Code: NC4
This is a contemporary (mid 1900's) pichoq (pichok, pchak, pechak, P'chak) from Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This type, with a straight spine, is referred to as “Tugri”. A story is that Tamerlane banned straight bladed Pichoq to minimize their use as stabbing weapons. The other type is called “Kaike” and features a distinctly curved profile. See: Bıįak.
The overall length is 12 inches. The blade has short twin fullers nearest the hilt along the spine and thereafter there is a false edge along the back of the blade. The edge of this blade has a sabre grind of modest quality. The center portion of the blade is reinforced on both sides by an extra laminated piece of steel. The blade is full tang, with steel bolster of a piece. The wooden portions of the hilt, in traditional "shashka" style, are attached firmly by rivets penetrating through the tang. The dark wooden hilt is decorated with enamel dots in the traditional colors of Uzbekistan (red, yellow and green) and features the tradition "eye" dot motif. The rivets are each surrounded by five steel pins and a row of steel pins appears along the base of the pommel.
The pichoq is the traditional personal working knife of of the Central Asian peoples such as the Uzbeks and Uighurs. The shape of the pichoq has remained largely unchanged since it first appeared in the late 15th Century.
Compare the style and shape of this pichoq with the bichaq (Turkish pronunciation) from Bosnia and the pichangatti from India. Smiths from Central Asia traveled to distant lands where demand for their skills was high. The influence from their travels is evident in many regional designs.
Category: Knife