I bought this amazing little blade made by Puronvarsi. This is By FAR the sharpest blade i have ever handled. It cuts nasty hard 10 oz leather like no other knife I own and goes through it like a warm knife through butter. The handle the is last piece I had of a 150 year old elm burl mallet head.
Here is the story of the Finnish family of blacksmiths and the latest member to carry on the tradition of blade smithing. Enjoy.
Best regards
Robin
The Puronvarsi Story
By Federico Buldrini
What Im about to tell you is the story of a Finnish family who has devoted many of its members to the art of forging.
In 1809 tsar Alexander I conquest took Finland from Sweden, in the hope of expanding the southern borders of Russia unto the Danube, and for the next fifty years the authorities of the Grand Duchy of Finland will work tirelessly to convince the Russian court of the loyalty of Finland.
Our story takes place in Härmä, a small town 24 km south of Kauhava, the historic puukko capital in western Finland.
We are in 1850 and its in this year that a man from the Puronvarsi family starts his own business as a blacksmith. The son, Matti, following in the footsteps of the parent, learns and passes the craft on to one of his descendants, Esa Puronvarsi.
In 1927, in an independent Finland, Yrjö Puronvarsi is born, who in his youth, along with his eight brothers, learns the art of forging from his father and uncle. He will be the only one to carry on the job, although there will be a period in which twenty family members will work as smiths at the same time.
Yrjö has three children, two boys and a girl. Neither of the sons was ever interested in the family job, while the daughter, Ulla, in the early 80s, became the mother of Antti Mäkinen. Antti begins his smithing career in 2006.
Were almost to the present day. Yrjö, the blacksmith who worked longer in the family, passed down to his nephew his knowledge to create his heir. Today, being 85 years old, he doesnt forge anymore full-time, but still works six days a week, for the love of it and for exercise.
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Here is the story of the Finnish family of blacksmiths and the latest member to carry on the tradition of blade smithing. Enjoy.
Best regards
Robin
The Puronvarsi Story
By Federico Buldrini
What Im about to tell you is the story of a Finnish family who has devoted many of its members to the art of forging.
In 1809 tsar Alexander I conquest took Finland from Sweden, in the hope of expanding the southern borders of Russia unto the Danube, and for the next fifty years the authorities of the Grand Duchy of Finland will work tirelessly to convince the Russian court of the loyalty of Finland.
Our story takes place in Härmä, a small town 24 km south of Kauhava, the historic puukko capital in western Finland.
We are in 1850 and its in this year that a man from the Puronvarsi family starts his own business as a blacksmith. The son, Matti, following in the footsteps of the parent, learns and passes the craft on to one of his descendants, Esa Puronvarsi.
In 1927, in an independent Finland, Yrjö Puronvarsi is born, who in his youth, along with his eight brothers, learns the art of forging from his father and uncle. He will be the only one to carry on the job, although there will be a period in which twenty family members will work as smiths at the same time.
Yrjö has three children, two boys and a girl. Neither of the sons was ever interested in the family job, while the daughter, Ulla, in the early 80s, became the mother of Antti Mäkinen. Antti begins his smithing career in 2006.
Were almost to the present day. Yrjö, the blacksmith who worked longer in the family, passed down to his nephew his knowledge to create his heir. Today, being 85 years old, he doesnt forge anymore full-time, but still works six days a week, for the love of it and for exercise.
