From the Finnish National Museum Online

[redsquid2]

I was impressed with the craftsmanship, and unfamiliar with this method of joining blade to handle. Also, there is a similar device at the butt of the handle, but I wish there were more pictures so I could tell exactly what is going on.

Anybody here done something like this?

http://suomenmuseotonline.fi/en/koh...eo/K7479:7?freetextSearch=puukko&itemIndex=84

 

[aarongb]

I've done it if its cast pewter. Bolster was probably cast first around the blade, using the zig-zag carved wood as the lower form for casting. Hard to tell if the pewter on the butt is cast as is, or cast without the wood butt cap and wood fitted later.

Of course, I could be wrong, but thats what it looks like to me.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I believe you are correct and it is cast pewter.

The end of the handle is made as a zig-zag. The blade is wedged in place in the tang hole. A collar is placed around the handle and pewter is poured around the blade ( blade upward). The butt is relief carved and a collar is wrapped around it. There is a small hole in the collar that the pewter is poured in.
The excess pewter is filed/carved away and sanded flush.

This is all the same as the hawk handles done by several makers on Shop Talk.