Favorite: Stockman or Puuko? [summer bracket series]

P

pinnah

Joined
Jul 28, 2011
Messages
5,782
What is your favorite style of knife and why: Stockman or the Finnish/Swedish Puukko (includes the Mora)?

The criteria for "favorite" is entirely up to you. All I ask beyond telling us which is your favorite is that you explain your own thinking. Pictures of your favorites and stories describing why they're your favorite are strongly encouraged. It's really the point, actually.

This question is a part of a summer "bracket" discussion series. I took nominations for patterns in a related thread but in the end, I selected 8 finalist based on whim and bias. Sort of like the NCAA tournament.

Below is the bracket for the final eight. In this round, we're voting for the 3rd match only. Make your "vote" clear and I'll work to tally the results. Voting on this round will end in about a week. It's summer and I'm not going to be punctual.

QUARTER FINALS - MATCH 1. <--- don't vote: winner decided in bold
Bowie/Ka-Bar fixed blade (particularly with 5"-9" blades)
Serpentine Jack (includes the peanut)

QUARTER FINALS - MATCH 2 <--- don't vote: winner decided in bold
Lockback folding hunter (e.g. Buck 110, GEC #72)
Scout/Camper/Swiss Army Knife (particularly the 3-5 blade versions)

QUARTER FINALS - MATCH 3 <--- vote on this one
Stockman
Finnish/Swedish Puukko (includes the Mora)

QUARTER FINALS - MATCH 4 <--- don't vote on this one
Friction folding peasants knife (includes the Opinel)
German Hippekniep (aka Sod Buster)
 
I vote for the stockman; I carried one exclusively for years before being bit by the collecting bug.
 
If you had asked this question a few years ago the answer would have been easy. The stockman was the pattern that really got me interested in slipjoints. Three blades of different profiles, all in a nice compact package. What's not to love? Alas, my tastes have evolved some and I now prefer single bladed slipjoints. I just don't need the stockman's versatility on a day-to-day basis.

On the other hand, I wasn't all that attracted to the puukko. It's a classic design to be sure, but there was nothing all that awesome about them. Boring straight backed blade and it doesn't even have a guard. That all changed a couple of years ago when I bought my first one. You have to hold and use a puukko to appreciate them. Its beauty lies in its practicality; the design is not one of flash, but of substance. From the hand-filling handle, to the short, nimble blade, the puukko's entire design seems geared towards maximizing its usefulness. Even the tuppi (sheath) is eminently practical. Leather, with a wood core, it is light and unobtrusive. Retention is a non-issue with the dangler design. One hidden advantage of the tuppi is that you can store the puukko in it. The general rule is that storing knife in its sheath is a big no-no. In this case however the wooden core encloses the blade, protecting the precious steel from the leather tanning chemicals. Pretty ingenious if you ask me.

So which one do I favor? If I had to choose, I guess I'd pick one of these.

mymikkoinkeroinentommi5.jpg


- Christian
 
Since I don't own a pukko I'd have to vote stockman, plus they are the quintessential knife to so many people, for example the Buck 301/303 (I know they have 3 springs but it's still a stockman...;))

Now, that's not to say I'm not interested in pukko, on the contrary I'd love one! I just don't get the opportunity to wear fixed blades all that often and the ones I have do the trick. Interestingly though,2 are Scandinavian, the Helle Spiederkniven and the Mora Scout.
 
I guess I've got to go with the Stockman, as I have several and carry and use them pretty regularly...But I have lusted for a Puukko for some years now, but just haven't pulled the trigger yet. seeing knives like the ones kamagong showed:thumbup: I marvel at their clean lines and simple functionality. One could easily fulfill duties in a myriad of uses...
I have a reservation about voting for folders over sheath knives...I felt this way about the last poll as well...kind of like picking between apples or hot dogs...just rambling I guess
 
Puukko.

Pretty much anytime I am in the woods I have a Puukko or Mora of some sort on me. Lately it has been a Helle Symfoni. Most useful fixed blade in the woods for me.
 
I am bit partial but pretty much anything you can do with stockman you can do with puukko and with puukko you can do even more. But I vote for practicality. Most of the time fixed blade is more useful and safer than a slipjoint. So I vote for puukko.
 
Actually, it's looking like a contest!! ;)

Currently tally is:
6 - Stockman
4 - Finnish/Swedish Puukko (includes the Mora)

Sitflyer, I know what you mean aobut the apples and oranges quality of this. I had considered putting all the slip joints head to head in the first round, but thought that would favor the non-slippies too much. Any way you cut it though, the slippies end up facing off with the non-slip joints.

I'm glad to see the Puukko pictures. Great looking knives. Surprised that the vote is this close though. I would have thought the Stockman fans would have run away with this.
 
I love the Stockman configuration, but if it comes down to one or the other, I have to go with...






















the Puukko!
 
It´s a difficult question for me (and hardly to answer).

I use a Mora 711 as my hard working tool on the building lot and it´s always in my toolbox. I don´t have a "real" Puuko, yet. Somehow, I´m interessted in that pattern, but I never bought one, which I really like that way. The Mora 711 is in my toolbox and I have two of them left anywhere in a big rucksack, brandnew. Just for the Case of loosing that one. The nice carbon steel getts really very sharp and takes a fine patina.

Stockman is a really great pattern. I really like the shape and the look. It´s possible to use three different kind of blades at a knife make it a real universal knife. I own seven different stockman knives. And the Case Medium Stockman Chestnut Bone CV was my only EDC for nine months. It seems, I really like that pattern very much.

Well, being honest - I don´t have much heavy-duty-jobs for a knife at my daily tasks, but a lot of things to cut. So I prefer multibladed knives at that point.

Stockman gets my vote... :) (but just with 60% for stockman and with 40% for Mora/Puuko)

Kind regards
Andi
 
Im going to say stockman, pukko being kind of hard to carry to me. Stockmen I basically get three knives in one slim package.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top