Educate me on the Puukko.

kootenay joe said:
I'm using "Scandinavian' as a North American. I have been told than Finns do not consider them selves as "Scandinavian" but more connected to people of the Urals.
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Scandinavia is the peninsula that hosts the Scandes mountain range, so strictly that would mean only Norway and Sweden. A tiny part of very northern Finland reaches to the Scandes, but generally Finland is not considered a part of Scandinavia. Finland falls under definition of the Nordic countries, which are Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark and Finland.

The Finnic peoples in the area of modern day Finland and northern Scandinavia had a lot of cultural exchange with the Germanic peoples of southern Scandinavia (Modern day Swedes and Norwegians) and vice versa, so culturally they are quite similar. (Which can be also seen in similarities in Scandi knives and Puukkos) Not to mention that the area of modern day Finland was ruled by the Kingdom of Sweden for ca. 500 years. Nonetheless the linguistic and deeper historical connections are to the East.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/2b/98/c3/2b98c3c08467913859fc5a7854d86c01.jpg

There are some distantly related Fenno-Ugric tribes in the Urals, but most of the NW areas of today's Russia used to be inhabited by more closely related Finnic tribes. Actually the origins of Russia can be traced to the Slavic and Finnic tribes who in 860s asked some Varangians (Vikings from area of modern day Sweden) - Rurik and his brothers - to come and rule their lands. Probably they wanted peace, but couldn't accept a leader from any of competing tribes, so an outsider was considered as a good compromise. Rurikid dynasty founded Novgorod, Kievan Rus and later Grand Dutchy of Moscow and Tsardom of Russia. Many of the Finnic tribes in Russia got later assimilated into the Slavic culture and finally Stalin's purges and deportations destroyed most that remained.

The Saami people who inhabit parts of the northern Scandinavia, Finland and Russia are well known for their knives (Stuorra niibas/leuku and unna niibi/puukko). It would be interesting to also find out about puukko styles used by Finnic peoples of Russia. There must be some archeological findings and maybe even traditions that have continued to this day.
 
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What can be done to help prevent further deterioration of the sheath ?
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Traditionally sheaths are wiped with linseed oil to keep them soft. Same with handles and blades too to keep them from drying/rusting.
(I personally use olive oil, which works fine also)
 
I'll say it again...best thread in the forum. Thank you all for adding the great info. :thumbup:

It really keeps the desire flowing while mine are on order.
 
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Here's a Tommi-puukko (8 cm) by Marko Lindelä of Kainuun Puukko, which I recently bought for a friend as a gift. I'm not into collecting stuff, but the blade felt nice for carving so maybe I'll get one for myself too. (When I have more money.)

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...and my trusty Kullervo (8,5 cm), which I use for everyday chores at home and in the woods. It's made by Veikko Hakkarainen and bought from Lauri Tuotteet. I really like the handle in this one. It's very comfortable and easy even after working for hours.
 
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That new KP looks good. Did you custom order it? I'm thinking of getting one like it with the birch bark handle, but with a brown tuppi.
 
Rich S said:
There are some on the Finnish National Museum site, mixed in with lots of other stuff.

http://suomenmuseotonline.fi/en/selaa?freetextSearch=puukko

These are mostly puukko, but a couple Saami style knives are mixed in also.

Rich
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Thanks!

After quick browsing I found some from eastern Karelia (Olonets, Russia), which look very familiar.

This is clearly a maasepän puukko:
http://suomenmuseotonline.fi/en/koh...U5332:481?freetextSearch=puukko&itemIndex=195

...and there's even puukko with a stacked birch bark handle:
http://suomenmuseotonline.fi/en/koh...U5332:486?freetextSearch=puukko&itemIndex=200
 
kamagong said:
That new KP looks good. Did you custom order it? I'm thinking of getting one like it with the birch bark handle, but with a brown tuppi.
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You can choose the handle material on their web shop. Select: "Traditional Tommi" -> "Little Tommi 80 mm", then scroll down and you should see a link "Customize this knife with special materials or colour variations". There's pull down menus for handle material, blade finish, bolster material and sheath color. If you want something more different, for example a flat rear bolster (or is that pommel?), then you have to send E-mail to Marko.

The blade is superb, but I've seen better birch bark handles (for example in that Kullervo above). In the photo you can probably see some matte glue staining on the front bolster (which is just cosmetic and easy enough to polish away) and there's some small gaps between the stacked birch bark flaps. Seems like it's not as tigthly compressed as it could be or maybe it has dried out a little after stacking. It's nothing major though and I would still prefer it over other handle materials.
 
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Rich, thanks for the "Tommi" help. I thought that "Tommi" referred to a style of Puukko regardless of who made it. But i see it only refers to that style and that is made by the smiths of "Kainuun Puukko".
I read something about the current Tommi smith not being quite up to the standards of the former smiths. Is this so, or am i mixing up who this story refers to ?
 
kootenay joe said:
Rich, thanks for the "Tommi" help. I thought that "Tommi" referred to a style of Puukko regardless of who made it. But i see it only refers to that style and that is made by the smiths of "Kainuun Puukko".
I read something about the current Tommi smith not being quite up to the standards of the former smiths. Is this so, or am i mixing up who this story refers to ?
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You were right the first time. These are all Tommis. Notice the similarities, particularly the sheath design and distinctive pommel.

