tongueriver
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A truly excellent post, above. Thank you.
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
The Puukko
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The Zieg
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Outstanding!Indeed it is a flag day here today and thanks toThe Zieg for bringing up Lönnrot. Not only a scholar of oral folk traditions but compiler of a Finsk-Svensk dictionary and a Finnish language work on biology.
Finnish is damnably inflected (but many other languages are handicapped by prepositions) and @A.L. is of course correct about the plural form of puukko, but being ruotsinkielen and living in the west my grasp of Finnish grammar, amongst other things..not always on point. Think puukkot would be 'on the puukko' strictly speaking?
Finnish is not an Indo-European language it has no similarities with neighbouring languages such as Russian, Swedish, German and borrows surprisingly few words from other languages being very inventive even in these globalized 'Bro' timesIt's close to Estonian, they can understand Finns but Finns not always them. It is linguistically akin to Hungarian, another maverick language on its own surrounded by Slavic & Romance languages, but they are no way mutually intelligible.
Back to the knives then. I've regarded the puukko as a working tool, handy outdoor item and as such never been drawn to having an expensive Custom made, whereas pocket-knives....There certainly is a shed load of pedantic bickering amongst certain 'experts' about what is a real puukko and it's often tedious. Like in the Classic Car world where monster egos monster each other
I've been more than pleased with the Marttiini and Kauhavan knives I've had, inexpensive, decent and handle well. Others, particularly abroad, may thirst for more elaborate puukko or rare historical ones, all good, all part of the joy of knife ownership and use, something that often gets forgotten.
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draggat
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Will, you always manage to put things very succinctly. Part of the fun of knife collecting is learning the culture that created the knives. I am woefully ignorant of Finland in general, other than it's geographical location.Indeed it is a flag day here today and thanks to
Finnish is damnably inflected (but many other languages are handicapped by prepositions
Finnish is not an Indo-European language it has no similarities with neighbouring languages such as Russian, Swedish, German and borrows surprisingly few words from other languages being very inventive even in these globalized 'Bro' times
Back to the knives then. I've regarded the puukko as a working tool, handy outdoor item and as such never been drawn to having an expensive Custom made, whereas pocket-knives....
I've been more than pleased with the Marttiini and Kauhavan knives I've had, inexpensive, decent and handle well. Others, particularly abroad, may thirst for more elaborate puukko or rare historical ones, all good, all part of the joy of knife ownership and use, something that often gets forgotten.
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The 'experts' you mention remind me of the endless debates of different steels that continuously happen.
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone posting here. I am genuinely enjoying all of it!
lambertiana
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Mini Puukko and other small friends for a lightweight hikeThese pocket puukkot are a useful carry nevertheless, especially in town.
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What is the size of that mini Puukko? Blade length, overall length? Who made it?
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draggat
. Thank you Steve. If a person says they're ignorant of...it's the end of ignorance because it means they want to know, to enquire. We all know so little, but that is what keeps making a new day new and worthwhile, the delight in finding out wanting to know more, however difficult. As for experts in any field, especially on the internet, it's often an excuse to unleash their pent up aggression and boorish imbecility
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L
lambertiana
It's around the size of an open GEC 15 Just about 13cm/5.25". Blade 6cm/ 2 3/8". Maker Kauhavan puukkopajaa. Reindeer antler/Curly Birch. Other handles available but don't know if hey can send to the USA now with all this cusoms fiasco etc.
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Another "Jewel" you found! JohnFound this at the local flea market for 15,- euros: a miniature leuku made as business gift for the Finnish forest company Kemi Oy, prior to 1993.
Total lenght is 15 cm, carbon steel blade is 5,5 cm, no maker´s stamp, reindeer antler handle.
From my experiences recently, ordering from outside the US is not a problem. You'll get an invoice from the shipper (FEDEX, UPS, DHL or whoever) as separate bill for what ever customs duties you owe either before or after delivery depending on when payment is due. Check with the seller before you buy.
Things are changing rapidly though, and this is currently whats on the FEDEX site
As a transportation provider and customs broker, FedEx is required to assess and collect duties and taxes in accordance with current customs regulations and government directives in effect at the time of import. According to guidance issued by Customs and Border Protection on February 22, 2026, duties imposed under IEEPA will no longer be collected for goods entering the U.S. after 12:00 a.m. EST on February 24, 2026. No other duties or tariffs are impacted by the Supreme Court’s ruling.
lambertiana
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I looked around and couldn't find a US source. And even Lamnia doesn't have it.
Wood Jewel offers almost the same knife, same blade length with a little longer handle, and same handle materials.
Edit to add: It looks like I can order directly from the maker. Do they use Lauri blades? Now to work on funding...
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A
Arathol
Thanks for the info. Problem is that ALL EU Post Offices have suspended delivering packets to the USA from last September due to the tariff uncertainty. I cannot send anybody in the US any packet now, so no more trades or selling to the US , puts the block on collecting. Stuff FROM the US to the EU is delivered OK but there are tariffs on this too. So if somebody wanted to buy a knife from a Euro dealer it would probably be sent via very expensive courier, but it's worth e-mailing dealers to see if they have arrangements of some sort, individuals don't.
