A lot of interesting things were done in the Soviet Union. They even had their own "Swiss" knife - a practical and handy universal tool that easily fit in a pocket. It is curious that this instrument appeared in 1945, right after the war.
The recognized world leader in the production of multifunctional officer knives is the Swiss company "Victorinox". Its products are popular all over the world. Starting from the 90s of the XX century, the products of this brand began to appear on the territory of Russia. But what happened before that? The fact is that even in Soviet times, the country tried to create their own unique knives for the military. We are talking about a Shilin folding knife from 1945.
It all began in 1944, when a competition was announced in the USSR People's Commissariat for the development of a folding universal knife for the command staff of the army. Most likely, this decision was made after studying the experience of the Allied countries in the war. The Kirkizha plant got down to business, the project of the knife was presented by the chief designer of the enterprise himself. The People's Commissariat liked the experimental model, and the instrument was recommended for mass production.
Since the knife was intended exclusively for the leadership of the army, and all this happened at the end of the war, production began with a small batch. We made 200 such knives at the factory. Despite the fact that the knife was a success, things did not go beyond the first batch. The knives never reached the junior command staff. Apparently, more important tasks were found for the country's industry after the war.
Interestingly, the knife was actually a combat knife. The experimental NSh was equipped with a dagger-type blade, which was not completely hidden in the handle. Therefore, the first Soviet universal folding knife still had a scabbard, and a very unusual one. The tool received a reliable lock-lock, which kept the blade unfolded. The NSh handle contained a screwdriver, an awl, a corkscrew, and a can opener. The handle was made of steel and the scabbard was made of wood.
Want to know even more interesting things about knives and their history? Then read about 5 popular mistakes beginners make when choosing a knife, even today, with the internet at your fingertips.