At the 2006 Las Vegas Shot Show, the booth of “Zlatoustovskaya Oruzheynaya Kompaniya” attracted many visitors, who were simply amazed by the quality of the company’s swords, knifes, and tableware items.
The unique applied art of metal engraving started as a method of cold steel weapon decoration in the beginning of the XIX century, when the Arms Factory was founded in Zlatoust to produce armaments for the Russian army and the Russian fleet.
German armorers from Solingen and Klingental were invited to share their experience. Among them was the famous craftsman of blade decoration Wilgelm Schaf, who, along with his sons, decorated the first Zlatoust blades.
Shortly afterwards, Zlatoust disciples of the Schafs mastered the German steel decorating trade and even managed to create their own, original style of steel engraving. Traditional non-interrelated patterns were replaced by detailed thematic compositions – battle themes, hunting motifs, Ural landscapes. Outstanding Ural engraving artists, including Ivan Bushuyev and Ivan Boyarshinov, set remarkably high standards of bladed weapon decoration. The famous bulat steel invented by P.P. Anosov and the highly artistic decoration patterns glorified Zlatoust edged weapons beyond the borders of Russia.
It is a true historical fact that Alexander Gumboldt, the famous German naturalist, was once presented with a wonderful Zlatoust sword. In the middle of the XIX century, English scientist Roderick Murchison spoke enthusiastically of the Zlatoust Arms Factory and its unique produce. As for the daggers, swords, and trays, they “excited every person's interest in England.”
The Zlatoust Arms Factory processed orders of His Majesty the Emperor. These were swords, broadswords, dirks, and knives. Many times the “Highest Gratitude” designation was accorded to the factory’s director P.P Anosov and other Zlatoust craftsmen.
Blades produced by the Zlatoust Arms Factory are integral parts of many museum treasuries – the Moscow Kremlin Armoury, the Tsar Village Arsenal, the State Hermitage, the Moscow Museum of Russia, and the Museum of Artillery, to name a few.
Later the factory began engraving caskets, utensil sets, axes, cigarette cases. The engraving technique has been improved: the hilts began to be made from Ural ornamental stones, wood, bone.
Today, the craftsmen of “Zlatoustovskaya Oruzheynaya Kompaniya” keep up with the traditions and trends of the best European and Ural armorers. The products of these artists have won a number of national and international awards.
“Zlatoustovskaya Oruzheynaya Kompaniya” is engaged in the production of tourist and hunting knives (about 60 items), decorated edged weapons (swords, broadswords, dirks, daggers, etc.), utensils sets (wine and cognac sets), cups, candleholders, etc.
Many pieces are made according to customized designs for special orders. There is a great deal of collectors, experts, and connoisseurs of Zlatoust armorers’ produce among our customers – officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and the CIS states, banks, and governmental institutions.
Every article is marked with the brand logo, the winged horse and the abbreviation ZOK, the date and origin of production. The combination of the steel tone, pure gold, and nickel, as well as nielloing, make the articles look mesmerizing, charming, noble and distinctive.
At the present time, “Zlatoustovskaya Oruzheynaya Kompaniya” is searching for partners and distributors in the United States.
Anosova Str. 177
Zlatoust, Cheliabinsk region
456206 Russia
Теl/Fax +7 (35136) 7-22-44,
7-11-44, 7-08-44, 7-27-70
www.zok.ru
e-mail: zok@zok.ru
Representatives:
St Petersburg, tel: + 7 (812) 348-07-26
Aleksandr Sonich,
ZOK Director General