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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
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Lookee here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=020 Are there any Finnish/Lapp specialists on the Forum? Can we get some education? |
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#2 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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Can you say shill?
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
Posts: 432
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Kalle Wahtera of Turku, Finland was one of the top knifemakers in Finland.
Credited with developing the Toijalan style of puukko. Wahtera is the older spelling of Vahtera. He worked in the late 1800's to early 1900's. The one I have (similar to that shown on ebay) is dated 1906. His works are rather rare in the US and command very high prices in Finland. This style is still made today by his ancestors but on a very limited scale. They also bring high prices and most are in Finnish collections. They tend to be bought before they are even made :-) Here's a link to some Scandinavian knife photos. See the second photo down; third knife from the bottom right. It's a Wahtera. http://home.earthlink.net/~rsblade/nordic.htm Rich S |
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#4 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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I feel terrible my ingnorance was showing
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
Posts: 432
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First the style is pretty unmistakable and also the seller does
mention the name in answer to a question. Wahtera didn't sign on the blade, only embossed in the leather of the sheath. Having an original Wahtera to a collector of Finnish knives is like having a Springfield marked Randall made by Bo Randall himself. If you find a Wahtera for $150, please buy it and send it to me :-) But it must be an original Wahtera. The style was later copied by other makers. Rich S |
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 215
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Hi Rich,
Great info. I've got Lester Ristinen's The Knives of Finland, but surprisingly I don't see this maker in his lists. Where did you find that? (pic from one of my old archive posts). -d |
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
Posts: 432
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Derek -
That's Ristinen's first book. Get his second, it is MUCH better and has a lot more info, pics, etc. "Collectable Knives of Finland". It is still in print and available from a number of sources at $40 plus shipping. Maybe find a copy cheaper somewhere. I just checked Amazon and they have it for $40. Also available from Memories of Finland (click on the puukko knives link) for the same price. http://www.memoriesoffinland.com/cat...sp?catagory=31 A must have for non-Finnish readers collecting puukko. Rich S Last edited by Rich; 29th March 2008 at 12:08 PM. |
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#8 | |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,885
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What is the earliest known example of one of these puuko? Best regards, Jim |
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#9 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
Posts: 432
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Jim -
I've been told of examples in museums that date about 1000 years ago. My oldest one is from the mid 1800's. Puukko and Leuku have been made in Scandinavia, Finland and Lapland (Sami) for many centuries. Rich |
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#10 | |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,885
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![]() Quote:
It seems that even Alan Maisey, whose knowledge and involvement with the keris is well known worldwide, has even noted a certain affinity for these small but powerfully captivating knives. Is there a line of thought on the evolution and development of the puuko? What are the differences between puukko and leuku? Like Ariel, I'd like to see an informational thread on these develop so we could learn more on them here together. All the best, Jim |
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#11 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
Posts: 432
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Jim -
I'm nowhere near qualified to do a treatise on puukko and leuku. Basically Leuku are broad bladed knives mostly associated with the northern parts of Scandinavia and Finland, esp Lapland culture (Sami). Used mainly for chopping, shelter building, heavy duty work. http://www.ragweedforge.com/5229.jpg Where puukko, in their many variations, are smaller, narrow bladed knives generally thought of as working/utility knives. Puukko is a specifically Finnish term, but similar designs are used throught the region. I've discovered that the "proper" term for knives of the entire region is "Nordic" as opposed to Scandinavian since Finland isn't "technically" as part of Scandinavia. http://www.ragweedforge.com/1244.jpg I got attracted back to them as a matter of nostalgia. A Finnish horsehead puukko was the first knife I ever bought (not my first knife, just the first I bought) when I was about 9-10 years old. Then about 5-6 years ago I inherited another from my wife's uncle. Well memories, etc., having two I just couldn't resist them. The collection has gotten totally out of hand. I wish there was more in English about them, unfortunately there are only Ristinen's books and a couple articles from various knife/arms magazines. Most of the info I've gotten on them has come from collectors in Finland via the 'net and various knife message boards. There are some interesting parallels between Nordic knives and Japanese swords. Japanese swords were of course used as weapons whereas the Nordic knives are tools. The interesting part is in the steel. Many of the Nordic knives are differentially tempered or laminated steel. The Japanese sword was both. Rich Last edited by Rich; 30th March 2008 at 03:13 PM. |
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