There, dozens of blacksmiths create hundreds of items necessary for people's daily lives. Among them are many craftsmen who have been continuing this trade for almost half a century, having inherited it from their fathers. One of them is Rustam Turgunov.
“We make things necessary for agriculture. We mainly produce various types of tools needed by farmers. We always prepare hoes, shovels, axes, pitchforks, and other household tools. Right now, I have an order from Batken for 200 pieces, and I am currently fulfilling it,” he said.
This profession, passed down for four generations, was handed down to Ruslan from his father. He says that his sons will continue this ancient craft, and he reminds that items made by human hands have long been valued.
“This craft goes back about 2,000 years. My father, his father, and my great-grandfather were also blacksmiths. We do not know about earlier ancestors — whether they were blacksmiths or not, we have not investigated,” he shared.
According to the master, he makes everything — from horseshoes to various agricultural tools. Many purchase his products by special order.
“I mainly make horse harnesses. We produce pruning shears for trimming tree branches, rakes for gathering hay, knives for cutting excess growth on hooves, and other items,” he said.
There is high demand for the horseshoes made by Turgunov. Often, people come specifically from Bishkek to buy them. Additionally, orders are placed by citizens of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan — because the quality of this master’s horseshoes is very good.
“There is a high demand for my horseshoes. I am currently fulfilling orders from Bishkek. Sometimes they are taken through Bishkek to Kazakhstan and to the Andijan region of Uzbekistan. Horseshoes do not have a 'sales season.' Now there are more horses in Kyrgyzstan, and our horseshoes are bought year-round,” said the master.
Before making a product, they assess the quality of the metal. If an item is made from poor metal, it will not last long. Therefore, blacksmiths use the strongest metal parts and make various products from them.
“We make horseshoes from rebar brought from Russia — it is very high quality and does not break easily. Other products are made from parts of heavy trucks produced in the USSR. During the Soviet era, truck parts were made from very strong metal,” he noted.
Ruslan sadly states that recently there are fewer people willing to continue the craft passed down from generation to generation. Although he teaches his son his trade, the master admits that “the future of the craft remains uncertain.”
Over 40 years, he has trained more than 20 apprentices, and some of them have already opened their own workshops and work independently.
“I am currently teaching this craft to my son. But in general, young people often leave to work abroad, so there are fewer who follow this path. Yet this work is beneficial for health: you become physically stronger and are constantly in motion,” he said.
The 54-year-old master earns from 2,000 to 4,000 soms a day. He notes that the “bread” of blacksmithing is sweet, and on days when he works non-stop and produces a lot, the income can be twice the stated amount.
“If you work patiently and are grateful, God will also provide. On average, we earn 2,000–4,000 soms a day. We rest two days a week; otherwise, we get tired. Therefore, rest is definitely needed. And if you work hard without a break, there are days when you can earn 6,000–8,000 soms,” said the master.
Rustam Turgunov is married and raises four children: three daughters and one son.
