Mr. Marttiini, did I mess this up?

[StretchNM]

I'm usually in and out of my chisel drawer several times a day, but haven't been since probably November 2006. I've been in a woodworking slump... a slowdown.... So, imagine my surprise when I look in there and, nestled in a compartment under my finest chisels box, is this Marttiini filet knife!

I cannot remember how I got this.....maybe my bro-in-law (even though, as cheap as it is, it's still too expensive for him ), maybe from my Ma and Pa's estate, I just can;t remember. But when I got it, I obviously didn;t think much of it, because I tossed it into a drawer, where it's been looked at and overlooked for a loong time. Hmmmmm.

Well, here it is. I stripped the old, worn finish off the handle and, when doing so, decided to keep the wire wheel marks. In fact, I put some effort into leaving them! ((( )))

Does anyone know more about this knife? I did a Google search, but couldn;t even find a place to buy Marttiini's (of course, I was spelling it Martinii). What do you think?

 

[johnny reb]

Wall-mart , costs about 10 bucks.

 

[StretchNM]

POP! (There goes my bubble!!!!!) ((( )))

 

[SOLEIL]

Does anyone know more about this knife? I did a Google search, but couldn;t even find a place to buy Marttiini's (of course, I was spelling it Martinii). What do you think?

Try here:
http://www.marttiini.fi/puukot/shop/english/default.htm
http://www.nordicarts.com/marttiini_knives_scandinavia_01_HUB.htm
http://eknifeworks.com/webapp/eComm...t&SearchText=marttiini&Search.x=11&Search.y=8
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=marttiini+knife&category0=
They fill a certain niche. They are great low cost knock around fishing knives, especially for salt water.

 

[Jack Black]

I have a Marttiini knife I was sent for review about 12 years ago. The handle is much the same as on this fillet knife, but with a slight guard. It was sold under the Normark name. I'm not at home at the moment, but will take a pic when I can. It's a clip-point, with a mirror-polished blade. Not sure of the steel, but it takes and keeps a good edge. Sheath lets it down. It's got Mr Marttiini's signature etched on the blade, and I think Normark sold it as the 'Ultimate Hunter' or something like that.

 

[knarfeng]

To me it looks for all the world like a fillet knife my folks had in the early '60s. Same blade, same handle, even the same metal collar at the base of the handle. I think it was called a "rapala". Even the sheath matches my memory of it.

add:
Ach, no wonder. Looked at the Marttiini company history and found that they made the knives that were sold under the "Rapala" brand name.

 

[IUKE12]

I have the same knife. Bought it many years ago and could not have paid more than ten bucks for it. The right side of the blade is engraved with the marttiini name.

 

[STDK]

I have one that was my dads, it is at 30 years old and still has it place in my tackle box. Great using knife.

 

[StretchNM]

Well, I'm over my disappointment now. I took some pain killers and drank some Wild Turkey. Whew!

I'm sure it was my Dad's now. I thought it was something really nice, so I spent a couple of hours on it out in the shop yersday. I even pulled the old Vigor flex-shaft out of its storage to work on it with!!! Ok. Ok. I'm over it now. Deep breath and deep thoughts (with Jack Handy).

It has Marttiini's signature on the blade in fine script, along with "Hand Forged Stainless Steel" or some such stuff. I convexed the edge into a fine sharpness (the steel is about as tough to sharpen as 68 degree butter). It probably won;t hold its edge through more than a handful of crappie.

The sheath isn't anything special, but it's certainly unusual. It has a piece of leather down in the sheath that's sort of like a divider - the blade can go over or under the leather when re-sheathing. Except to serve as a stop for the handle (unnecessary, because the sheath is wet-molded), I can't figure out its purpose.

 

[superc]

To me it looks for all the world like a fillet knife my folks had in the early '60s. Same blade, same handle, even the same metal collar at the base of the handle. I think it was called a "rapala". Even the sheath matches my memory of it.

add:
Ach, no wonder. Looked at the Marttiini company history and found that they made the knives that were sold under the "Rapala" brand name.

Yup. Had a childhood friend whose Dad or someone brought one in Finland long, long, ago. He brought it on every fishing trip and swore by it. He was pretty upset when superior blade quality (i.e, early stainless) knock offs began appearing in neighborhood stores.