Educate me on the Puukko.

I have been looking at some very traditional puukko patterns lately. The horse-head is one of the most decorated styles and a famous western Finnish style. I came across this museum picture and wanted to show it to you. The puukko is from the year 1893 and is in the collections of the national museum of Finland.

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There are some smiths still making this pattern. Mostly they are used with some traditional costumes. Iisakki Järvenpää is one of the oldest factories making these.

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The horse-head pattern started when local craftsmen saw the whips of the cavalry officers, some of them had a horse-head pommel. Seems the smiths liked the pattern because it is very common in western finnish folklore.

I have doupts about the usefullness of these knives, but they sure are pretty. Still if you look at the museum knife it has been used for a long time and sharpened often.
 
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One more and I will stop flooding this thread. I mean if you really want something special:

Hevosenpaa_puukko_Vaakunakoristelulla.JPG
 
Are there any good starter puukkos other than Mora's out there? Or even, EDC-sized Puukkos?

I unfortunately do not have the resources, nor the time, to make one myself out here. I have always loved the designs and how amazing they are at wood work....I just cant sharpen them to save my life for some reason...hence, the question regarding starters :p
 
DeadFall27 said:
Are there any good starter puukkos other than Mora's out there? Or even, EDC-sized Puukkos?

I unfortunately do not have the resources, nor the time, to make one myself out here. I have always loved the designs and how amazing they are at wood work....I just cant sharpen them to save my life for some reason...hence, the question regarding starters :p
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Check this out.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1157041-New-EDC

I EDC a small puukko regularly, for example Roselli has small puukko's that are my favourites. There are also many other makers worth noting.
 
DeadFall27 said:
Are there any good starter puukkos other than Mora's out there? Or even, EDC-sized Puukkos?

I unfortunately do not have the resources, nor the time, to make one myself out here. I have always loved the designs and how amazing they are at wood work....I just cant sharpen them to save my life for some reason...hence, the question regarding starters :p
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The Finnish company, IIsakki Jarvenpa, makes entry-level puukot, including
This . . . no-frills utility puukko in a kalevala style flat sheath. #6316, 3 7/8" (10 cm) carbon steel blade, $37.
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Google IIsakki Jarvenpa to find U.S. sources.

Puukot as short as 4.5" are routinely made for souvenirs and for ladies sewing baskets. The most common size years ago was 7" overall and they are common, used, on the auction place. (Many sold by people who make up things to say or by outright liars.)
 
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I am not sure if this thread is still alive, but I have a decent collection of Finnish knives of all sorts and ages. I will post some pictures if you guys are interested.
 
Meanwhile, here are a couple of Finnish blades I bought myself for my birthday. Both by Lauri; the shiny one is a blank and the longer one is finished. The lower bevel on the finished one is shiny too- sorry about the pic quality.
KhOAZY50
 
This is seriously the best thread. So lovely- and so much gratitude coming from all participants. Including me- thank you all!

The first knife that really got my attention as young fella is that ubiquitous Marttiini (w the reindeer and reindeer sled) that was given to my dad back in the 60's by a Finn family member of his. Like this but oldddddd
(looks like image failed to post- it was the marttiini Lynx with the tassels)

I'm taken. I have consumed many Mora blades bc they come quite close to very inexpensively fulfilling what I love about puukko. But I think its time to get back to the roots. I cannot take my eyes off the Ahti Kaira worker. Its so funny- for all the money spent on all the Moras I have purchased "to fill the void," I could have purchased 3 or so real nice puukkot!
 
I literally just stumbled into this thread myself.
Just a couple weeks ago I considered trying to make myself one. Googled "puukko" knives, saw (and drooled) the pictures of them.
I started off very simply, a small stainless blade on a hickory handle with a brass pommel.
Next, I repurposed an old stainless kitchen knife and used a piece of red oak for the handle.
I'm now in the process of using a sawzall blade that I ground and filed into shape, used a quarter for the pommel, and will have leather stacks with a red oak handle.
Mind you, all of this is my "in training" mode, so that when I get a proper Norwegian blade, I'll be able to do at least a little justice when I finish it.
 
HoosierQ said:
Trying to nail down exactly what a Puukko is in words is a bit like "tactical", "survival", "bowie"...mileage will vary although in defense of the term, it is seldom used to glorify or promote the thing the way these other terms are.
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This detail about glorification/promotion is great. There is not a ton of marketing-angle/leverage being worked when the term "puukko" is dropped. It is, I imagine, in the eyes of many marketing people, just about as sexy as "butter churn." Although I am sure my Finn ancestors made some real voluptuous butter churns.
 
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pjackst said:
This detail about glorification/promotion is great. There is not a ton of marketing-angle/leverage being worked when the term "puukko" is dropped. It is, I imagine, in the eyes of many marketing people, just about as sexy as "butter churn." Although I am sure my Finn ancestors made some real voluptuous butter churns.
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Yes. Using "puukko" is like using "messer" - knife.
 
Just as I was going to bed last night, I came across this thread. An hour and 10 pages later I had learned more things than I could count about the history and design of Finnish knives. In fact, after days of searching and doing homework, this thread contained more useful info than any other single source I came across. This thread is a great example of what makes this forum such an invaluable resource, and it would be a shame to let it be consigned to the dustbin of thread history (in other words, I hope it's ok that I bumped it :D ). Thanks to all who have contributed their knowledge here.

Out of curiosity, Woodrow - what puukko did you end up with after all this fantastic advice?
 
I just got this one from Malanika here on the forums. Danijel is a maker from Croatia but he said he must have been Finnish in another life because he loves the puukko style. I think he nails it down pretty darn good. This one has a 3.8" rhombic blade of 80crv2. It has elm burl handles with brass bolsters.









 
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