In a wide variety of knives, combat models occupy a special place. Despite the development of military technology and weapons, a simple knife is still an effective assistant in close combat to this day. Therefore, all the armies of the world are working to improve the characteristics of the combat knife. Despite the fact that knife designs have been studied for centuries, this area still has great potential for development. This is mainly about the creation of highly specialized models that could most effectively solve a specific problem. One of these knives is the Kochergin knife. Today we will get acquainted with its device, the principle of operation and the opinion of experts regarding this model.
History of Creation
Kochergin's combat knife was created purely for the hand-to-hand combat system developed by the St. Petersburg Center for Applied Research. When developing the design of this knife, the authors tried to take into account exactly the requirements for weapons that the mentioned system makes, without taking into account any weapon tendencies. The first task of the designers was to find ways to achieve maximum stopping power.knife by increasing its cutting ability when applying a stabbing blow. As the practice of working with weapons has shown, within the framework of the system created by the CPI, it is the injection that is the most effective way of knife attack. Work on the development and testing of the NDK-17 model lasted seven years and led to a significant result. In 2008, Kochergin's knife, which received a very unusual shape, was presented to the public.
General characteristics
As you probably guessed, the abbreviation NDK stands for "Kochergin's sabotage knife". "17" is the original approved blade length. In the course of practical experience, in order to improve the balance and maneuverability of the product, it was reduced to 15 cm, but the name was decided to remain the same. Many decipher the NDK abbreviation as "Kochergin's landing knife", but this is not true. We figured out the name, but who is Kochergin? Andrei Nikolaevich Kochergin is a martial artist and founder of the Russian school of karate Koi no takinoboriryu (or simply KOI).
Andrey Nikolaevich has been practicing martial arts since the age of 14. At first it was judo, and a little later - karate. While living in Germany, he mastered Wung Chun and Thai boxing. Returning to his homeland, Kochergin actively engaged in dido juku. In addition to rich experience in the field of martial arts, he also has military experience: he served in the army sports company and intelligence, participated in the Caucasian campaign. Kochergin is a multiple winner of shooting competitions and a master of sports in shooting from a Makarov pistol. Andrey Kochergin is known to the general public thanks to master classes andself defense seminars. He is the author of several books and a huge number of video clips dedicated not only to self-defense, but also to applied psychology.
The style of knife fighting that operates within the framework of the KOI system is called Tanto Jutsu Koi no takinoboriryu. It became the first official style of knife fighting in Russia, according to which competitions have been held since 1997. On the basis of Tanto Jutsu Koi, a domestic knife fighting system was developed, specifically for which the NDK-17 knife (saboteur knife designed by Kochergin) was created.
The peculiarity of this application system is that the battle tactics are based on technical conciseness and lack of symmetry in contact with melee weapons. Guided by this principle, the CPI team is continuously developing and implementing domestic methods for training special units in several areas:
- Applied hand-to-hand combat.
- Fire training.
- Group and tactical interaction.
The Kochergin Knife (NDK-17) is the result of the joint development of the CPI and VIFK (Military Institute of Physical Culture). This product belongs to innovative inventions. Reviews of many domestic and foreign experts show that it is one of the most striking modern developments in the field of edged weapons.
The developers do not disclose the grade of steel from which the original model is made. It is only known that the material successfully combines the high strength of the blade and good cuttingproperties. High-hard steels, which provide maximum cutting effect, are a rather brittle material. According to the creators of this knife, they managed to achieve a high cutting ability due to the introduction of an unusual design. As a result, a unique blade was created, which has no analogues in the world.
Combat knife requirements
The main task facing a person using a combat knife is to hit the enemy or opponents in close combat. As expert reviews show, a professional with the proper level of training can use almost any tool in battle. Nevertheless, maximum efficiency is achieved with the help of special weapons designed purely for close combat techniques. Based on this, a combat or sabotage knife should combine the following characteristics:
- The width of the blade is at least 2 cm. At the same time, by reducing the angle of sharpening, the cutting properties of the blade increase. As a result, stabbing with such a knife leads to serious injuries and profuse blood loss.
- Irregular cutting edge of the blade, in the form of a blade. It has excellent cutting properties and allows the blade to leave wide and deep stab wounds.
