Finnish knives
 

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?

Can you say shill? ;) Seems like a bunch of newbies were making big bids for a $150 knife.

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

I feel terrible my ingnorance was showing :o. Kalle Wahtera of Turku how can you tell the buyer does not mention any markings?

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

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

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

Rich, this is outstanding information on these very intriguing and distinct knives! It has always seemed an extremely esoteric field of study, and aside from the references you have cited, one of the only others I have seen was I believe by Robert Dohrerwend (if I recall the name correctly, it was published in "Arms Collector" in Canada about 5 years ago).
What is the earliest known example of one of these puuko?
Best regards,
Jim

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

Thanks very much Rich. I'm pretty curious on these, and admire the knowledge you clearly have on them. It seems like these knives have a certain propensity to distract even the most specialized of collectors into fascination that parallels thier particular field of study. It seems that I have always associated you with specialization on Japanese weapons.
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

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