Knives of the Norsemen

Rich · 12th July 2005, 11:58 AM

Les Ristinen published "Collectable Knives of Finland"
about 2-3 months ago. Larger format, tons of pics and
old catalog reprints, 176 pages, some in color.

IBSN # 0-9626839-1-4

I ordered my copy directly from him. Don't know if it's
available elsewhere or not.

Do folks think there's enough interest in puukko to
start a Yahoo Groups message board on the topic? Could
be an email group or online message board (options for
each individual); has picture posting capability; but
must be a Yahoo member to post, etc. Let me know what
you all think. I can set one up if desired. Not trying
to take away from this GREAT board, just don't want to
load it down with specialty discussions that may not be
of interest to others.

Rich S

Jens Nordlunde · 12th July 2005, 03:25 PM

Hi Derek,
Your knife looks very much like this one, mine is at least 80 years old.

Andrew · 12th July 2005, 03:26 PM

Rich, first the kukhri guys now the puukkos!?

I'm joking, of course.

However, please don't be concerned that specialty discussions are unwelcome here. After all, you guys put up with our incessant tedious ramblings about dha.

Personally, I'd love to see more puukko discussions. I think there's room here for nearly all weapons, particularly as my personal concept of "ethnographic" expands.

We've avoided creating multiple sub-fora for discussion of specific weapons and cultures. Other boards have done this (with varying degrees of success, in my opinion). But, one of the things I like about this forum is the easy exposure to things (e.g. puukko) I would not normally read about if I had to go to another board, or even a sub-forum.

Please stick around guys.

Rich · 12th July 2005, 04:48 PM

Andrew -

Ok, just didn't want to clog up the board with puukko
stuff. But if you don't mind .... :-)

Does anyone know if Les Ristinen has a website or
email? Would love to be able to get him into some
of our discussions.

Andrew - What Dha? Dah???? :-)

Rich S

Henk · 12th July 2005, 06:47 PM

Great a thread about puukko.

Also yours truley likes the Scandinavian knives. From the holidays in Scandinavia in the eighties i brought some knives home as a souvenir. Next month I will be in Sweden. So, who knows.........

Rich · 12th July 2005, 09:21 PM

Hmmm, seems we've "outed" a few closet puukkophiles :-)
I know there are more of you out there. Don't be afraid
to admit you like puukko :-) Nothing to be ashamed of;
it's all quite natural to like quality knives :-)

Rich S

Battara · 12th July 2005, 10:34 PM

First it was the dha freaks, then the khukri cooks, now the puuko pals

- what's next - Moro maniacs?

Andrew · 13th July 2005, 12:17 AM

We prefer "dha dudes" or "dha guys".

Andrew · 13th July 2005, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Andrew -

Ok, just didn't want to clog up the board with puukko
stuff. But if you don't mind .... :-)

Does anyone know if Les Ristinen has a website or
email? Would love to be able to get him into some
of our discussions.

Andrew - What Dha? Dah???? :-)

Rich S

We don't need no stinkin' dha!

Definitely need more puukko around here, Rich. In fact, there's been a dearth of nihonto, now that I think of it....

Aurangzeb · 13th July 2005, 04:31 AM

Hi all!

I like these puukko knives I don't have one YET , for every time I have money I can't find one and when I don't have money I find them. But soon I will find one!!!! Some say I am out of my mind (don't know why though).

Mark...

Rich · 13th July 2005, 11:23 AM

OK, on a more serious note (why change now) :-)

I wonder why the development of the horsehead pommel?
I can see the purpose of the hook pommel; IMHO it gives
more control of the blade and you can do more "forceful"
cutting with it then with a plain straight pommel.

Perhaps the horsehead design is just an aesthetic
embellishment of the hook pommel? I know little (that's
an understatement) of Finnish culture, but I don't think
of horses as a major component of Finnish culture.

Just wondering? Any thoughts?

http://home.earthlink.net/~steinpic/pommel.jpg

Rich S

Lew · 13th July 2005, 03:46 PM

Hi Rich

I think that style of pommel can be traced back to the Czars of Russia during the 1800s but I'm not 100 percent sure?

