Pukko
- Thread starter hso
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OP
OP
The sheath is very nicely done in traditional manner.
I was impressed that another fellow saw it and asked if it was a piece by a "famous" Finnish designer that had designed a puukko for Hakman years ago.
I was impressed that another fellow saw it and asked if it was a piece by a "famous" Finnish designer that had designed a puukko for Hakman years ago.
Ah. Tapio Wirkkala. He used to live across the park from my house. His contemporary variation of puukko knife has been one of my favorites for a long time and Cold Steel Sisu is (was?) a great tribute to it. Many traditional puukko knives don't have finger guards and whenever the handle is slippery, you'll have to be careful. The slightly tapered shape of Wirkkala puukko is an accident waiting to happen and I've switched over to Cold Steel Finn Bear, which has a similar shape but a much better grip and quite a bit more affordable price tag.
Then again, there's nothing quite like the traditional shape as seen in the Fiskars puukko OP posted. It's a bona fide classic on its own right.
OP
OP
I have a Tapia Wirkkala on my collection. I agree on all points.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Question??
I've always wondered if the 'fishtail' of exposed leather on the end of the Pukko or Rapalla fillet knife sheath is decorative, traditional, or functional??
Interweb experts say it is for grasping the sheath with one hand, while drawing the knife with the other.
I call BS on that!
There is never a need to hold the sheath to get the knife out as long as your thumb works to push the sheath off of the handle.
My pet theory is it's a cleverly designed drain tab to suck water out of the sheath and let it evaporate faster in open air.
What do you real experts say it's for??
rc
I've always wondered if the 'fishtail' of exposed leather on the end of the Pukko or Rapalla fillet knife sheath is decorative, traditional, or functional??
Interweb experts say it is for grasping the sheath with one hand, while drawing the knife with the other.
I call BS on that!
There is never a need to hold the sheath to get the knife out as long as your thumb works to push the sheath off of the handle.
My pet theory is it's a cleverly designed drain tab to suck water out of the sheath and let it evaporate faster in open air.
What do you real experts say it's for??
rc
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
All the more reason you don't want a wet sheath frozen to the knife or handle.
Thus, a drain tab to evaporate moisture out of the sheath before it freezes to the knife??
rc
Thus, a drain tab to evaporate moisture out of the sheath before it freezes to the knife??
rc
Could well be. I'm by no means an expert in puukko knives, but the fishtail is typical to traditional ones made in northern Finland, ie. finnish Lapland. They're more often than not a special subcategory called "leuku", with a shallower angle blade and sizes varying from tiny knives suited for cleaning up a (tobacco) pipe, all the way up to full blown machete equivalents. Nowadays puukko knife manufacturers like to mix and match all kinds of traditional details and many southern/central finnish style puukkos are delivered with leuku sheaths. There are also functional variations like Marttiini puukkos, many of which have finger guards.
Joneb: Nice! That reminds me of my first hunting puukko back in the 70's. Oh the memories...
OP
OP
RC,
You don't need a prominent feature for a drain.
Mittens are often worn and the tab makes holding the sheath in place easier.
You don't need a prominent feature for a drain.
Mittens are often worn and the tab makes holding the sheath in place easier.
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Kingcreek
Member
I have an old traditional laminated pukko that my grandfather or great grandfather supposedly brought from Sweden. It's pretty rough and the sheath is long gone. The blade has been bent and straightened. It is stuck in a barn beam in the area where I cut bale twine and the occasional feed bag.
My favorite pukko is my heimo roselli carpenters knife. I like the handle shape better than the traditional in my large hand. Nice balance, wicked edge and easy to resharpen.
My favorite pukko is my heimo roselli carpenters knife. I like the handle shape better than the traditional in my large hand. Nice balance, wicked edge and easy to resharpen.
entropy
Member
Nice! 
I have a Finn Bear, it fit my budget. My Dad has a nice older pukko, don't know the maker.
I have a Finn Bear, it fit my budget. My Dad has a nice older pukko, don't know the maker.
chameleonbear
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HSO did you see the Pukko that Todd Hunt made?
Pete D.
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- Sep 13, 2010
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Knife
That is a pretty knife.
I have a Tapio Wirkkala and a Cold Steel Finn Bear.
I carry the Tapio regularly, the Finn Bear rarely.
A matter of taste, I suppose, though the Finn Bear does not impress me as being as robust a tool as the Tapio.
I also have one of the Wirkkala folders.
That is a pretty knife.
I have a Tapio Wirkkala and a Cold Steel Finn Bear.
I carry the Tapio regularly, the Finn Bear rarely.
A matter of taste, I suppose, though the Finn Bear does not impress me as being as robust a tool as the Tapio.
I also have one of the Wirkkala folders.
Ole hyva
Kiitos!
Finn Bear is more of a tool that has some styling cues from the original than a real design object. Wirkkala folder? Do you mean the brute and simple Wirkkala/Hackman CIA Vietnam issue butterfly knife, most of which have a red plastic handle? Those used to be everywhere, cheap and effective with a puukko-type blade, and few could imagine the old ones would ever become as collectible as they are nowadays. I used to throw mine into dishwasher to clean all the blood off and sharpen it again and again when detergent had dulled the edge...
OP
OP
"Wirkkala folders"This?
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