Plastonic Cossack knife: description, steel grade

A harmonious combination - a man and a knife - causes admiration and delight. A man with a blade appears as a defender, next to him calmly and serenely. A real warrior will never use his skill to use a knife as a weapon to harm another. Historically, the combination of a man and a knife of a knife is the symbol of a fearless warrior, defender of the Motherland.

The dispute around the originality of the knife

The question is: "Is there really an original knife?" Today leads to disputes between specialists. Some believe that such a knife was not and could not be. Allegedly for the first time reports of such artifacts appeared in the 2000s. The well-known "Collection 13" also described this version of the Cossack weapon. Others are sure that the historism of the knife of the Plastunian is beyond doubt. The views of the latter are only divided according to the principles of its origin.

Origin versions

Version one: the southern borders of the Russian Empire were protected by Cossack detachments. The Don and Kuban Cossacks were famous not only for their effective cavalry, but also for fighting units that were no less efficient. To carry out secret sorties in the enemy's rear, special forces were created, which were engaged in reconnaissance and sabotage activities. You can get into the special unit only on the recommendation of the commander. Young and burning youths were not there. Coolness, patience, lack of fear of death were considered the best indicators. Along with military skill, this created almost invincible soldiers. They were called plastemen. There was a name from the constant requirement to "lie down" and "crawl in a plastic way". Plastemen always carried a Plastun Cossack knife.

Version two: the knife was never an obligatory part of the Cossack warrior. He needed to earn more, which was not such a simple task. They rewarded a man with a plastonic knife who showed courage and completed seven or more tasks successfully. The elite weapons of the elite of reconnaissance detachments were issued in limited quantities.

Which version of the origin of the plastonic knife is more truthful - it does not really matter now. The history of the plastonic knife deserves respect. Modern analogues of historical knives are not inferior to their famous ancestors in the quality performance of their mission.

Characteristics of a plastonic knife

The main characteristics of a plastonic knife are similar to the knives of the peoples of the Caucasus. Probably, they were originally trophies. Plastemen used captured Caucasian daggers. Cossacks also used broken checkers, giving them a second life, for making combat knives. A convenient, light, multifunctional knife is distinguished by such criteria:

• A narrow sharpened blade is forged from hardened steel.
• The handle makes a whole-piece design with the blade, passing through the entire length of the handle. Outside, it is bolted.
• Sheaths are made of a combination of leather and wood, are equipped with straps for fastening.
• It is possible to attach to the shin and waist.

Features of the knife

Distinctive features of a plastonic knife are:

1. The form. Blade with a wavy form is a visiting card of a plastonic knife. The edge of the blade is sharp, the end is pointed. In the center of the blade is usually a groove.
2. The design of the knife. An elongated body, a narrow long blade, an anatomical handle. The knife is stored in a sheath, but does not fold.
3. Material of manufacture. For a knife, only hard, well-retaining steel is suitable. They make blades from Damascus.

The knife from Damascus steel

Blades of steel and Damascus knives are made. Damascene steel is obtained as a result of forging welding of steel strips with different carbon content. Strips are first chopped, pressed into a briquette, forged. The action is repeated several dozen times. The result of prolonged intensive forging is Damascus (Damascus steel).

Plastunian knife made of Damascus steel can consist of five hundred layers of steel with different carbon content. The emerging pattern confirms the individuality of the blade. Damascus gives the knife a toughness and toughness, elasticity and cutting ability. Mechanical impact on the blade can not lead to its breakage.

Legendary Cossack Knife

Having a knife-plastman was an indicator of the status of the Cossack. Plastun's knife was smaller than the Cossack's checkers in length. This criterion is rather a plus than a minus. Plast members needed to be able to fight in a limited space, for example, in a close peasant hut. If necessary, remove the enemy sentinel, throwing a knife into it. The plastonic Cossack knife, which is not heavy, with a strong blade and convenient fastening, has become indispensable in everyday combat everyday life of the Cossack saboteur.

Through generations, legendary stories are transmitted. A small episode in the Kuban, when forty plast owners in a confrontation with three thousand mountaineers forced them to retreat. The Crimean War of 1853-1856 gave new names to the heroes. Under Balaklava scouts-Cossacks destroyed service guns, brought "languages" and brought mortars. For military valor two plastun battalions (second and eighth) received the St. George's Banners.

The detachments of the plastemen preferred to take people who had nothing to lose. Their reckless courage led the enemies into a panic, and the fellow soldiers caused pride and admiration. The Russian-Japanese war of 1905 showed that the plastics are not inferior in their fearlessness to the death of the Japanese ninja.

The First World War changed the destiny of the plastemen, they were used as rifle battalions (the total number is twenty-four). In the Second World War, the rank of plast army retained the Krasnodar Rifle Division, separate regiments and reconnaissance battalions.

Modern plastunian knives

Modern Cossacks, hunters, fishermen and lovers of extreme rest are not averse to acquire a plastics Cossack knife. Zlatoust (a city in the Chelyabinsk region) is famous for its masters. The appearance of knives of one master can differ from similar products of another. Zlatoust Weapons Factory (ZOF) produces a Cossack knife plastunskogo (steel 95h18 or steel 50h15MF) until now. Steel 95X18 is used for the production of hiking, kitchen, universal and other types of knives.

In the 21st century, the place where you can buy a plastics Cossack knife, Zlatoust is along with other famous centers of metallurgy. Famous for their knives are such manufacturers as the Don Weapon Factory (Volgograd), the Barinov factory from the town of Vorsma in the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

Today, plastonic knives have become a souvenir product. They will please the connoisseur of weapons. It is also important that the knife can be taken on a hike, used in everyday life. Thanks to an ideal balancing knife used for throwing. Another important criterion: plastonic knives according to the law of the Russian Federation are not cold steel.