Best Sub $200 Puukko?

Max-4 · Thursday at 12:39 PM

Hello, I am in the market for a traditional Scandi Puukko for a general use belt knife while hunting, fishing, camping and being outdoors. I have a budget in mind and I would like to keep it under $200 USD, whether that is mass production or custom made in indifferent. As far as size goes I think the best all around size is 3.5" to 4" blade and around 9" overall length give or take? Do they make stainless steel Puukos or are most carbon steel? What do Finn's do when using these for hunting and fishing, do they rust easily? I like traditional things and lately am really getting into the Scandinavian type of equipment from firearms, axes, clothing and now knives.

If you had $200 USD to spend what is the best bang for your buck? Thanks

Mk-211 · Thursday at 12:59 PM

Plenty out there, here's a few places to look.

Scandinavian outdoor
Knives of the north
BPS knives
Casstrom
Willowhaven outdoor

Arathol · Thursday at 1:57 PM

Marttiini, Ahti, Wood Jewel, lots of makers out there
Take a look here-

Thread 'The Puukko'

Dec 3, 2011

I'm a huge fan of Finnish puukkos, they are probably my favorite design. I'd love to see pics if you got em. I'll start, these are the only two I currently own:

Alberta Ed · Thursday at 3:44 PM

Roselli's Carpenters Knife is a classic puukko. Nothing fancy, all function.

ShaiHulud · Thursday at 5:04 PM

Ahti are my favorite
They have real bite and function and you can buy 3 maybe 4 for under 200

Max-4 · Thursday at 5:58 PM

I do like the idea of a Puukko that has some ergonomics to the handle instead of a barrel shaped oval handle.

Kellam Puukko vs Ahti Vera?

Arathol · Thursday at 6:13 PM

Max-4 said:
I do like the idea of a Puukko that has some ergonomics to the handle instead of a barrel shaped oval handle.

Kellam Puukko vs Ahti Vera?

Kellam doesn't make knives. They are a retailer. Ahti is one of the companies that makes knives for Kellam.

A properly made puukko handle works quite well. No need for finger grooves or anything else.

Triton · Thursday at 11:25 PM

Arathol said:
Kellam doesn't make knives. They are a retailer. Ahti is one of the companies that makes knives for Kellam.

A properly made puukko handle works quite well. No need for finger grooves or anything else.

Completely agree. They feel great in hand when property made. I would suggest looking up Todor Hristov who is a member here. Not sure if he's still making Puukos but if he is, his are hard to beat.

jfk1110 · Friday at 1:14 AM

BogdanS can help maybe!! He made me a puukko..... Great price too!!!!

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calm · Friday at 2:22 AM

You can also get a Mora, for something lower cost and well made. (I am sure someone will point out that Technically Puukko should be Finnish)
Marttiini is always a solid and low cost choice too.

abcdef · Friday at 8:38 AM

+1 Marttiini

Max-4 · Friday at 10:09 AM

I think I would like a knife that is at least built in Scandinavia. Looking at BPS knives and Joker knives they do have some interesting designs but I'm not looking for a Puukko built in South America.

So with that being said I do think I'm looking for a stainless steel blade? This knife will be used in the Canadian wilderness for hunting, fishing and general outdoors needs. Not that I am neglecting my knives I just don't want to have to oil the blade every couple weeks while in storage. How much more difficult is it to sharpen a SS Scandi vs a carbon steel blade?

I like the looks of the Marttiini Suomi, Joker Puukko that kind of style. IDK a general purpose belt knife.

veeteetee · Friday at 2:12 PM

Not traditional, but very PRACTICAL https://www.peltonenknives.com/p/34721/products/m07-ranger-puukko-n690-orange

Arathol · Friday at 2:37 PM

Max-4 said:
I think I would like a knife that is at least built in Scandinavia. Looking at BPS knives and Joker knives they do have some interesting designs but I'm not looking for a Puukko built in South America.

So with that being said I do think I'm looking for a stainless steel blade? This knife will be used in the Canadian wilderness for hunting, fishing and general outdoors needs. Not that I am neglecting my knives I just don't want to have to oil the blade every couple weeks while in storage. How much more difficult is it to sharpen a SS Scandi vs a carbon steel blade?

I like the looks of the Marttiini Suomi, Joker Puukko that kind of style. IDK a general purpose belt knife.

Why would you need to oil the blades every couple weeks? Clean and dry is fine, maybe a bit of wax. I have carbon steel blades in the safe that I've had for years, no corrosion. The carbon steel issues are far over blown I think.
I'd go with the Marttiini Lynx black in 80CrV2, the stainless steel Marttiini uses is pretty soft, around 55Rc.
The Joker Puukko has decent steel but it has a fairly low grind that may not work as well for some tasks.
BPS is in Ukraine, Joker is made in Spain, Marttiini knives for the most part are made in Estonia.
Wood Jewel, Ahti and Erapuu are good values and made in Finland. Lots of smaller makers too. Most of these use the same blades sourced from Laurin Metalli Oy.

Dagoth_Blur · Friday at 4:00 PM

Arathol said:
Kellam doesn't make knives. They are a retailer. Ahti is one of the companies that makes knives for Kellam.

A properly made puukko handle works quite well. No need for finger grooves or anything else.

Unless I am mistaken the knife in that bottom image is actually an Erapuu.

Arathol · Friday at 4:02 PM

Dagoth_Blur said:
Unless I am mistaken the knife in that bottom image is actually an Erapuu.

Yes, its an Erapuu. I didn't say it was an Ahti...I said Ahti makes knives for Kellam....

Max-4 · Friday at 4:27 PM

Well, I just bit the bullet and ordered a Kellam Puukko. I love the looks of the curly birch handle and black blade. I know I know, it's carbon steel so I guess I'm going to have to learn how to maintain my knives, lol. I am interested in the more traditional style Puukko knives with a Finnish heritage, here's hoping it's a good knife. Thanks!

John A. Larsen · Friday at 7:34 PM

veeteetee said:
Not traditional, but very PRACTICAL https://www.peltonenknives.com/p/34721/products/m07-ranger-puukko-n690-orange

Click on the M07 Full Tang, that comes with a 14C28N Stainless steel blade, HRC 59-60 and a nice birch handle and in your price range. John

jfk1110 · 2026-04-04T03:40:26-0400

Max-4 said:
Well, I just bit the bullet and ordered a Kellam Puukko. I love the looks of the curly birch handle and black blade. I know I know, it's carbon steel so I guess I'm going to have to learn how to maintain my knives, lol. I am interested in the more traditional style Puukko knives with a Finnish heritage, here's hoping it's a good knife. Thanks!

Its not that complicated..... Wipe it clean after messy stuff, dry after wet stuff wash salt water off all together then fresh then dry.........Same routine for my arse!!

Tough to forget....

.....Good luck

Alberta Ed · 2026-04-04T09:07:50-0400

Max-4 said:
Well, I just bit the bullet and ordered a Kellam Puukko. I love the looks of the curly birch handle and black blade. I know I know, it's carbon steel so I guess I'm going to have to learn how to maintain my knives, lol. I am interested in the more traditional style Puukko knives with a Finnish heritage, here's hoping it's a good knife. Thanks!

I've drooled over those for years. Good choice. It should serve you for a long time (just don't loan it

).