Vachinsky finca belongs to the group of legendary rare knives. Most of them were destroyed in the 80-90s of the last century. Miraculously surviving specimens are exhibited at various auctions and exhibitions. Collectors are interested in this product not only in terms of rarity, but also in connection with historical facts. The fact is that special units of the NKVD and the KGB were armed with such a knife. All data associated with these services was subject to destruction, which also affected the cold weapons in question. Consider its features and characteristics.
History of Creation
The national Finnish blade, known as "pukko", became the prototype of the Vachinskaya finca. Over time, the Soviet version of the knife improved, having received specific characteristics that the Scandinavian progenitor did not have. The official history of the existence of the Finns ended in 1935, when a ban was issued on the carrying, manufacturing and sale of this type of edged weapons at the legislative level.
Original Vacha finca designed and created in the 30s of the past century. The model was made for specialunits of the NKVD, who needed reliable and compact combat knives. Schemes and drawings were created on the basis of short Finnish national knives, which were designed by Pontus Holmberg. Since the creator was originally from Sweden, the blades were originally referred to as the "Norwegian" type of blades.
Features of manufacturing in the USSR
The history of the creation of the Vacha finca in the Soviet Union originates at the Trud plant located in the Nizhny Novgorod region (Vacha village). The main differences from the Scandinavian "brother" include several points:
- instead of a bone handle, a plastic analogue appeared due to the high cost of an element made of elephant tusks;
- the guard has also undergone a transformation, making the knife more comfortable without changing its traditional configuration;
- The brand of the manufacturer was placed on the heel, which became the main difference between the original and existing copies.
In modern times, it is quite difficult to find a real Finnish NKVD. However, there are instances on which there are practically no traces of use. The knife in question was operated by employees of the People's Commissar of Internal Affairs and the State Security Committee. The specified edged weapons were never officially in service with the Soviet army.
Technical plan parameters
The following are the performance characteristics of the knife in question:
- guard of edged weapons - S-shaped double-sided;
- The length of the blade of the Vacha finca is 12.5 centimeters withonly 2cm wide;
- high rigidity of the blade was ensured by the presence of longitudinal lobes and a thickness of about 4.5 mm;
- an unpointed heel was placed in front of the guard, which served for a comfortable position of the index finger with certain types of grip;
- grinding type - one-sided with a hardness of 58 units on the Rockwell scale;
- handle material - carbolite with inserts of bone and wood;
- sheath - made of thick dark leather, fixed on the belt using a fastening buttonhole with a special button that provides quick fastening of the cover;
- total length - 24 cm.
In addition to the Vacha finca itself, the kit includes a quick-release sheath. In modern copies, they can be made of light leather. The knife itself was produced in several variations, differing in the presence of a stamp in the form of a star, the material and color of the handle.
Modern versions
Now it is not so easy to buy a Finnish NKVD in the original version. Most often they appear at foreign auctions, while the price reaches several thousand euros. If you wish, you can purchase copies of the legendary melee weapons. They are produced by various manufacturers, products differ in appearance and quality.
Usually, replicas are produced in a modified configuration, which allows them to be excluded from the category of melee weapons, releasing them for free sale. The pioneer in the field of recreating copies of the Vachinsk finca was the AiR company, located in Zlatoust. knowledgeable people andcollectors prefer Finca-1, 2 and 3 models.
Features
The last two modifications copy the original as accurately as possible. Among the main differences, the following points are noted:
- expanded range of raw materials for the handle;
- near the butt the thickness of the blade is 2.3mm;
- other quality parameters of the metal.
In addition to factory imitations, replicas of the Vacha Finca, described above, are made by private craftsmen. The quality of these knives is much higher, as is the price. Some copies can only be distinguished from the original by an experienced specialist.
Purpose and operation
Since the shape of the blade of the Vachinskaya finca and the overall design are carefully worked out, for its time the weapon was considered successful and modern. Compact dimensions were valued for ease of carrying during long transitions or transfers, and strength and reliability were sometimes exaggerated. On this occasion, whole legends were even created, elevating the specified knife almost to the first step in its class.
Modern purpose Finns share the following positions:
- As a souvenir. A high-quality copy will delight collectors and connoisseurs of edged weapons. To make the product unique, you can apply an original engraving or inscription on the handle.
- For tourism purposes. On a hike, the Finca will perfectly cope with standard duties, since in shape and size it resembles an analogue used by tourists.
- For self-defense. Costsnote that carrying even a replica of said knife requires a permit.
Where to buy?
There are several ways to purchase a Vacha finca or its exact copy. These include:
- Interactive auction. Usually these are foreign sites where you can buy original models in good condition.
- On the resources of official manufacturers. Only copies are available here, but the prices are quite reasonable, along with decent quality features.
- From collectors who advertise online or sell items through antiques communities.
Alternatively, you can buy a tourist knife, which will not be inferior to the Finn in any way, not counting the appearance. You need to be aware that the technical parameters of copies will definitely differ from the characteristics of the original. This is due to the fact that the material of the blade of the Vacha finca and other indicators correspond to the category of edged weapons. This requires obtaining a special permit to carry and store a knife.
Recommendations
The price of replica NKVD knives on the modern market ranges from $150-200 (9-12 thousand rubles). The final cost is affected by age, equipment and material of manufacture. Early copies are valued more, as they are considered to imitate the original finca as closely as possible. Initially, the blade in question belonged purely to specialized military weapons. Now such products are usually positioned as collectibles.or souvenir exhibits. The original is recommended to be purchased in the presence of an experienced antiquarian. It will help not only to determine the authenticity of the model, but also its real value.
Interesting facts
The Finnish-Swedish knife has occupied a certain niche not only in law enforcement agencies, but also in the prison world. In the 30s of the 20th century, the Soviet government organized entire workshops in the zones for the manufacture of the edged weapons in question. Moreover, the equipment for these purposes was the most modern at that time. As a result, handicraft production flourished at such "combines". According to some reports, it exceeded 50% of the knives produced in the state.
Finks quickly came into use not only for special services, but also for “inmates”. Such knives were called Irka (IRA abbreviation - “I’m going to cut an asset”). The convicts who willingly cooperated with the guards and the management of prisons or zones were considered to be an asset. Knives of this type appeared in the 40s, they differed from the Vacha Fins in the absence of guards. Such a blade was easier to disguise in a sleeve or boot. In addition, the product did not cling to clothing items.
The second distinguishing feature is the letter "I" in the typesetting pen. Usually it was performed in red color. There were also options with a red diagonal and two black stripes. In addition, the lines could be spaced along the handle, which was done for the purpose of conspiracy, and in jargon it was called “smearing Irka.”
Myths and reality
On the officiallevel, the knife in question was not accepted for service, being issued as a clothing allowance. In 1940, in V. Volkov's textbook "Combat Sambo", one of the chapters was devoted to the methods of handling a Finnish knife. The production of the Vacha finca at the Trud plant continued until the end of the 70s of the last century. The edged weapons in question were used by the NKVD and KGB during and after World War II. Like most things related to the State Security Committee, this product is also overgrown with secrets and myths. One of the legends spoke of a secret ballistic knife capable of shooting a blade, other stories mentioned mercury throwing modifications.
