Looking for info on KP Tommi & Lynx/Lapp puukkos...

D

doggyknife

Joined
Oct 14, 1998
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I would like to know why KP Tommi puukkos cost so much? Is the quality that good? And what exactly is "hand forged carbon SILVER steel"? Just carbon steel with silver in it?

Also, in regards to Marttiini's Lynx/Lapp Puukkos, does anyone have experience with the the "forged stainless steel" version of these knives? I think I read somewhere that the blades run about 54-56 HRC in hardness (some what on the low side?). What about the type of stainless steel used - what does it compare to? Sandvik 12C27?

Thanks in advance.
 
The Kainuun puukkos sold by Kellam really are superb knives. I haven't been able to find out what "silver steel" is, but I doubt it really involves silver. Maybe it does. For sure, these are hand-forged differentially tempered blades that cut fantastically well. I've long wanted a 6-7" inch Jouni, but the price is too stiff. For that money you can look at a Bergland or even a Perrsson mosaic. Check out Hankala. From pictures his work looks very similar.
Knifecenter sometimes has slightly better prices on the "KP". Some are marked "OK". They are great knives to be sure, and you get what you pay for.
I ordered a Martiini from Knifecenter when I got my first KP,but it never arrived and I never reordered it. I wonder about the forged stainless too. Probably drop forged or something similar.
 
That's the first time I saw any analysis of silver steel, are we sure it's the same thing KP is using in the Tommi? I read somewhere that the term "silver steel" often referred to a steel with some chromium in it, which would be consistent with the link you posted.
 
Hi,
Joe- I'm not positive it's the same steel that Tommi uses. I have heard that silver steel is similar to the "W" series of steel (the specs on the link would seem to support that) and was used in the manufacture of hand tools but has kinda fallen out of use. These people http://www.kainuunpuukko.com/english/contact.htmcan probably
give us a definitive answer.

Regards, Greg
 
My understanding is that 'silver steel' is similar to A2, i.e., it has a small amount of chrome. So do 50100 Carbon V?) and 52100, so if that's true, it's in good company.
 
I don't remember the issue, but Tactical Knives Editor Steven Dick reviewed one of the 5" Teho Tommi knives some time ago and was pretty positive. In my experience, Tactical Knives is a bit more blunt about pointing out criticisms than other magazines, so I tend to put a bit more faith in their reviews than others.

As an aside, I live in Norway and was actually planning a quick vacation in Finland about 3 months ago. So I contacted Kellam Knives to find out where I could find Olavi Kampainnien (the guy who is in charge of the hand forged stuff) or where I could find one of their knives. (I already have a Norwegian custom, as well as a Damascus Danish custom, so I was looking for Sweden and Finland) They told me that virtually all of those knives made in Finland actually get exported to the US! So I couldn't find one in Finland. So next I told them I would be on a business trip to the Irvine, CA area, and was there a place there where I could see one. Nope. So, it seems for at least one type of authentic high quality classic Finnish knife, you have to go to ... Florida.:rolleyes:
 
In Helsinki region(where I live) KP Tommi puukkos are not anymore been sold. Price went up about 30% two years ago and the camping store stopped to keep them in stock. Kainuun puukkos forge is in Kuusamo and I belive that one can buy knives directly from forge.

I saw chemical composition of Silver steel in a Finnish knife/puukko making manual. There was about 1.2% Carbon , X% of chromium and other alloying elements. I'll have to go back to that bookstore and take a better look.


Tommi puukkos were our late presidents favorites: he always had one in his drawer.
 
doggy knife: you better buy Marttiinis carbon steel puukkos - thay are way better IMO. The SS (Made by Bonpertius) takes razor edge and is pretty rust resistant but won't hold or take as good edge as carbonsteel puukkos.
 
Hi,
qwertyname- while you are in Irvine you should stop by Plaza Cutlery at the South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. They're great folks, been in the business a long time, and have a good selection of custom knives on hand. (Proably not the pattern you're looking for, but still worth the visit.)
Regards, Greg
 
I know of a few knife retailers that offer the regular Tommi's, but I've never seen one that offers the KP Juniors (aka budget Tommi's) or even the Teho-Tommi's. Anyone know of any retailers that offer them?
 
Is that an epoxy coating I'm seeing on the forged carbon knives? Normally that would be my automatic assumption. However, I remember a few years back seeing a carbon blade that supposedly had no coating, yet the part of the blade above the edge was significantly dark. I never got to ask the maker what exactly caused it, but it looked similar to the photos I'm seeing on the Marttiini carbon steel lynx knives.
 
Usually the black appearance you're referring to is what's known as: "as forged". In other words, it's the way the steel came from the anvil with only the edge and main bevel being ground and polished.
 
Thanks for the info everyone. I greatly appreciate it.

Relative to commonly known carbon steels (e.g., 1095, W-2, M2, etc...), how does the forged carbon steel used by Marttiini perform? For example, 1095 is generally very tough but can wear very easily and rusts if you look at it. A2 is generally not as tough as 1095, but is more wear resistant, and actually has relatively good corrosion resistance (compared to carbon steels - except D2).
 
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