Decent sythentic handle Puuko?

[EDDAKA]

Hey guys,

I've always liked puukko's, and Generally scandi knives in general. I like the way the look, what they were designed for,(and how well they do it!) and their history. Just an all around good knife.

Now I reeaally like the look of the "finn bear" and the sisu made by cold steel.

They remind me of the old Tapio Wirkkala puukko's. (which I love even more.)

These both appeal to me greatly. However they use a moderate/sub par steel. (Besides the sisu, which I think is a little bit overpriced. I mean a fallkniven F1 is about $300 less. Comon cold steel...)

So did anyone ever make something similar to the sisu with a quality carbon or decent stainless steel?

 

[Ankerson]

CS has some really fantastic blades on the market for sure.

 

[moonwilson]

Most of the Moras could be considered "synthetic-handled puukos", IMHO.

 

[EDDAKA]

Most of the Moras could be considered "synthetic-handled puukos", IMHO.

True.

While I do like my Mora #2, 740, and 780 they are just not the same as those knives. I know that sounds picky, but hey we all have different tastes right?

I like my mora 2 the most out of the bunch (full tang, looks good. feels good.)

I hate that "gap" that the brass sleeve on the blade has. food, and blood, and whatever else can wedge it's way in there, and it's kinda annoying to clean out.

I've heard about super gluing the hole shut and what not but that's just tacky.

 

[Boats]

$300.00 for that Sisu is ridiculous.

My Skookum Bush Tool in CPM 3V only cost $220 shipped.

My IJ Puukko/Leuku combo in carbon steel only cost $125.00

There's an entire universe of stainless and carbon steel puukkos and Moras out there that will likely outperform both CS products, for $15 to 60.

 

[Leftoverdj]

EDDAKA, my suggestion would be to contact some of our custom makers. Alternately, the Mora laminated blades are available as bare blades to be custom hilted. Their steel is certainly better than the Cold Steel you mentioned, and they can be treated as blanks to make up pretty much anything you might want within their size constraints.

 

[CWL]

I have owned one of these by Kaleb of Muskrat Man Custom Knives for 2 years now. It is one of my favorite "go to" knives. Mine is in yellow-gold micarta, but you can choose the color you want. Only a buck and a quarter without sheath for a handmade knife, why would you even look at CS?

http://www.muskratmancustomknives.com/images/tom_c.jpg

 

[BlackHills]

Alternately, the Mora laminated blades are available as bare blades to be custom hilted.

Blanks are also available from a number of other makers....Lauri, Puronvarsi, Helle, Brusletto, Polar, and EnZo just to name a few. They're inexpensive for the most part and a block of micarta or G10 doesn't cost much either. A person could easily make one for less than $50 not counting labor.

 

[Frankki]

The Wirkkala puukko, made by Hackman, is actually considered by many not very good as a user. Not great steel and the handle can be uncomfortable. It's just that Tapio Wirkkala is a big name in design circles, so the knife has some merit and importance as an example of industrial design. Great for collecting but it certainly is not the most functional tool out there. And yes, the price that CS charges for their Sisu version is just nuts.

 

[philwar]

These both appeal to me greatly. However they use a moderate/sub par steel. (Besides the sisu, which I think is a little bit overpriced. I mean a fallkniven F1 is about $300 less. Comon cold steel...)

So did anyone ever make something similar to the sisu with a quality carbon or decent stainless steel?

Have you ever tried any CS blades in Krupp 4116 steel? There's absolutely nothing wrong with that steel. And considering you can buy a Finn Bear for like $10, I'd say no knife in the world beats it for price/performance ratio.

Edit: And you can get a Sisu for $200 and less, if you take the time to look.