Knives of the Norsemen

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

Justin · 13th July 2005, 03:54 PM

Im glad to see so much interest in these guys,maybe someone can help me with a question.These little knives supposedly date back 1000-2000 years and yet I have seen very few that look any older than the 1930s-1940s,were are all of the 19th century and earlier models?

Andrew · 13th July 2005, 04:08 PM

Good question, Justin. I wonder if this is a function of these knives' function. Are these working knives/tools? If so, I would expect most owners to use them untill unusuable, and then discard/replace.

spiral · 13th July 2005, 04:42 PM

My names Spiral and Im a Pukkoholic!

Well more of a kukriholic actualy! but I do have a couple of quality Scandanavian knives.

Anyway! So Is this Norwegian Staskniv counted as a pukko?

The maker is Loune with a rampant lion with axe trademark on the blade, & a flower on the probably nickel silver ring around the top of the scabbard.

Ive found out that Tarould Louen {1825-1901} & Elias Louen{1865-1954) were considered amongst the top 5 master craftsman church carvers in Norway & they both made these knives .

The grip & pierced sheath is slow grown holly wood, & its all seems very utilitarion despite is carving.the blade is 3.5inch. oa. in scabbard 9in.
Perhaps The most skilfull part, but easy to overlook to my mind was perhaps the tapered & gently stepped oval hollowng of the inside of the scabbard to match the external profile of the knife. That bits not so showy but not many men could do it as smoothly & finely as this is done.

Even the fret work varies on each side of the scabbard , so it was carved through not fret sawed.

Instead of a horse, the head resembles the dragon caved on the original Viking long boats.

I wonder if its possible for anyone here to date when this was made? & which craftsman. made it? or am I asking the impossible?

Not sure whether my other one counts as a true Pukko either? often called a finnish knife in Sweden , I belive?

its a Standard, 4inch blade 1874 style Swedish barrel knife , with a Finnish masur birch handle.

By Joh Enggstrom, so that predates c.1915 I would presume.

I realy like them both!

All comments, thoughts & info welcome!

Spiral.

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

13th July 2005, 11:23 AM	#3
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	#4
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

13th July 2005, 04:42 PM	#7
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	My names Spiral and Im a Pukkoholic! Well more of a kukriholic actualy! but I do have a couple of quality Scandanavian knives. Anyway! So Is this Norwegian Staskniv counted as a pukko? The maker is Loune with a rampant lion with axe trademark on the blade, & a flower on the probably nickel silver ring around the top of the scabbard. Ive found out that Tarould Louen {1825-1901} & Elias Louen{1865-1954) were considered amongst the top 5 master craftsman church carvers in Norway & they both made these knives . The grip & pierced sheath is slow grown holly wood, & its all seems very utilitarion despite is carving.the blade is 3.5inch. oa. in scabbard 9in. Perhaps The most skilfull part, but easy to overlook to my mind was perhaps the tapered & gently stepped oval hollowng of the inside of the scabbard to match the external profile of the knife. That bits not so showy but not many men could do it as smoothly & finely as this is done. Even the fret work varies on each side of the scabbard , so it was carved through not fret sawed. Instead of a horse, the head resembles the dragon caved on the original Viking long boats. I wonder if its possible for anyone here to date when this was made? & which craftsman. made it? or am I asking the impossible? Not sure whether my other one counts as a true Pukko either? often called a finnish knife in Sweden , I belive? its a Standard, 4inch blade 1874 style Swedish barrel knife , with a Finnish masur birch handle. By Joh Enggstrom, so that predates c.1915 I would presume. I realy like them both! All comments, thoughts & info welcome! Spiral. Attached Images

13th July 2005, 04:31 AM	#2
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...

13th July 2005, 03:54 PM	#5
Justin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 180	Im glad to see so much interest in these guys,maybe someone can help me with a question.These little knives supposedly date back 1000-2000 years and yet I have seen very few that look any older than the 1930s-1940s,were are all of the 19th century and earlier models?

13th July 2005, 04:08 PM	#6
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Good question, Justin. I wonder if this is a function of these knives' function. Are these working knives/tools? If so, I would expect most owners to use them untill unusuable, and then discard/replace.