, as a result of which these spaces are filled with wide strips.

The head of the handle is lengthened even more and narrows to a rounded top or has the same shape as that of a baby. The hats of the wagons at this dagger are conical and resemble pyramids. You can also find pyramids with concave ribs. What is noteworthy, the gaskets between the snags here are not accepted. The head itself, the hooks and the lower part of the handle are necessarily bound with metal, but sometimes you can find bone insets and ornamental decorations in the form of plants and flowers. This element of decor in Kubachi is of several types: marcharay, tuta, most commonly used, as well as Moscow-nakysh, sieves, used less often. In online stores you can find such a Caucasian dagger. The photos will tell about its advantages better than any description.

The history of the use of Caucasian daggers in Russia

In the XIX - early XX century. This type of weapon was indispensable in Russia. Bebut was used in the army in the period from 1907 to 1917. Initially, it was introduced to the gendarmes of lower ranks, excluding sergeants, combatant units and serf gendarmerie. The dagger replaced them with drafts until 1910. Around the same time, and a little earlier, it was introduced into service by the lower ranks of the intelligence services of infantry, machine gunners, and artillery. From 1904 to 1910 the Caucasian daggers of Kama used Cossack troops.

The Bebuts began to be used in the army in connection with the campaigns to Central Asia, when this form of weapons became popular among our military in the territory of Iran. The dagger also replaced the artillery saber. Widely used it and during the First World in the legions of death and battalions of honor. Now Russian weapons have their own types of knives.

Caucasian daggers now

Ancient weapons are antiques. The Caucasian dagger, made at the beginning of the last century, is valued extremely expensive, and it can be seen only in a museum or private collection. Today, traditionally and conscientiously executed Bebut or Kama you will not meet outside the Caucasus. Traditionally, the dagger is part of the national costume in the Caucasus. In Russia, this weapon has become an award.

You can meet modern Caucasian daggers. They are manufactured in factories. But are they equal to those works of art, the glory of which went around the world? True, the demands of the armed forces for cold weapons have now changed.

There are a lot of training materials on how to make a Caucasian dagger with your own hands. It is clear that the original such a fake will resemble at best only a form.