Saami Puukko Design

K

kidwholaughs

Joined
Jan 17, 2004
Messages
1,189
Hey guys,

Here is a good question for all you thinktanks. I got a very interesting knife from Rageweed. It's puukko fashioned in the Saami Laplander style with the handle and pommel traditional sheath.
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I would guess that this knife design has been around for a verry long time. A knife design does not endure for that kind of time unless it's very well suited to it's users. Given their history and culture, the Saami most likely knows a lot about bushcrafting. Their knives, being their most valuable tool, reflect this aspect in its design.

Can anyone shed some light on why this knife is designed the way it is. I.e. flat pommel, large handle, wide blade? What kind of consideration went into the design. Feel free to enlighten or take a best guess. Tell me how you think the design of the knife would be greatly useful for the Sami and even us today. Thanks

God Bless
 
Simple uncontoured handle for use with multiple style of grips for multiple style of cuts while wearing large thick mittens. The flat pommel is for your other hand to rest on if you need to really use the tip for something. The shorter blade gives you more control.

Go outside near or above the arctic circle without serious protection from the elements and you wont survive long. That knife is designed to be used in such elements by someone dressed for the occasion.

Notice how the sheath almost covers the whole knife?
That pommel also helps someone with mittens extract the knife from the sheath without too much trouble.
 
The shape of the handle is mostly for versatility, since the knife is the everything tool for the saami. Saami almost exclusivly cut towards themselves, when your hands are numb, you can get alot more controll this way, the handle is shaped to accomidate such grips. The deep sheath just makes the knife very snug, it is easier to make it this way than to install a retention strap. It is truely one of the most simple designs, and because of that, it is also one of the most versatile.
 
SamuraiDave said:
Simple uncontoured handle for use with multiple style of grips for multiple style of cuts while wearing large thick mittens. The flat pommel is for your other hand to rest on if you need to really use the tip for something. The shorter blade gives you more control.

Go outside near or above the arctic circle without serious protection from the elements and you wont survive long. That knife is designed to be used in such elements by someone dressed for the occasion.

Notice how the sheath almost covers the whole knife?
That pommel also helps someone with mittens extract the knife from the sheath without too much trouble.
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A clear, concise and well-thought out explanation! My hat's off to SamuraiDave! Couldn't have said it better!

Necessity coupled with location/geography and environmental conditions play a large part in the designs of man, especially in ancient times (i.e. - in traversing deep snow, the discovery that you need distribute your weight over a larger surface area so as not to sink created the design of the snowshoe).
 
Very good explanations so far, so I'm only going to add that a lot of these type knives have extra large pommels that help you cut while pulling toward you. It's kinda like a reverse finger guard, so your hand doesn't slip off the end of the handle as you cut in pulling motions. Like as already has been said, this helps tremendously with the limited dexterity you have when wearing gloves.
People get all hung up about knives not being safe without a finger guard, but in reality there isn't a need for one if you know how to use a knife properly.

Also, the overall design of these knives is geared toward bushcraft specifically. The edge is particularly suited to working with wood, better than any other edge grind in my opinion, followed closely be convex. There lives consisted of cleaning and skinning animals and working with wood, all of which was done with there belt knife.

Anyways, I'm no historian, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. This is just what I have come to learn in passing.
 
Wow, I am impressed guys. We definitely have some good thinker in here. Btw, what kind of tip work requires putting the other hand on pommel for support? Must be some serious tip work. Good stuff. Keep it come guys.

God Bless
 
Concerning the sheath. The deep pouch style sheath offers excellent retention and prevents the knife from freezing into the sheath.

The puuko is an excellent design for a general purpose wilderness knife.
 
stingray4540 said:
It's kinda like a reverse finger guard, so your hand doesn't slip off the end of the handle as you cut in pulling motions.
Click to expand...

Holding back on the handle with the swell of the pommel between the ring and little fingers, the knife is very effectively prevented from sliding toward the blade as well. The flat pommel also is useful when using the knife in a "stabbing" motion, where the thumb is held over it.
 
x39 said:
Holding back on the handle with the swell of the pommel between the ring and little fingers, the knife is very effectively prevented from sliding toward the blade as well. The flat pommel also is useful when using the knife in a "stabbing" motion, where the thumb is held over it.
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Very much correct.
Although for stabbing, I would argue that it is better to put the pommel against the palm/heal of the hand. YMMV
 
I have read (from scandinavian sources) that when stabbing with a knife of this design you should position your pinky finger behind the pommel this allows you to stab without your hand sliding onto the edge of the blade.
 
Dannyboy Leather said:
The knife is all about use with mittens in the frozen far north. SamuriDave is correct on the design of the pommel (allows the use of the other hand to apply force to the knife point), and the lack of handle contour for hand position options. When the knife is in the hand, it becomes obvious that this is a knife for draw strokes or cuts, such as in working with meat, hides, and carcasses.
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Hey Dan, do you know what tasks was the Sammi knife designed for? Reindeer meat working or working with wood.

One interesting thing that I found about this knife is that the handle is really wide. The amazing thing is that it is really comfortable for power cuts with wood.

God Bless
 
Dannyboy Leather said:
One old Sami knife collection that I had the opportunity to admire, had many smaller knives in styles that I did not recognize as anything remotely like what I had in my humble Sami collection, as most were homespun. Like the Native Americans, the Sami covered a lot of ground with unique and significant differences that are reflected in their apparel, as well as in the tools of their livelihood.
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I guess you never know till you really get over there. And here everyone thought that they were a very homogeneous type of people. It would be weird if I went to visit and everyone had Benchmades and Spydercos. Btw, i think everyone would be interested to see some of your Sami knives. I know I would.

God Bless
 
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