The Puukko

[Will Power]

I found one of these ages ago. It has sat in my drawer since then, because I'm worried to chip the edge. Somewhere (forgot where) I read that the blade is a bit delicate. Could you comment on your experience with these knives?

Wirkkala by the way designed the cutlery that I've been using every day the last 40 years, "Taille".

I'm not sure as I've never been able to get hold of one- they're very over priced here in Finland and often in dubious condition....However, I doubt if the edge is fragile unless you opt for battening through fence posts infested with old nails

That tableware is really beautiful, must be a great joy to use at meals

 

[The Zieg]

I found one of these ages ago. It has sat in my drawer since then, because I'm worried to chip the edge. Somewhere (forgot where) I read that the blade is a bit delicate. Could you comment on your experience with these knives?

Wirkkala by the way designed the cutlery that I've been using every day the last 40 years, "Taille".

Use the knife if you want to! It is not a Mora, so the blade will not hold up to the kind of abuse common in Bushcraft circles nowadays (you will notice it has a lovely and distinct distal taper). It will cut twine, leather, and paper, carve wood, trim plant materials, butcher game and do all the sorts of things you would expect of a knife its size and grind. I used my first one for decades as a fishing and backpacking knife all over the world. It never let me down. (It was actually the first knife I ever bought with my own money, purchased from the Leichtung catalogue in the early '80s in my teens. Yeah, Gen X all the way, baby!)

There are many tens of thousands of Wirkkala puukko knives out there (more 3.5" than 4" models), so unless you are wanting to preserve the knife for a public collection, or you have a commemorative or special model (I have one whose sheath is somehow stamped for the newspaper industry), it is really just an unusual knife that was intended by its designer and manufacturer for use.

Enjoy it and take pictures!