- The presence of reverse sharpening. Increases the effectiveness of the weapon and the convenience of working with it - no need to turn the knife over when changing the direction of impact.
Today such forms of combat knife blade are popular:
- "Drop point" - teardrop shape. The tip goes along the axisthrust vector, which makes it easier to penetrate the target.
- "Clip point". Has a cut point and good piercing ability.
- Spear point is spear-shaped. Due to low descents, it is better suited for a prick than a cut.
- Bowie. Has a straight or concave bevel on the butt.
- "Tanto". It has increased blade strength due to the bevel at the end of the blade. Pricks and cuts well.
- "Hawkbill" (karambit) - concave shape. Reminds a bird or animal claw. Can inflict severe slashing wounds.
Non-standard solutions of Kochergin
Kochergin's knife (NDK-17) has an unconventional wedge shape. In the model, a guillotine-type blade was used, with an inclination relative to the axis of the handle and an angle at the top. According to the authors, the weapon model they created is the most effective within a specific martial arts system. This system illustrates the higher efficiency of cutting blows compared to stabbing. Considering that body armor is widely used in modern military confrontation, stabbing blows to open areas of the body (arms, legs, neck and face) are not a significant damaging factor. The knife, developed by Kochergin and his colleagues, allows you to produce the most effective stabbing blows and stop the enemy without causing him fatal damage.
Knives of dagger modifications inflict narrow stab wounds on the enemy, and a guillotine-type blade can inflict a very wide frontal cut. The Kochergin sabotage knife is designed in such a way that a straight line connecting the tip of the blade andstop, passes through the center of gravity and coincides with the direction of the rectilinear force. Due to the angular inclination of the blade relative to the handle, the pressure on the affected surface increases when the knife is pulled towards you, which leads to an even more extensive dissection.
Prototype
The creators of the NKD-17 knife pushed ancient karambit knives to use the sickle-shaped blade. They were known as early as the 12th-13th centuries in the territories of the Malay Archipelago. Knives of this configuration are still common in the region as household tools and weapons for self-defense. In addition, they are one of the key attributes of local martial arts.
In the 70-80s of the last century, at the demonstration performances of martial artists from Southeast Asia, the technique of using karambits was first demonstrated. The performances made a great resonance in martial arts schools around the world. As a result, the passion for such knives has also come to the West.
Karambits have unique properties and great potential for modernization in the light of modern trends in the development of edged weapons. Today, the main direction in the development of combat knives is the transition from stabbing to cutting. When cut, sickle-shaped models have the maximum effect. However, the ability to inflict stabbing blows with them is extremely small. Another disadvantage of the historical prototypes of the Kochergin knife is the fact that products of this shape are difficult to manufacture and maintain.
Design features
When developing a knifeKochergin, a model was developed and approved in a form resembling a "straight sickle". She received a functional blade, which, when cut, exerts much more pressure than models with a straight blade. The test results fully confirm the superiority of NDK-17 over straight knives: from one cut, the Kochergin knife cut 620 mm of the sternum of a pork carcass. In this case, damage was caused not only to soft tissues, but also to the bone material of the ribs. None of the combat knives known to date can achieve similar results. One of the best combat knives in the world, the Tai Pan, with the same impact, damages only 150 mm, and the powerful Chinook damages no more than 200 mm.
In addition, at the top of the blade NDK-17 (Kochergin's sabotage knife) is an angle. This is another important design feature and significantly increases the pressing force when applying a cutting blow. Regarding the handle, the blade of the knife is inclined by 20 degrees. This design, even in the case of a rectilinear movement towards itself, gives a cutting edge that is very similar in nature to a guillotine cut.
Square handle provides a more secure grip. The handle of the original models is covered with leather, which absorbs moisture well. The knife does not have a guard as such. Tests have shown that the handle of the described shape allows you to securely fix the product in your hand and not miss it in the process of work. Reviews of independent experts testing the knife fully confirm this.
Knife of a saboteur designed by Kocherginbalanced in such a way that the center of gravity falls on the place where the blade connects to the handle. For combat knives, this centering is not new. It provides maximum weapon maneuverability when performing combat techniques.
