Marttiini

R

redjohn48

Joined
Mar 8, 2006
Messages
101
As it seems that we'll be increasingly going offshore for our knives, rather than the far east, I've been looking at knives of Finland. I now own two and wonder what you'all think. The workmanship seems second to none.
 
I'm not a fan of the super-low-end Marttini knives, like the Marttiini/Rapala fillet knives. But I looked at the selection of Marttiini knives at AG Russell's a couple of years ago and I was impressed by the feel of quality. I intended to buy the "Finland Knife" and/or the "Bronze Bird," but haven't yet.

I do own a few other Scandanavian knives though. The Helle knives from Norway are very nice, the Frosts and Eriksson knives (now merged into Mora of Sweden) from Sweden are great bargains, and the Ahti knife from Finland feels well made and durable. Slightly less impressive, but still beautiful, is the Karesuando knives from the far north of Sweden.

Which Marttiini models do you own that you recommend?

-Bob
 
I have three of em. They make a good knife. Other makers have nicer knives but, at a higher price. Look at www.ragweedforge.com for a nice bunch of Scandi knives at good prices.
 
There is Kellam - company in Florida selling Finnish knives. Also you may buy them directly from finland. Mass production companies like Martini has good quality, but you better check Roselly, Hankala and Kainuun for top quality Pukkos. The Kainuun knives do not have secondary edges and so very sharp and easy to sharpen. And the just beautifull

http://www.kainuunpuukko.com/english/index.htm

T78w.jpg


But it is expensive.

My faivorite knife from Finland Ranger Knife of in Finnish - Sissi Puukko, you can buy it fro www.brisa.fi (sissi is ranger in finnish).

jppeltonensissipuukko-10.jpg


Thanks, Vassili.
 
Sorry no pictires but one is what they call a Bowie. Sorry there as it's a very nice knife, but hardly what we Americans would call a Bowie. The other is what they call a "Big Game Hunter" and is a truely nice knife. I'm looking now at a small skinner, (about the size of a Schrade 152). Think I'll just see how it goes.
 
This is their website:

http://www.marttiini.fi/puukot/shop/english/default.htm

They still has this about changing molecules from round to ellipse shape ;) :
"In manufacturing process the sketches of blades are put through the rollers, which change the design of molecules from round to ellipse shape."

I guess bowie means - clip point.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Ragweed Forge and Kellam both have good selections of Scandinavian knives, many of the same lines, but under different names. :)

I like the Iisakki Jarvenpaa and Helle and Roselli knives, but all the Scandis seem to have something to recommend them. It's just a good basic design.

The Sissipuukko is a strange one. I took mine out of the drawer recently and put it back beside my monitor, so anyone disturbing me while I'm online can get to see it! It has a leather sheath, a rubber handle, and a black-coated high carbon blade -- a mix of modern and traditional based purely on function.

It is advertised as much as a military knife as anything. It is all business. You know how people ask "if you could only have one knife in a survival/emergency situation"? This would do fine.

Bob W mentioned Mora of Sweden. Anyone at all interested in Scandinavian knives should have a few variations on these. They are inexpensive but extremely functional, great lightweight utility knives.
 
I have a few Martiini knives, ranging from a $10 small carbon steel piece to a much more expensive two knife set. The construction of all the knives is top notch. The sheath for the $10 knife is alnoe worth more than $10. I've seen SMKW carries a few Martiinis, including the 'bowie' that redjohn48 mentioned. If their anything like the Condor Martef skinner I have, just without the Martef coating, then they are hands down solid values.
 
sissi is ranger in finnish
Click to expand...

A more direct translation with connotations would be "guerilla", it sometimes translated like this for "military PC" reasons.

"In manufacturing process the sketches of blades are put through the rollers, which change the design of molecules from round to ellipse shape."
Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing out this idiocy, never noticed it before.

The mid-range knives are fairly good value for money but from my experience the high-end ones are not, I would rather pay a bit more and go for a custom (like JT Pälikkö) but then it is somewhat a matter of taste.

TLM
 
Finland is full of great puukko makers who don't make too much noise of themselves... unfortunately. I think it's partly Finnish modesty and partly lack of marketing skills, which goes with lot of artisans... when you are skilled with your hands and too focused on that, you need someone else to market your art work... here is one good page for that kind of puukko makers in Finland

http://www.puukkoknife.com
 
puukko lover said:
Finland is full of great puukko makers who don't make too much noise of themselves... unfortunately. I think it's partly Finnish modesty and partly lack of marketing skills, which goes with lot of artisans... when you are skilled with your hands and too focused on that, you need someone else to market your art work... here is one good page for that kind of puukko makers in Finland

http://www.puukkoknife.com
Click to expand...
Maybe you can help. I went to that site and all I could find were knives of one brand sold by one US vendor. What am I missing?

They look like they are made from Lauri blades. Correct?
 
Here's a list of Scandinavian knife sites we put together on Knifeforums, where they have a dedicated Scandi forum.

Denmark

Jens Anso
www.ansoknives.com
Holstebrogruppen
www.holstebrogruppen.dk/ukweb/frameindexuk.htm
Poul Strande
www.poulstrande.com
Vox Knives
www.voxknives.com

Finland

Iisakki Jarvenpaa
www.iisakkijarvenpaa.fi/
Jukka Hankala
http://users.reppu.net/j.hankala/eng...front_page.htm
Marttiini Knives
www.marttiini.fi/puukot/shop/english/default.htm
Roselli Knives
www.roselli.fi
Lapin Puukko
http://www.lapinpuukko.fi/index.html

Norway

Brusletto Knives
www.brusletto.no/
Haugrud Knives
www.haugrud.no/
Helle Knives
www.helle.no/
Hobbyportalen
www.kniv.ne
Norsk Knivforening (The Norwegian Knife Assotiation)
www.norskkniv.no/linker.htm
Stromeng Knives
www.knivsmed-stromeng.no

Sweden

EKA Knivar
www.eka-knivar.se/
Fallkniven
www.fallkniven.se/
Frosts knives
www.frosts.se/
Granssloyd Knives
www.gransslojd.com/
Karesuando Kniven
www.karesuandokniven.com/
Mora of Sweden (formerly KJEriksson)
www.moraofsweden.com/
Theo's Swedish knifelinks
www.knifelinksportal.com/world/sweden.html

Scandinavian knifesites in general

Brisa for DIY
www.brisa.fi
Brisa links
http://www.brisa.fi/links.html
Handmade Knives from Scandinavia
http://handmade-knives.com/index3.htm
List in Finnish
www.puukkoseura.fi/linkit.php
Peter Berggren - PBKnives
www.pbknives.com/index.htm
Ragnar at Ragweed Forge
www.ragweedforge.com/
Brad Jarvis
Thompson's Scandinavian Knife Supply
http://home.comcast.net/~bradjarvis3/
Canranger44's site
Diving Sparrow Paddle Company
http://home.cogeco.ca/~aelias/index.htm
 
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