Puukko Signed by E. Poggats.dy - info please

N

nacoma

Joined
Aug 27, 2004
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I bought what I thought was an Eskimo Bone-carved knife and scrimshaw knife from an antiques friend. She obtained the knife from a friend of hers some years ago, and assumed, after his death, that because he was from Alaska, that's where the knife had been made.

I was online last night and ran accross, quite by accident, a puukko that looked similar in shape and size. I did some research and discovered that the knife I had is indeed a puukko and it is signed by E. Poggats.dy. I found a very brief mention of this artist, Esaias "Esse" Poggats, born 1937 to Andreas Poggats (1908-1982), is a renowned wood carver and artist from Sweden (Lapland). Two of his knives were for sale for 7500 kroner - if I read it right, $990 USD each. Neither were as ornate as mine, but there were some similar design elements.

I was quite amazed. I've recently read quite a bit about puukkos, but have found very little on Poggats, unless there's more in Swedish I can't read.

Pictures can be seen at http://www.3dollarbill.org/images/poggats knife.jpg and http://www.3dollarbill.org/images/poggats knife sign.jpg . Take a look and tell me what you all think.

I think I got a steal.

Ray
 
Looks like you scored a good one. The type of puukko in question is a saami puukko, a style of knife from the saami people of lappland.
 
Yes Ray, you have got a couple of treasure pieces there. Congratulations. :)
 
Looks like it is a sami knife of the northern sami style.

I did a quick search on Poggats, and found the two knives you had found for sale at the price of 7.500SEK which is about $1000 but also found one site mentioning a Poggats knife of "whole horn" model being sold for 30.000SEK wich would be almost $4000.

A sami knife of "whole horn" or maybe should have been translated to "all horn" menas that the sheath is entirely made with horn, not with leather up at the top as the ones you saw for sale at 7.500SEK.

On your first pic, your knife looked like it would be a "all horn" knife, but on the second there is leather at the backside of the sheath, so not sure what it would qualify as.

The price of the knife will also be dependant on what shape it is in and from what period of the makers career it is. The knives that gets the highest prices is the ones made when the maker is at his peak ofcourse. When he has gotten his skills to their max, and before he starts getting worse eyesight and a bit worse fine motor abillity due to older age. I guess it is the engravings that will be effected the most by the eyesight and fine motor abillity.

The "dy" after the name might stand for "den yngre" which would translate to "the younger" which is sometimes used to tell the differens by persons with the same name. Perhaps a father and a son that has the same name. Kinda like Jr for junior in english/american.
So perhaps the knife is made by E Poggats dy the son of E Poggats. But I am really just guessing here.

Might be worth having an expert take a look at it if you are curious. Or if I find some expert that would be willing to have a look at the pics I will ask them.

/Bjorn
 
Liten and everyone who responded to my post,

Thank you very much for the input.

I told my friend I wouldn't sell the knife, but $1,000 - $4,000 is a lot of money. I wish money weren't so important.

Anyone in Oregon know of an appraiser, knowledgeable and trustworthy?

Thanks again, everyone.

RAy
 
Ray, welcome to Bladeforums!

I really, really like puukkos. :D The sheath on yours is especially beautiful. As tempting as the money sounds now, remember that the value of the knife is unlikely to drop any time soon, so don't rush your decision.

We have a forum for identifying unusual knives, The Bernard Levine Knife Collecting and Identification Forum, and Mr. Levine himself also does appraising professionally. You might want to contact him at the link. Coincidentally, he is also in Oregon.

Thanks for the pictures, and the information on the knife.
 
nacoma: Glad I could help a little bit.
I forgot to mention I also found two different Poggats knives that was sold at auctions, and they were sold for 700SEK so approx $100. So the prices seem to differ a lot. All depends on the particular knife, and ofcourse on if one can find a buyer that wants to pay for the knife.

/Bjorn
 
Based upon various sources of info, I've decided to attempt to sell my knife. I'm a little hesitant about it, but if interested, it's up for auction on ebay. I know some of you said I probably wouldn't get more than a $100 or so, but an appraiser said I should be able to get at least $750. That's where I'm starting - I'm still not convinced I should sell it, but my family can use the cash.

Anyway, I've posted more photos online at http://www.3dollarbill.org/images/Poggats Knife/

Thanks for everything.

Ray
 
Ray: Even tho I found two cases where Poggats knives were sold for just around $100, I didn't say that would be the best you could get. I was just letting you know I had found Poggats knives priced in the range from $100 and up to $4000. Just indicating that it would be wise to ask an expert about it.

Good luck on the auction!

/Bjorn
 
Bjorn,

I'm very sorry; I misunderstand your posting re: price, and I didn't check back to see your correction for me. I do really appreciate your input and advice/suggestions.

I wanted to also thank everyone for your input. I did list the knife on FeeBay even though I was not at all convinced I wanted to sell it. I did get a couple of bids, but none came close to my asking price of $650 - which I must admit I set thinking no one would actually start bidding that high. I also received a private offer afterward, and I was very tempted, yet torn. It was obvious he was a collector of Saami handicraft.

With the input I received here and through a variety of other sources, including my family, who could really use the money, we decided that this was a piece of art not to be lightly surrendered for the few dollars it might have brought.

The biggest thing for me is that I and my family are very concious of the need to recognize and cherish the art/handicrafts of indigenous people, no matter what part of the world they may come from.

I really appreciate this forum and all the good people here.

Thank you.

Ray
 
Welcome to Bladeforums! Looks like I got here too late and the auction is over with no sale -- good thing, I was about to stomp all over you. Advertising is not allowed on this forum.
 
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