​

My name is Egor Makarov. I am Sakha and I come from the Sakha Republic, a vast region with an area of over three million square kilometres in Siberia. Above all things, my motherland is well-known for its extreme climatic conditions. Thus, in wintertime, the outside temperature falls as low as -55℃ (-67℉) and sometimes even -70℃ (-94℉), and summer often sees +35℃ (95℉). Despite such figures, my land is attractive and picturesque, it is home to great rivers and huge mountain ranges. Although the territory of the republic is enormous, it is very sparsely populated.

I am glad and proud to say that I was born and raised in the Sakha Republic and I have succeeded as an entrepreneur, a traveller, a photographer, a producer and a collector. As long as I remember, I have always been attracted and charmed by stories and hidden secrets of my native land. And so I asked myself: What is the best way to discover? Of course, the answer is travelling, travelling on horses in particular.

The Sakha has a unique breed of horse – the Sakha horse. Although unpretentious by appearance, this breed is very resilient and accustomed to local conditions. For the people of Sakha, their horses have always been and still are their best companions throughout history. No wonder horses were considered an embodiment of good gods and are still worshipped up to this day. Thanks to their faithful assistants – Sakha horses – our ancestors have managed to conquer such vast, severe and unhospitable lands. 

Sadly, the world is mostly unfamiliar with this horse breed. So, I published a photo book and produced a documentary - '24 types of Snow' - depicting the story of Sakha horse breeders and their horses. I have tried my best to show all the hardships of horse breeding in the Extreme North and yet all the love the Sakhas give to their companions. The documentary was displayed during the Berlin International Film Festival. Later on, it participated in various international shows and was highly praised.

Being a loyal friend of 'The Long Riders' Guild', I help organize equestrian expeditions. In the winter of 2021, I supported Nikita Gretsi (London, UK) in the first leg of his thrilling 1000 kilometres expedition. Nikita rode on Sakha horses along the deadly Road of Bones with temperatures around -30 - -40℃ (-22 to -40℉). Moreover, I rode 500 kilometres on reindeers with the famous Swedish travel blogger Mikael Strandberg (NYEC, RTC). During The trip, with my initiative and with request from the OUTWILD the 'Frozen Frontier’ documentary was shot by my friend operator Uriy Berejnev. During this trip outside temperatures were well below -60℃ (-76℉). We rode reindeer from Kyusyur to Sakkyryr in February-March at temperatures from -45 to -50°C, a distance of 600 km, together with University of Alaska professor Kenji Yoshikawa. He studies permafrost and is a member of NYEC.

Whenever I travel, I always take photographs and sometimes it helps me make amazing discoveries. Over the years I have become a collector of wooden utensils and other ancient artifacts of the Sakha people. Another collection I am proud to mention is a collection of horns of extinct bison I came across during tough journeys in permafrost areas.

Another one of my passions is mountaineering. I have managed to climb several of the highest and hardest peaks of the world: Mount Elbrus (5642 m) in Europe, Denali (6190 m) in Alaska in North America and Aconcagua (6961 m) in Argentina in South America.

For more than 20 years I have been collecting handmade knives from the best blacksmiths of the Sakha people.In 2022 I have come to accept a new challenge of fate – I decided to propagate multifunctional and practical Sakha knives. These knives, seemingly simple, hand-forged by Sakha blacksmiths are ideal for hunters and anglers, and they are items for collectors. I chose North America for this work because my family currently lives in Canada.

Knowing many wonderful Master Blacksmiths of Sakha, it was not difficult for me to choose best of the best masters in blades forging, crafting handles or experts artisans for sheaths making. Their knives are popular and the most elaborate products are sought for by knife collectors.

Our ancestors have been smelting iron and forging since ancient times, after all, it was impossible to survive in the Extreme North without iron tools.

My site presents pieces elaborated exclusively by the best blacksmiths, bone carvers and jewellers of the Sakha people. Our knives are nothing but hand-forged and meticulously handcrafted. In tribute to ancestors' traditions, some of our blades are smelted of local iron ore and forged just like centuries ago, and some are forged of various knife steels. The handles are manufactured traditionally of birch burls, birch wood, mammoth tusk, stabilized bone, and horns of elk and mountain rams. The sheaths are made of leather, birch wood, bull tail skin and birch bark.

Our craftsmen decorate both working and gift knives with silver, Melchior, tin, precious and semi-precious gem inserts. One can see these items as works of art. Our craftsmen cherish the traditions and culture of our people, making the world bright and colourful.

I am confident these knives are a perfect gift for a true knife lover. You can feel the spirit of our craftsmen that warms your hands and soul, let alone bring luck and success in whatever you do. Let me assure you, these knives are your best helpers in taiga, homestead and at home, and a perfect gift for a true connoisseur.

​

​

Best regards, Egor Makarov.