Anyone still like puukkos?

kamagong

kamagong

Gold Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2001
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I know many here are fans of the scandi grind, but it seems that you guys favor the spearpoint bushcraft over more traditional knives. I myself have a preference for the puukko. It's probably a reflection of my typical outdoor activity, the dayhike, but I like the convenient lightweight package the puukko offers. And I really appreciate the comfort a dangler sheath provides. It's true that they're not as strong as slab sided knives, but I've never had a handle break on me.

Here's a shot of my puukkos. My newest knife is the one in the middle, a Tommi by Mikko Inkeroinen.

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I love puukko's to and am staring to carry them more. I just got this custom Pekka Tuominen (3rd down) and love it! The Kellam wolverine is a great allaround blade:thumbup:


 
So you're the one that got to Darby first! That knife directly led to me getting my own puukko from Pekka, the stacked birch bark one that I posted above.
 
I have come to really appreciate puukkos not only for their beauty, but their comfort too. I need to post pics of my Gossman puukko.
 
I have an OK Tommi Moose Puukko that cost me a rather large sum 10 years ago,but what a beauty!I also have a Kellam Wolverine Puukko,it's nice too,but nothing like my OK tommi Moose.:)
 
I had a bunch of factory made puukkos in the past years from Marttiini, Iisakki Järvenpää, Eräpuu, Kauhavan Puukkopaja, Paaso Puukot, Wood Jewel and Ahti together with swedish knives from Karesuando, Mora, Grännslöjd and Svante Djärv.

Next step was a fishtail custom from swedish maker Karl-Erik Lindblad that I curerently use. This one put me on the no return trail of interest in craftmenship. Karl-Erik is an hobbystick knifemaker and blademaker; he also creates pendants, scrimshaws etc.

Then I found by chance a finnish blacksmith and wilderness guide named Pasi Hurttila that made me few puukkos with rhombic blades REALLY lighting the spark for custom puukkos and grew my interest on forging.
He doesn't really care about mirror polishing and maniac flawless cosmetic appearance as many other finnish makers do, but his knives are nice and really work. He doesn't call himself a knifemaker, just a normal smith.

With those I tried a number of handle and blade shapes then ficusing on the fishtail handle first and on the barrel one after. I came to prefer a blade slightly tapering toward the point as it gives more controll during carving.
I prefer 10 cm blades for general use and 11 cm handles. Never had problems with stick tangs or composite handles and a properly made backstitched sheath is sturdy and safe.
 
GRIM 62 said:
I have an OK Tommi Moose Puukko that cost me a rather large sum 10 years ago,but what a beauty!I also have a Kellam Wolverine Puukko,it's nice too,but nothing like my OK tommi Moose.:)
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Small world! I picked up a couple in the teho style from OK ten years ago too.
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Don't understand!
Still like?
We had thought about not liking.

Sorry but I am behind in my photo taking, so this just talk...

Most of my sheath knives are Puukkos
I really like 95 mm as a long blade and 80 to 85 mm as a shorter blade
  • My favorite field knives are a Wood Jewel 95 cm reindeer butted birch handle or my Enzo Trapper as a full tang Puukko
  • My back packing knife is an SS 80 mm Mora Scout knife with double guard, safe from any accidents
  • My EDC that I carry in my side pouch rotates :
    • Ahti Carving with a 75 mm blade in black rubber which has a wonderfully modern look to it, and is very robust
    • Brusletto Hallingskarvet with a short but comfortable handle
    • Järvenpää puukko with a thin 80 mm blade in a nice deep sheath
  • My Helle Harmoni at 95 mm laminated SS, is quite lovely and the most comfortable handle ever designed
  • And many others...
 
Yes! Always have, always will (how could you suggest otherwise?! :eek:)

Deduct one puukko from your collection and send to me as penance.

I like puukko and scanadinavian knives too. Most recently I recieved a Knivsmed Stromeng Old Fashioned Model...the 9" version. I have yet to take some beauty pics of it and then take it out for a spin.

However, in the main, I tend to handle them myself...cue gratuitous puukko-porn!!

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:D
 
I love puukkos. I'm wondering, are those custom Tuominens zero ground edges or do they have a slight secondary edge?
 
s2f said:
I love puukkos. I'm wondering, are those custom Tuominens zero ground edges or do they have a slight secondary edge?
Click to expand...

Mine came zero ground with a mirror polish.

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It has since been slightly convexed. I dropped it on my tile floor and dinged the blade. Luckily the edge only rolled, not chipped, which is a credit to Pekka's heat treatment. There is still a tiny bit left, I didn't want to waste the steel and figure that it'll disappear in time as I use and resharpen the blade.

I decided to eventually convert this puukko to a very slight convex grind. I want to see how it compares to more conventional puukkos with a scandi grind and microbevel. This will be my experimental knife. Its sheath has already seen me try out Sno-Seal. The handle was previously mucked up when I applied Tru-Oil and tried to remove the shine with 0000 steel wool, leaving some grit in wood and losing the velvety feel of the birch bark. :eek: I've probably messed up a perfectly good knife, but these "improvements" make the knife more mine and make it easier for me to use.
 
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I would have convexed it as well. A grind that steep is probably SHARP but it doesn't seem like it would be that durable.
 
Tommi puukos usually have a 18° edge, though various makers, including master Jukka Hankala, put a microbevel taking the very edge to about 20°.
 
s2f said:
I would have convexed it as well. A grind that steep is probably SHARP but it doesn't seem like it would be that durable.
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I don't know if the grind was the problem. I expect most cutting knives would endure some damage when dropped, whether the grind is scandi, convex, or flat. I've dropped a slipjoint into the sink once and took off part of the tip. The edge on Pekka's knife just rolled, which indicates that it should be plenty durable (notwithstanding abuse or clumsiness).
 
Just to clear a point, Kamagong puukkos have all rhombic section blades and that is what allows the very high bevel. This is a peculiar caracter only of finnish puukkos.
 
I ordered a puukko from Mark Wohlwend what ive been anxiously waiting for. i got a larger one than his normal size. 4 1/4 inch handle, 3 3/4 inch blade. @Ivan, how do you like yours??
 
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