Can someone fill me in on Finnish knives?

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Fat_46

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I was on vacation last week along the North Shore of Lake Superior. One outing with the family was a tourist/scenic train ride. While going through a small town I saw a sign that said "Puukko Cutlery". Of course, (and against my better judgement) I went back. I ended up with a finished knife and a blank.

The finished knife is made by Matti Koski of Kauhavan Puukkopaja http://www.kauhavanpuukkopaja.fi/. It has reindeer antler, reinder bone, curly birch, and leather ring handle. (pictures will be up tonight). Frankly its too nice to use.

I also picked up a blank made by Roselli in their "Grandfather" blade style. It doesn't have a full tang, rather a 1/2" wide spike where the traditional wood/bone/leather handle would be glued onto. I plan on using this one...as soon as I can figure out how to make a caping/skinning knife handle for it! I have almost no idea on how to make a handle, so any input would be greatly appreciated!
 
I love puukkos! I've got a couple of them, mostly from Ragweed Forge. The first one looks like a very nice ornamental in the traditional Saami style. I have some Rosellis. They are fantastic knives. The "grandfather" has a small blade compared with US knives, but don't let that fool you. That sucker will make short work of a 1,400 lb. moose. The blade hones beyond razor sharp and that big birchwood handle gives you tremendous control even while wearing gloves.

You should stick with a traditional puukko handle for it because that's what it was designed for. With a US style narrow handle and guard it will just be a stubby little thing with nowhere near the same range of movement. You can see what the stock for hunting/skinning looks like here. They added a little bit of a grip to it, but still retain the big "chunk o' birch" approach:

uhc-vp.jpg
 
I really like the handforged scandis. I have a Roselli "carpenter's knife" great for all-around utility, camping, hiking, etc. I use it and a Kaj Viksstrom clever when I butcher. The large birch handles are lightweight and ergonomically superior to anything else. I really have to pick up one of the grandfathers some day.
 
Congratulations on discovering the ethnic knife style of Finland, the Puuko. Probably no other country makes such practical knives for hunting and utility work.

Finland actually has two broad categories of ethnic knives; the puuko that you have seen already, and the leuku made and used by the Lapps (Saami) who are migratory reindeer herders that range across northern Finland, Sweden and Norway. The Leuku is a larger knife than the puuko, with a broad blade and a more rounded tip than the puuko.

A great selection of puukos, leukus and other specialties of Finland can be found at Kellam Knives. They even feature knifemaking supplies with which you can finish your knife project.
 
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This should explain a little about Puukko Knives specifically and about Scandi Knives in general.
http://www.ragweedforge.com/scankniv.html

Scandinavian Knives
"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb
The Classic Nordic Knife
Despite regional differences, there are features that are very common among Nordic Knives. The blade is narrow, straight for most of its length, with the edge curving up to meet the back at the tip. The back is straight, or only slightly clipped. The blade is single edged, and usually three to five inches long. More often than not, the finger guard is absent. The sheath holds not only the blade, but much of the handle as well. If a keeper strap is used, it fits over a stud on the end of the pommel. Often the sheath wraps around the knife and is sewn up the back. It may be dangled off the belt by a thong or hinged belt loop.

The blade grind is distinctive, and important. Blades have a single long, flat bevel to the edge. The angle of the bevel corresponds to the quality of the steel and the intended use. It's exceptionally easy to sharpen without jigs or gadgets. When sharpening, the bevel is simply laid flat to the stone, and it serves as a guide. This is an excellent system when everyone is expected to keep their knife sharp. There is a lot of discussion among knife makers and serious users about blade grind. I think the Scandinavian grind is underrated by the general user. It is widely used among woodcarvers however.

Larger knives are used also, but not as commonly. A distinctive style is the "Leuko" used in the far north by the Sammi people. It's a camp knife or machete-type all-purpose tool. The Finns also use a longer version of the narrow blade, as a combination tool and weapon.

An interesting feature of the northern knives is the handle shapes. As you get into the far north, the handles become more and more suitable only for a pulling stroke. Guards are even more rare, and the handle tapers down toward the blade. It seems that as conditions worsen for keeping a grip (due to numb hands, the wearing of mittens, etc), users learn never to push on a blade.
(snip)
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This is the store for Ragweedforge
http://www.ragweedforge.com/

Usage of the Puukko in Finland and the social customs surrounding them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puukko

Sissipuukko intended for military useGetting one's first puukko is considered, in Finland, the symbol of coming of age for both boys and girls. Men's and women's puukkos do not significantly differ. The only difference is that women's puukkos are often shorter, may have decorated sheaths, and are better suited for working with foodstuffs. Both boy and girl Scouts consider the puukko their scouting symbol as well as a handy tool. Getting a good puukko as a gift or present is considered a great honour in Finland.

In the Nordic countries, the puukko is an "everyday" knife that is used for everything from hunting, fishing, and garden work to opening boxes in the warehouse. Many puukkos are industrially produced by factories of which Fiskars is the most notable. Bearing of sharp objects which could be used as weapons was banned in Finland in 1977. Since then, the puukko has lost its visibility in public places and been restricted to household work, hunting and fishing. In many industries, e.g. construction, the puukko has been replaced by the Swedish Mora knife, which resembles the puukko but has a much cheaper and less durable construction. The mora knife's handle is typically plastic, and the blade is either stainless steel or of laminated construction; harder steel which forms the edge is clad in softer steel.

In Finland carrying a blade longer than a certain length in public spaces without a permit or job related reason is prohibited. Currently, the only urban areas where they can be seen carried openly are garrisons. The puukko is the only civilian item which can be openly worn as a part of a soldier's combat gear without breaching Finnish Army regulations, and most conscripts bring their own puukkos with them into military
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