The Puukko

I’m new here and didn’t realize there was a puukko thread of its own until The Zieg The Zieg invited me to join.

I should be a bigger fan of puukko’s than I have been. See screen name. All 4 sets of my great grandparents immigrated to the USA from Finland. One grandfather came over when he was 7 years old. That was in the early 1900’s. There are a lot of Finnish traditions that I grew up with and having an actual puukko was one.

The ones that I recall from my childhood were all used for cutting up fish. Who ended up with the older well used ones I don’t know for sure. One of my many cousins I’m guessing. I did end up with one thanks to my Mom. She knew I was a knife nut when I was a kid. After her mom passed in 2012 Grandma’s stuff was divided up among the family. Mom snagged a knife for me.

My Mom’s Father had a lisaki Jarvenpaa that belonged to a cousin. My best guess on age is late 1940’s to early 1950’s. The sheath is made from cardboard that is well varnished. I recall reading that post WWII, leather was difficult to come by that is the reason for a sheath made of cardboard. Pictured with it is a modern puukko I got recently. A 110 Varusteleka. Another photo is the puukko with my Grandfather’s watch.
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FlyingFinn said:
I’m new here and didn’t realize there was a puukko thread of its own until The Zieg The Zieg invited me to join.

I should be a bigger fan of puukko’s than I have been. See screen name. All 4 sets of my great grandparents immigrated to the USA from Finland. One grandfather came over when he was 7 years old. That was in the early 1900’s. There are a lot of Finnish traditions that I grew up with and having an actual puukko was one.

The ones that I recall from my childhood were all used for cutting up fish. Who ended up with the older well used ones I don’t know for sure. One of my many cousins I’m guessing. I did end up with one thanks to my Mom. She knew I was a knife nut when I was a kid. After her mom passed in 2012 Grandma’s stuff was divided up among the family. Mom snagged a knife for me.

My Mom’s Father had a lisaki Jarvenpaa that belonged to a cousin. My best guess on age is late 1940’s to early 1950’s. The sheath is made from cardboard that is well varnished. I recall reading that post WWII, leather was difficult to come by that is the reason for a sheath made of cardboard. Pictured with it is a modern puukko I got recently. A 110 Varusteleka. Another photo is the puukko with my Grandfather’s watch.
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Great stories and terrific pics! Welcome to the puukko thread and to BF in general!

(On the Traditional Knives forum, of which this puukko thread is a part, folks refer to it as "The Porch" to highlight its easygoing, less tactical, more "old-timey" sensibility. If I had to name the puukko/leuku/Nordic knife/tool community, I think we should call it "The Sauna". 😆)
 
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FlyingFinn said:
My Mom’s Father had a lisaki Jarvenpaa that belonged to a cousin. My best guess on age is late 1940’s to early 1950’s. The sheath is made from cardboard that is well varnished. I recall reading that post WWII, leather was difficult to come by that is the reason for a sheath made of cardboard.
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Thats called maakuntapuukko, made late 1940s for the Ostrobothnian Agricultural Association. There were several different versions made for other provinces.
The sheath is called pahvituppi, its pressed cardboard thats been lacquered.
 
FlyingFinn said:
I’m new here and didn’t realize there was a puukko thread of its own until The Zieg The Zieg invited me to join.

I should be a bigger fan of puukko’s than I have been. See screen name. All 4 sets of my great grandparents immigrated to the USA from Finland. One grandfather came over when he was 7 years old. That was in the early 1900’s. There are a lot of Finnish traditions that I grew up with and having an actual puukko was one.

The ones that I recall from my childhood were all used for cutting up fish. Who ended up with the older well used ones I don’t know for sure. One of my many cousins I’m guessing. I did end up with one thanks to my Mom. She knew I was a knife nut when I was a kid. After her mom passed in 2012 Grandma’s stuff was divided up among the family. Mom snagged a knife for me.

My Mom’s Father had a lisaki Jarvenpaa that belonged to a cousin. My best guess on age is late 1940’s to early 1950’s. The sheath is made from cardboard that is well varnished. I recall reading that post WWII, leather was difficult to come by that is the reason for a sheath made of cardboard. Pictured with it is a modern puukko I got recently. A 110 Varusteleka. Another photo is the puukko with my Grandfather’s watch.
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Welcome very cool history and overall INTRO...👌......Enjoy the forum...👍
 
FlyingFinn said:
I’m new here and didn’t realize there was a puukko thread of its own until The Zieg The Zieg invited me to join.

I should be a bigger fan of puukko’s than I have been. See screen name. All 4 sets of my great grandparents immigrated to the USA from Finland. One grandfather came over when he was 7 years old. That was in the early 1900’s. There are a lot of Finnish traditions that I grew up with and having an actual puukko was one.

The ones that I recall from my childhood were all used for cutting up fish. Who ended up with the older well used ones I don’t know for sure. One of my many cousins I’m guessing. I did end up with one thanks to my Mom. She knew I was a knife nut when I was a kid. After her mom passed in 2012 Grandma’s stuff was divided up among the family. Mom snagged a knife for me.

