lapin-puukko (aka puukko) revisited

[gp]

just got lucky and found another 2 which look to have quite some age to it and differ a little from the standard types...
Concerning the 2nd one; I think the leather scabbard does not belong originally to it, but I guess I might also be mistaken....

your thoughts please, thank you very much!

[Jim McDougall]

This is a great topic, and in the height of coincidence, browsing through an antique shop yesterday, first time in many months, I found this!
As I mentioned, this is an intriguing area to me, very esoteric and little from this culture comes up except in far northern areas of US.

This small 'puukko' is apparently from far northern regions of Finland, in Sami inhabited regions known familiarly as Lapland. The Sami are of Finno-Ugric group who live also in Arctic regions of Norway, Sweden, and Kola Peninsula region of Russia.

As an animist society, the prevalence of symbolism and Noaidi (shamen) are notable, and as the reindeer is the mainstay of much of their culture, it is understandable that is often represented in their material culture.

As I understand (and always look forward to corrections as this is not a primary field of study for me) the puukko is a knife often in larger proportion than this one, which is small and in my perception probably for woodworking and/or detailed work, possibly even as used in eating trousseu.

These are believed to be termed lapinpuukko, while the larger versions used for utility and field dressing of game are termed leuku?

The length overall 8.5" with 3" blade, the scabbard and hilt reindeer bone, carved with reindeer, four petal flower (?) and curious heart shaped device.
As I was informed, this was along with several other items out of a museum in Michigan, and according to the curator late 19th c.

The painting of a Sami man , by Francois -Auguste Baird (1799-1882) was from his presence on a scientific expedition led by Joseph Paul Gaimard in 1839 to Spitsbergen and Lappland. His fiancee, Leonie d'Aunet published account in 1854 of this journey titled "Voyage d'une femme au Spitsberg", as had accompanied Baird.
Another painting shows a fight with polar bears, which were another local threat in these Arctic regions.

The styling of this puukko example is known as DUODJI, popular in Sami handicrafts. While the Christian Faith (Lutheran) is nominally followed, the animist religion remains traditionally in place, and references to sacred places termed 'saivo' are referring to locations where ritual practices take place. Naturally there are variations as those Sami who follow reindeer herds are nomadic while others are in set regions.

I hope this might just add some perspective I have found pertaining to these fascinating knives, and certainly has given me a deeper appreciation for them.

Images of the example I found, the Baird painting, and obverse side. In the figure, hard to see, is one of these smaller knives in the waistband.
With pink background, one of these in DUODJI context which has a small drinking cup attached.

[Norman McCormick]

could the name be Morakniv Garberg ? or maybe here is a name:
https://www.chuckhawks.com/scandinavian_knives-2.html

I used to have the top one in green; it was my mother's given to her by my grandfather in the mid 1930ies...
Unfortunately it got stolen when I was ridding on motorbike to the Adriatic sea 1985....I would have easily traded one of my yataghans to get it back but fortunately I found one in what was once the good Ol'U S of A and its on its way to me....



Hi GP,
Thanks for your interest and the website link. I did look into the horse head Puukko sometime ago and determined it was possibly from the 30's, makes sense re your mother's. Thanks again .
My Regards,
Norman.

[gp]

received a nice puukko, which was quite dirty and some rust, looked a little beaten up as if in had been throug several wars...

nevertheless managed to get it back to live;

it is 20 cm long
wooden handle with a thin leather piece wrapped around it
and a metal (iron) kind of button) on top
blade 2 cm wide
scabbard is simple yet has 2 pieces of decoration;

- a V-like decoration at the top
- a typical Finish decoration found on most puukkos

looks to me like a "working" tool, perhaps for the hunt or fishing ?
what do you think?

[Norman McCormick]

Hi GP,
Does look like a very workmanlike knife. I would suggest hunting and general utility as knives for fishing tend to be thinner and pretty flexible for gutting and filleting.
Regards,
Norman.

[Norman McCormick]

Hi,
The Finnish knife I posted, see below, I've discovered was made by Luomanen & Kumppanit of Kauhava Finland C1930. The company was active from 1922 to 1945. It is 7 3/4 inches overall with a blade just short of 4 inches.
Regards,
Norman.