Pekka Tuominen

[John A. Larsen]

It is no secret that I am into and collect Finnish knives. Some years back I met Pekka Tuominen who many folks on BF know of. He is one of only 7 Master Blade Smiths in Finland. Yesterday I learned in addition to being a Master Smith he has just won this years Taito-Finlandia, The Finnish Craft and Design Fair award. This award selects a winner from all the various crafts in Finland, ceramics, glass, textiles and this year a knife maker. This is the 23rd year of this nation wide competition, and the award is quite prestigious in Finland, and also comes with a check for 5,000 Euros. Glad to see a knife maker being recognized in a National Event, not sure it could happen in the USA. Pekka also teaches at his local school, another thing I doubt could happen in the USA. John

 

[knarfeng]

Let's just congratulate the man rather than bringing political correctness into the conversation.

 

[kamagong]

Congratulations Pekka! But earlier this year, the Finnish National Agency for Education certified four new puukkoseppämestari, the first ones since 2009. That brings the number of master bladesmiths in Finland up to 11. They are Pekka Tuominen, Jukka Hankala, JT Pälikkö, Arto Liukko, Markku Vippola, Mikko Haverinen, Pasi Jaakonaho, Tapio Syrjälä, Eero Kovanen, Jari Liukko and Mikko Inkeroinen.

Because every thread is better with pictures, I thought I'd share my Tuominen knife.

 

[John A. Larsen]

PC?

 

[Halfneck]

Handled one of his birch bark handled puukkos at BLADE - it was outstanding. Balance was perfect and the knife was instantly an extension of my hand. It's one of my Grails.

 

[RayseM]

How does one even begin to get in line to buy a puukko from one of those 11?

This is such a lovely knife. (The little one is nice too. )

Ray

 

[waynorth]

That's a fine knife, Christian!! I always admire it when you post it!!

 

[kamagong]

Handled one of his birch bark handled puukkos at BLADE - it was outstanding. Balance was perfect and the knife was instantly an extension of my hand. It's one of my Grails.

If you think the birch bark knives are nice, you should check out Pekka's work when he's inspired. He made a knife based on his grandfather's Winter War puukko. It's gorgeous! The birch bark puukkos are every day beaters in comparison.

That's a fine knife, Christian!! I always admire it when you post it!!

Thanks Charlie.​

How does one even begin to get in line to buy a puukko from one of those 11?

This is such a lovely knife. (The little one is nice too. )

Ray

I have knives from Tuominen and Inkeroinen. I had a knife on order with Hankala, but it fell through the cracks when he contacted me upon its completion, only to have the email get lost in my spam folder. Alas, he is pretty much retired now. In every case, placing an order was as simple as contacting each smith and telling them what I wanted.

 

[Jack Black]

That's a fine knife, Christian!! I always admire it when you post it!!

Me too