My Mom’s Father had a lisaki Jarvenpaa that belonged to a cousin. My best guess on age is late 1940’s to early 1950’s. The sheath is made from cardboard that is well varnished. I recall reading that post WWII, leather was difficult to come by that is the reason for a sheath made of cardboard. Pictured with it is a modern puukko I got recently. A 110 Varusteleka. Another photo is the puukko with my Grandfather’s watch.
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The only puukkos I ever see like this have a damn Moose burned into them, which sadly isn't for me.

I enjoy their form and I've seen plain versions in others collections but I can never seem to come across them in the wild. I'm super curious about the steel and ht.

The Zieg The Zieg , I like that little brass slip hook! Very traditional.
 
SwissHeritageCo said:
The only puukkos I ever see like this have a damn Moose burned into them, which sadly isn't for me.

I enjoy their form and I've seen plain versions in others collections but I can never seem to come across them in the wild. I'm super curious about the steel and ht.

The Zieg The Zieg , I like that little brass slip hook! Very traditional.
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The hook is really meant for keys, but it allows me to wear a knife on a variety of clothes: On a belt, on coveralls (clipped to a pocket), on a pack, and so on. If I think I may be in brush, though, I'll use the proper belt loop. The hook could be dislodged in willows by a streambank because unlike a traditional Finnish belt hook, it does not clasp.
 
The Zieg said:
The hook is really meant for keys, but it allows me to wear a knife on a variety of clothes: On a belt, on coveralls (clipped to a pocket), on a pack, and so on. If I think I may be in brush, though, I'll use the proper belt loop. The hook could be dislodged in willows by a streambank because unlike a traditional Finnish belt hook, it does not clasp.
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I've seen those around for a while and always likened them to the traditional finish sheath hooks. Nice to see I wasn't the only one thinking it :)
 
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I wanted to make a batch of carving knives. I made the blades out of 115W8, a steel I really love. The blades have diamond cross section with very flat grind, I usuallly make a slightly convexe grind but I wanted to do this for woodcarving. I even finish the grind with a benchstone to be as flat as possible. I really liked the result and... made myself a bigger one (10,5cm blade) since I still didn't have a classic simple puukko xD
 
Valken said:
carving_knives_by_forgevieuxmonde_dldk14t-pre.jpg


tungsten_steel_blade_puukkos_by_forgevieuxmonde_dlcpigz-pre.jpg


nordic_collection___worn_and_ready_by_forgevieuxmonde_dlc4b3z-fullview.jpg


I wanted to make a batch of carving knives. I made the blades out of 115W8, a steel I really love. The blades have diamond cross section with very flat grind, I usuallly make a slightly convexe grind but I wanted to do this for woodcarving. I even finish the grind with a benchstone to be as flat as possible. I really liked the result and... made myself a bigger one (10,5cm blade) since I still didn't have a classic simple puukko xD
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Tu déchires! I will look up 115W8. I am not familiar with it. I assume it must be extremely durable, like a chisel steel, if you prefer it for carving.

Edit: I found this short thread on 115W8 here on Bladeforums. It features high praise for the steel and a video.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...ugh-brick-low-alloy-high-performance.1341696/
 
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Valken said:
I also have trouble with those things... even at the workshop... And that's a lovely knife, is it acacia handle ?

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Yes, it is acacia! Tu as l'œil vif! It is extremely dry here in Colorado and I expect all my wood handles to shrink. But Danijel Haramina does a great job stabilizing them so it has not happened yet. I look forward to seeing that leuku you have in the vice!

Bagheera is the domestic cat in the picture who hunts all day and comes inside at night. But I have just discovered an enormous orange tabby that seems to have moved into the barn for the winter. He disappears as soon as I show up, but if he can get along with Bagheera, it will help keep the mice in check.

How long did you have to stay immobile with the cat on your lap? 😄
 
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The Zieg said:
Welcome! Glad to see more of Danijel's puukkoja! I have an early village-smith style from him, with his first maker's mark, and I have gifted another, much like yours, to a close friend. I love the high grind on your puukko.
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Thank you! I really like his old mark, and the grinds were always exceptional. Like most of us, I love the details and styling of all the different iterations of knives out there, but there is nothing quite like the simple, useful designs that have been used for generations.
 
Valken said:
carving_knives_by_forgevieuxmonde_dldk14t-pre.jpg


tungsten_steel_blade_puukkos_by_forgevieuxmonde_dlcpigz-pre.jpg


nordic_collection___worn_and_ready_by_forgevieuxmonde_dlc4b3z-fullview.jpg


I wanted to make a batch of carving knives. I made the blades out of 115W8, a steel I really love. The blades have diamond cross section with very flat grind, I usuallly make a slightly convexe grind but I wanted to do this for woodcarving. I even finish the grind with a benchstone to be as flat as possible. I really liked the result and... made myself a bigger one (10,5cm blade) since I still didn't have a classic simple puukko xD
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To what grit are you finishing those handles? The deep BLO penetration really does wonders for that grain. Do you soak them before or after sanding?

Man I love some natural kiln dryed curly birch.. you should try some birdseye maple too, takes beautifully to dye.
 
SwissHeritageCo said:
To what grit are you finishing those handles? The deep BLO penetration really does wonders for that grain. Do you soak them before or after sanding?

Man I love some natural kiln dryed curly birch.. you should try some birdseye maple too, takes beautifully to dye.
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I sand it to 320 then soak, then I finish with 500.
I also like mapple, I need to use it again, it's been a while

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