Lew

Rich · 13th July 2005, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurangzeb

Hi all!

I like these puukko knives I don't have one YET , for every time I have money I can't find one and when I don't have money I find them. But soon I will find one!!!! Some say I am out of my mind (don't know why though).

Mark...

Mark -

If you're looking for modern Scandanavian knives, try
Ragweed Forge. He has a nice selection of modern
knives and IMHO competitive prices. I've purchased
several from him.

http://www.ragweedforge.com/Welcome.html#catalog

Rich S

12th July 2005, 03:25 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Derek, Your knife looks very much like this one, mine is at least 80 years old. Attached Images

13th July 2005, 11:23 AM	#11
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	OK, on a more serious note (why change now) :-) I wonder why the development of the horsehead pommel? I can see the purpose of the hook pommel; IMHO it gives more control of the blade and you can do more "forceful" cutting with it then with a plain straight pommel. Perhaps the horsehead design is just an aesthetic embellishment of the hook pommel? I know little (that's an understatement) of Finnish culture, but I don't think of horses as a major component of Finnish culture. Just wondering? Any thoughts? http://home.earthlink.net/~steinpic/pommel.jpg Rich S Last edited by Rich; 13th July 2005 at 11:47 AM.

13th July 2005, 03:46 PM	#12
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Horse Head Pommel Hi Rich I think that style of pommel can be traced back to the Czars of Russia during the 1800s but I'm not 100 percent sure? Lew

12th July 2005, 11:58 AM	#1
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Les Ristinen published "Collectable Knives of Finland" about 2-3 months ago. Larger format, tons of pics and old catalog reprints, 176 pages, some in color. IBSN # 0-9626839-1-4 I ordered my copy directly from him. Don't know if it's available elsewhere or not. Do folks think there's enough interest in puukko to start a Yahoo Groups message board on the topic? Could be an email group or online message board (options for each individual); has picture posting capability; but must be a Yahoo member to post, etc. Let me know what you all think. I can set one up if desired. Not trying to take away from this GREAT board, just don't want to load it down with specialty discussions that may not be of interest to others. Rich S

12th July 2005, 03:26 PM	#3
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Rich, first the kukhri guys now the puukkos!? I'm joking, of course. However, please don't be concerned that specialty discussions are unwelcome here. After all, you guys put up with our incessant tedious ramblings about dha. Personally, I'd love to see more puukko discussions. I think there's room here for nearly all weapons, particularly as my personal concept of "ethnographic" expands. We've avoided creating multiple sub-fora for discussion of specific weapons and cultures. Other boards have done this (with varying degrees of success, in my opinion). But, one of the things I like about this forum is the easy exposure to things (e.g. puukko) I would not normally read about if I had to go to another board, or even a sub-forum. Please stick around guys.

12th July 2005, 04:48 PM	#4
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Andrew - Ok, just didn't want to clog up the board with puukko stuff. But if you don't mind .... :-) Does anyone know if Les Ristinen has a website or email? Would love to be able to get him into some of our discussions. Andrew - What Dha? Dah???? :-) Rich S

12th July 2005, 06:47 PM	#5
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Great a thread about puukko. Also yours truley likes the Scandinavian knives. From the holidays in Scandinavia in the eighties i brought some knives home as a souvenir. Next month I will be in Sweden. So, who knows.........

12th July 2005, 09:21 PM	#6
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Hmmm, seems we've "outed" a few closet puukkophiles :-) I know there are more of you out there. Don't be afraid to admit you like puukko :-) Nothing to be ashamed of; it's all quite natural to like quality knives :-) Rich S

12th July 2005, 10:34 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	First it was the dha freaks, then the khukri cooks, now the puuko pals - what's next - Moro maniacs?

13th July 2005, 12:17 AM	#8
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	We prefer "dha dudes" or "dha guys".

13th July 2005, 04:31 AM	#10
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hi all! I like these puukko knives I don't have one YET , for every time I have money I can't find one and when I don't have money I find them. But soon I will find one!!!! Some say I am out of my mind (don't know why though). Mark...