The young man, Abbas Sultanov, said that he learned to make decorative knives from a young age, “before learning to read and write,” as hand-made knives are passed down through generations in Uzbekistan, as a traditional craft that children learn from their parents from a young age.
Knives have a special place in Uzbek folklore, as it is believed that the knife protects the home and its people from evil.
Sultanov, who works with his father in making knives in a workshop in the historic city of Samarkand (south), explained that he grew up in a family that inherited this profession from ancient times, and they learn it even before learning to read and write in some cases.
Knives for use and decoration
He told Anatolia that they are keen to make knives from high-quality steel and decorate them, noting that there is a “huge demand” for their products from the Uzbek people and foreign tourists.
Sultanov stated that he helps customers choose the appropriate knives when purchasing them, pointing out that “foreign customers prefer decorative knives, while locals prefer knives that can be used at home.”
He pointed out that “the quality and price of knives vary depending on the material of the knife handle and the metal used in it,” and they also use steel to make knives, and wood, horn, fiber and plastic to produce their handles.
The country has special areas in Uzbek markets that sell handmade knives with traditional decorations.
Local customs related to knives
Uzbeks attach special importance to the knife, as it is not just a tool in the kitchen, but is viewed as “the most necessary work and ornamental tool for men in the past,” and knives draw attention with their presence in almost every aspect of life.
According to a common custom among Uzbeks, it is believed that “a knife placed under the pillow of a child sleeping alone in one of the rooms of the house will protect him from evil.”
According to another common tradition in the country, the bride’s younger brother receives a knife as a gift from his brother-in-law who comes to pick up his sister from the house, and thus the Uzbek family receives the handmade knife, in exchange for the precious daughter of the house.
Uzbeks generally have a handmade knife in every home, as it is believed that the knife “protects the house and its people from evil.”
While in the past it was common for Uzbek men to carry a knife in a leather sheath around their waist, this custom has been forgotten in recent years.
However, the importance that the Uzbeks attach to the knife has not diminished. Rather, the knife’s place has shifted from decorating men’s waists in the past, to decorating the walls of homes now.