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kootenay joe said:
Rich, thanks for the "Tommi" help. I thought that "Tommi" referred to a style of Puukko regardless of who made it. But i see it only refers to that style and that is made by the smiths of "Kainuun Puukko".
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Actually I think that you are right on both counts. Tommi puukko was first made (and designed) by Kalle Keränen and the methods of making it have been passed on through several generations of smiths in Hyrynsalmi, Kainuu. Setti Keränen-> Antti, Olavi ja Alpo Kemppainen -> Veijo Käpylä -> Marko Lindelä. Many other smiths in the area adopted this style too.

Later other smiths outside the locality began making puukkos inspired by Tommi design and it has become a generic name that refers to this style.

As pointed out by Kamagong the main features of Tommi puukko are that distinctive pommel, the sheath design and a rhombic blade where the primary bevel goes to ca. 2/3-3/4 of the blade height.

There's some nice photos at Kainuun Puukko's Facebook page: https://fi-fi.facebook.com/kainuunpuukko

[edit]trying to stick to the facts
 
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chown, thanks for your help with "Tommi". I read somewhere that the current Kainuun smith is not quite up to the workmanship of the previous smiths. Is this correct ? or am i mixing up who this was referring to ?
If you were ordering a knife from Kainuun now would you choose the same birch bark handle ? For blade they list "steel" or for an extra 10 euros "hand forged". I thought all their blades are hand forged ?
If there are 2 smiths working there can you pick the one you want to make your knife ?
I think i might be lining myself up for a new Tommi !
kj

edit to add: what is the purpose of the center 'ridge' across the pommel ?
 
kootenay joe said:
chown, thanks for your help with "Tommi". I read somewhere that the current Kainuun smith is not quite up to the workmanship of the previous smiths. Is this correct ? or am i mixing up who this was referring to ?
If you were ordering a knife from Kainuun now would you choose the same birch bark handle ? For blade they list "steel" or for an extra 10 euros "hand forged". I thought all their blades are hand forged ?
If there are 2 smiths working there can you pick the one you want to make your knife ?
I think i might be lining myself up for a new Tommi !
kj

edit to add: what is the purpose of the center 'ridge' across the pommel ?
Click to expand...

I don't know if the quality of workmanship is better or worse since I haven't used puukkos made by the previous smiths. The handle could have been better, but I'd still probably choose it again. The blade is very good. They are all hand forged silver steel and the selection is simply about different finish. I guess "steel" refers to finish like you see in my photo i.e. all sides ground, no forged surface left bare. AFAIK Veijo Käpylä retired and sold the company to Marko Lindelä, so there's only one smith remaining.

The center ridge is probably just a stylistic choice. It gives more contact suface to the tang, but most puukkos manage very well without.
 
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Looking at it, the page is just badly translated. I looked from the Finnish version and correct translations would be...

Code: 
Handle:   black
          reddish brown
          wood
          birch bark

Blade:    bright steel
          forged surface
          damascus
          polished forged surface

Bolsters: brass
          silver

Sheath:   black
          reddish brown
          leather
          red/black

Forged surface means blackened with hammer marks and polished forged surface is similiar to what you see in that Kullervo above. I not sure why the bright steel blade is cheapest (maybe due to volume) as it probably needs more grinding work.
 
chown, thanks so much for explaining this. I too could not understand why there is a jump in price for leaving forging marks on. I thought the translation into English must be 'off', but you show that this is what it says.
kj
 
Or maybe it's more challenging to forge a rhombic blade (forged surface)? If you grind it to rhombic shape (bright steel) after forging the shape doesn't need to be so accurate and you can also use blades that wouldn't pass for forged surface ones. Would that make sense?
 
It does make sense and really sounds like a shortcut.

A couple of Tommi makers that are worth knowing are Pentti Kaartinen
http://www.tommipuukko.com/

and Mauri Heikkinen.
http://mauriheikkinen.fi/

Heikkinen doesn't speak english and international comunications are dealt by his daughter. As far as I know he's the most awarded Tommi maker alive. Having very small numbers of production his prices are rather low, given his quality, saying 160 € for a bark handle...
 
Thanks Frederick. Mauri Heikkinen's website shows only 2 styles of Tommi knife. Does he only make these ? or does he make a range of Puukko styles ? If i wanted to order from him it would be difficult without more pictures of his knives to refer to.
On Pentti Kaartinen website he gives a list of 10 styles of Tommi but 5 of them look the same to me. He gives no contact info and no prices.
Do people in Finland who want a knife from one of these smiths deal with them directly ? or are there knife dealers who sell their knives ?
I am sure others reading this thread will be interested to know this type of information as well.
kj
 
Kj - Mauri broke his arm over the summer so it may be a few months before he is working again. I have been emailing back and forth with his daughter. Im not sure on how long it will be.

Mikko Inkeroinen is great to work with. He should have my Tommi ready in a couple of months. His turn around is around 4 to 6 months.

Sami Länsipaltta is another that is great to work with. His English is great and he is extremely talented. Though, he prefers not to make a Tommi. His turn around is a little longer (6 months to a year) but he is creative and will work with you.
 
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Does anyone know if Luomanen & Partners and Luomanen & Co [Kumpp] are the same maker of Puukkos?

I think so as both are said to have been in business from 1922-1945 in Kauhava.
 
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