Leather scabbard for NDK-17 is the result of more than three years of development. It is mainly about their form. As a result, the resulting scabbard model is ideal for any kind of equipment. The knife fits into them tightly enough so that when the fighter moves, they do not create any extraneous sounds. In this case, the weapon is removed from the scabbard quickly and easily, even without prior training.
The blade is processed using epoxy blackening - the most common method of processing edged weapons in the world. This measure not only protects it from corrosion, but also performs a masking function - it prevents the glare of the knife in the sun. Among other things, as the reviews show, the darkened blade looks more attractive.
Functions
The main working functions are assigned to the cutting edge of the blade. The creators decided to make one-sided chisel-type sharpening on both parts of the blade. This allows you to achieve an acceptable impact power of the blade with a small angle of tightening, to make an accurate cut when pulling the blade towards you and to achieve maximum blade stability when performing a frontal thrust. An important advantage of this sharpening is the fact that it is easy to edit. You can sharpen the knife even in field conditions without risking dulling the edges of the working edge.
The striking force of a knife cut depends not only on the pressure exerted on the target, but also on the friction force that occurs during the passage of the blade through the cut surface. On the unsharpened side, Kochergin's knives have notches made with technical diamond. They allow you to significantly increase the cutting power of the blade, but do not affect the speed and ease of striking. When testing a knife on various materials, the effectiveness of this design technique was confirmed.
Practical application
According to the developers, the Kochergin knife (NDK-17) cannot be called a universal tool. It was developed specifically for the hand-to-hand combat technique practiced at the Center for Applied Research. In order to use the Kochergin sabotage knife with the degree of effectiveness that it can give, it is necessary to master the system of working with weapons for which it was created.
CPI has created a system of applied hand-to-hand combat using NDK-17, which is based on a massive attack of the enemy with a knife. During the fight, the fighter only moves forward, without wasting time thinking and choosing a place to strike. The position of the body, as well as the movements of its individual parts, are subject to one task - delivering the maximum number of high-quality strikes with maximum speed.
During the research work, all combat techniques, stances and movements were analyzed and carefully studied. The trajectories of all secondary movements have been reduced to the minimum necessary for a high-quality entry into the shockposition. The principal advantage of this system is the full-fledged work of the whole body. Controlled movement around its axis allows you to put body weight into each blow. At the same time, freedom of movement is preserved, as well as stability in space. And the increase in kinetic pressure has a positive effect on speed parameters without sacrificing maneuverability.
In our time, the appearance of edged weapons of an unusual shape can often not be associated with giving them fundamentally new characteristics. The main reason is changes in production technology or aesthetic considerations, and not a constructive need. When creating the Kochergin knife (NDK-17), the developers wanted to get improved cutting qualities and increased stopping power by modernizing the design and searching for new solutions.
In the manufacture of working samples of various knives, such design solutions as the guillotine shape of the blade, chisel sharpening and the inclination of the blade relative to the handle were repeatedly used. The authors of this product managed to rationally combine the above solutions and adapt the knife to a specially designed knife fighting system. Thus, the main drawback of the model was its specificity. To effectively use the NDK (Kochergin's sabotage knife), you must have special combat skills. However, techniques that are effective with such weapons may be much less effective with other knives. Fighting techniques developed by the CPI and the Kochergin knifemost effective in tandem. Therefore, it is not advisable to use them separately.
Kochergin Knife: reviews
As mentioned above, experts highly appreciate this model for its high performance and unique design. However, among amateurs, opinions may differ. On the Internet, this model received mixed reviews. You can meet both enthusiastic and sharply critical reviews of the NDK-17. This is not surprising, given that the product was created purely for a specific combat technique, and only those who own this technique can appreciate it. And it is unlikely that the developers of the knife thought about the opinion of the Internet community.
Civil version
Today, Kochergin's knife, the photo of which looks very impressive, is not supplied to the armament or clothing support of law enforcement agencies. It is certified as a utility knife. On sale you can find two versions of the product: standard, with a 150 mm blade, and civilian, with a 110 mm blade.
Due to its compactness, the civilian version is more suitable for urban use than the standard Kochergin knife. There is no folding version of the product and most likely will not be. As a rule, such models are made of bearing steel. The large blade has a slightly sharpened cutting edge on one side. The knife comes with a leather sheath and a belt clip. Despite its specificity, such a knife can be a good gift or an unusual addition to a collection of edged weapons.
