most famous bladed weapons the war of 41-45 years., Manufactured in the Soviet Union - a scout knife HP-40.Well developed model still raises genuine respect among connoisseurs fighting blades.To have a real army knife sample 1940 HP-40 dream of every collector.
history
emergence of armed bladed weapons in the Red Army had its reasons.During the Russian-Finnish war of 39-40 years of the twentieth century, Soviet soldiers were not armed with any special knives.
Finnish troops successfully and very effectively used knives Puukko.Against the cold arms to oppose the Soviet Red Army was nothing.They were not armed with even the most basic household knives (bread slice, canned open, cut the rope or belt, etc.).The only bayonet (attached to the rifle Mosin) triangular shape suited for only one purpose - to prick.
Melee in the trenches showed the need for the soldier's blade, to be able to protect their own lives and hit the enemy.Scout knife HP-40 (photo below) was adopted by the Army in 1940.Another reason was the fact that the troops were short samples of automatic weapons.Their design did not involve mounting a bayonet.
Blade not only have adopted.In 1940 VPVolkov developed techniques of combat sambo using bladed weapons.Already since 1941 exercises with melee weapons included in the recommendations of the (manual) for the preparation of the Red Army soldiers in fighting.The most comprehensive and reasonable system of melee combat using knives designed NNSimkin (published in 1944).Scout knife HP-40 skid sure to book the Red Army, as well as firearms.
Description
Blade blade bevel on the type of clip-point ("pike").About half the width of the blade occupy the slopes.Before the S-shaped hilt - a pronounced heel.
scabbard and hilt made of wood and covered with black paint (for unmasking at night).The blade itself blueing or other coatings are not subjected.
References to wear: on a belt at an angle of 300 with the left hand, the right arm.
weapons production established at "Trud" Zlatoust ("Zlatoust Tool Plant Plant №259 them. Lenin" - Zeke).The maximum number of products were produced in 42-43 years:
- 261 000 pieces in 1942;
- 388,000 units in 1943, and for the first half fell 271,000.
Release NR-40 and engaged in handicraft production and front-line workshops.They bring some variety to the standard model: decorated, handles were made not only of wood.Exchangeable composing embodiments, including Plexiglas.Artisans do not always accurately adhered proportions.The result was the emergence of a mass of cold weapons similar to the HP-40.
Specifications Specifications HP-40 (a knife scout) the following:
- dress length is 263 mm;
- blade has a length of 152 mm;
- the widest part of the blade is 22 mm;
- steel blade brand V7;
- thickness (max) 2.6 mm butt;
- wooden handle;
- suspension - leather loop;
- mount the blade to the hilt through with rasklepyvaniem shank;
- wooden sheath with metal tip.
Gift model differed additional decoration and an inscription on the blade.
Features
HP-40 (statutory combat knife model) has its own characteristics.First of all, it was a weapon - a means to defeat the enemy.This is the main feature of the blade.Garda has an unusual bend, uncharacteristic for knives.S-shaped crosshairs guard made a "reverse" bend.On the side of the blade, it is bent in the direction of the blade.
scout knife HP-40 exclusively military weapons."Worker" was considered a grip, inverted line with the blade pointing upwards.So you can hit man to hypochondria and stomach.Reverse - allowed to hit in the neck.In both grabbing arms fits in your hand upside down, actually for these deadly attacks and was made guard.
Experts note the construction of the scabbard.It is more typical for swords or long swords.Another detail is characteristic of such a weapon, like a knife scout HP-40 - a large heel (area with no sharpening) to Garda.It allows you to make a finger on the blade, increasing its effects.
wooden handle had a small "belly", which allows the touch to determine the position of the blade and is very convenient to go in hand.
Prototypes
It is believed that the development of cold steel for Red Army was based on the following models:
- Shaped bayonet Finnish army officer designed by the artist (at that time still adjutant of the famous Marshal Mannerheim) Akseli Gallen-Kallela.It was the original model, which has no analogues in the world.Correct still call it a knife because he had no special anchorages to the rifle.Dimensions of the knife (the company Hackman): blade thickness of 5 mm;Blade -145 mm;stick length - 105 mm;Length (overall) knife - 255 mm.
- Scout Finnish knives.They were developed for the Boy Scout organizations.A great influence on the shape of the blade had American tradition sided emphasis guard, blade bevel butt ("pike").They were not armed with the Finnish army, and acquired the personal funds of the soldiers.
There is no direct evidence that they were "ancestors" model HP-40 (a scout knife).Product drawing nevertheless confirms that many of the elements and the design of the blade reminiscent of the above models.
Tank blade
patriotism of the Soviet people during World War II gave rise to the production of modified NR-40.To the personnel of the Urals Volunteer Tank Corps, a group of workers of Zlatoust plant on equity produced 3356 special samples.
HP-40 knife black several different knife scout.They had shorter blades.The shape of the blade straight wooden handle, like a sheath.Small steel guard had a flat shape.The scabbard and hilt covered with black lacquer (hence the name).Knives were famous for great strength and sharpness of the blade.
HP-40 Black knife Tank became a formidable weapon in the hands of men.Superstitious German blades attributed mystical powers.The case was called "The division of the Black Knives."
plant produced and premium version of the product in small batches.They are decorated with chrome accents trim on the scabbard and hilt.These blades were presented during the War of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov Marshal and Supreme Commander Stalin.
Shooting option
In the 60 years of the twentieth century, the HP-40 - Statutory scout knife - was the basis for the creation of shooting blades.The armed forces of the Soviet Union immediately got two samples.
The handle was built a short barrel and trigger.Shoot it was necessary from the "blade to her."We used bullets chambered (silent) SP-3, 7.62.The knife has a green plastic handle, straight blade length 160 mm, width - 30 mm, metal Garda.The blade bevel "pike" and saw on the butt.The model NRS-2 kopeobraznoy blade shape and the mechanism for firing chambered SP-4.
metal sheath provided with a special rotary handle with a plastic coating.The lever can be used to compress the sheath blasting cap.
Current models
in the 50s was designed bayonet for experimental machine Korobov, Poland created a knife attack in Yugoslavia - combat knife M1951, in Czechoslovakia were several options for fighting blade V07.
In the countries of the Warsaw Pact edged weapons, created the prototype of HP-40 was the armies of up to 70 years of the twentieth century.
Attractive and well-advertised brand HP-40 (a scout knife) served as the basis for the development of many models, including:
- «Cherry».Highlights: symmetrical plastic handle, made of impact-resistant plastic (white, black, green);low weight - 150 grams (without sheath);total length 270 mm;Blade 158 mm;leather sheath.
- «Gurza."Key Features: Length (overall) 270 mm knife;Blade 155 mm;handle of inlaid leather (there is a model with brass inserts);sheathed in two variants - leather or synthetic fabric with plastic tabs.
- «Penal Battalion".Key Features: Length (overall) of the knife 258 mm;Blade 140 mm;leather sheath with a rigid suspension for a narrow belt.
Unusual facts
UDTS ("Ural Volunteer Tank Corps") had composed a jazz band that often performed a song about black knife.The author of the song was Ivan Ovchinin.He later died in the liberation of Hungary.Mentioned legendary knife and in the essay "War and Peace Sergei Butyrina."
FJ. Stifens in his book Fighting knives 1980 ("Combat knives") incorrectly calls the HP-40 Armenian combat knife.Abbreviation stigma on Zeke was deciphered as "Zlatoust industry, the Caucasus."