From what I can see, buying a single knife would fall under the de minimis rule, so does not fall under the IEEPA tarrifs as long as its under $800. So, it looks like the flat 15% import duty would apply, which would be collected at time of entry and paid buy the buyer. Guidance was just issued, once its properly disseminated there should be no problem with shipping to the US.
draggat
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Will Power
I am constantly realizing how little I know, in general, along with the fact that there is so much depth, even in the seemingly simplest of things. Regarding shipping packages to and from Europe, I've completely hit the brakes. I've read about many instances of people paying 4-5 x the original amount for something due to 'brokerage fees' charged by carriers, which are far and away more than the actual tariff. For now, I'm sourcing from the US.
In regards to the puukko, I am extremely impressed with Kauhaven Puukkopaja. Now I am uncertain if this particular specimen is actually a puukko or something else? The handle is shaped a bit differently. Also, I was initially concerned about the handle being weak due to the hidden tang which does not extend through the end of the handle.
From all reports that I can find, modern epoxy is incredibly strong, stronger than the wood handle itself, so there shouldn't be much worry. I don't plan on abusing the knife, so I'm sure it won't be pushed to its limits, at least not by me.
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I wouldn't have any worries about the strength of that one no - unless really extreme tasks are envisaged, beyond rational use
Regarding shipping packages to and from Europe, I've completely hit the brakes. I've read about many instances of people paying 4-5 x the original amount for something due to 'brokerage fees' charged by carriers, which are far and away more than the actual tariff. For now, I'm sourcing from the US.
In regards to the puukko, I am extremely impressed with Kauhaven Puukkopaja. Now I am uncertain if this particular specimen is actually a puukko or something else? The handle is shaped a bit differently. Also, I was initially concerned about the handle being weak due to the hidden tang which does not extend through the end of the handle.
From all reports that I can find, modern epoxy is incredibly strong, stronger than the wood handle itself, so there shouldn't be much worry. I don't plan on abusing the knife, so I'm sure it won't be pushed to its limits, at least not by me.
Very nice look to it, like a carver. Some of their other knives are full tang through the handle, with a metal end cap in this case. Curly Birch and Reindeer horn. Don't dislike their sheathes either.
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lambertiana
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The de minimis rule is back in place? It was suspended last August. I have been paying duties on medications ordered from abroad, plus the above noted brokerage fees.
Continuing the Suspension of Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency
www.whitehouse.gov
No, its still suspended, a new order continuing the suspension was issued on 2/20.The de minimis rule is back in place? It was suspended last August. I have been paying duties on medications ordered from abroad, plus the above noted brokerage fees.
Continuing the Suspension of Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency
The de miminis rule a different category of tariff so it does not fall under the IEEPA ordered tariffs and can still be enforced. So, imported goods from all countries that are valued at or below $800 fall into this category and import duties can still be collected.
Picked this up a few days ago...an excellent condition Tapio Wirkkala (Designed 1961) "Puukko" knife with the original sheath. Produced by Hackman, Finland. I had another one once, bought relatively cheaply at a gun show. Halfway through dressing a deer with it, the blade fell off, and I realized that someone had already broken the blade and had then simply glued it back in place. No wonder it was so cheap. But for the brief time I used it on that deer, I was very impressed with it as the near-perfect ergonomic tool for that job, and I have cleaned way more deer than I can remember. So I always wanted another, but they were hard to find, especially for anything like a reasonable price. I traded an old scope for this one. (Note, I used to be robinpeck, member since 2001, but the other day I couldn't get it to work no matter what I tried, and I had to rejoin with a new name.)
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Excellent to see you back, albeit under a modified namePicked this up a few days ago...an excellent condition Tapio Wirkkala (Designed 1961) "Puukko" knife with the original sheath. Produced by Hackman, Finland. I had another one once, bought relatively cheaply at a gun show. Halfway through dressing a deer with it, the blade fell off, and I realized that someone had already broken the blade and had then simply glued it back in place. No wonder it was so cheap. But for the brief time I used it on that deer, I was very impressed with it as the near-perfect ergonomic tool for that job, and I have cleaned way more deer than I can remember. So I always wanted another, but they were hard to find, especially for anything like a reasonable price. I traded an old scope for this one. (Note, I used to be robinpeck, member since 2001, but the other day I couldn't get it to work no matter what I tried, and I had to rejoin with a new name.)
I seem to recall you had some excellent Stag knives?Those Tapio W. used to be fairly common here until people realized that overseas they were getting a lot of attention ...That's a very nice condition one you managed to get. I've always liked these, and in flea market shops I keep a hawk eye on the piles of (usually appalling condition) knives up for sale. Might get lucky one of these days.....They were 'controversial' at the time due to the handle, but it offers remarkable dexterity. Tapio Wirkkala was a renowned designer, glass, ceramics, furniture too I believe. Due to the popularity of his glass designs which look like melting ice 'Finlandia' vodka for some years was sold in a similar type of bottle, rather beautiful but at the time ignored, now I hear they are sought after by 'collectors'
Here, evidently a US advert