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#1 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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Hi Guys
I don't remember if we ever had a thread on puukkos so I decided to bring up the subject. For years I have loved these functional and beautiful knives. They come in many shapes and sizes depending on what part of scandinavia they come from. These knives cut great and stay sharp! They are some of the most comfortable knives I have ever held and used. So hear are some from my humble collection. The first one just arrived today it was made by Jukka Hankala of Finnland. The blade is 4" long and is razor sharp. The next three are standard puukkos the top one is from the 1930s and the wider bladed one is from the 1960s an Andersen made knife. The other one is a modern AK puukko. The last two are a leukku from Lappland which the locals use for butchering reindeer the small one is from Norway a classic hunting knife model. Hope you find them interesting. Lew Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 12th July 2005 at 08:27 PM. |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Kernersville, NC, USA
Posts: 793
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Beautiful knives. Love the "as forged" flats on the new one. They are all so practical and so lovely in they're simplicity.
Steve |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
Posts: 432
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Another puukko collector on the planet!!!! I've been
collecting them for a while. Have about 30 (no duplicates). Got my first when I was about 10 years old (a very long time ago :-) Three of my favorites. Stag handle, appears factory or at least original to knife. Post WW II with varnished cardboard sheath. Lahdensou Lapua puukko with carved wood sheath by Ville Pikkesaari. http://home.earthlink.net/~steinpic/puukko15.jpg http://home.earthlink.net/~steinpic/puukko20.jpg http://home.earthlink.net/~steinpic/puukko28.jpg I finally got a copy of Ristinen's first book. Good info and a good compliment to his current book. Both must haves for the puukko enthusiast IMHO. Rich S |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 215
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Hi guys, here is one old thread:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=puukko And my two cents: ![]() I am down to 6, but they are very cool knives. Rich, I have the book in the pic. What is the other one?? Thanks, -d |
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
Posts: 432
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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 |
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,718
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Hi Derek,
Your knife looks very much like this one, mine is at least 80 years old. |
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 1,725
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Rich, first the kukhri guys now the puukkos!?
![]() I'm joking, of course. ![]() ![]() 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. ![]() |
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
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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 |
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#9 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 1,209
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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......... ![]() |
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#10 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
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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 |
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#11 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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First it was the dha freaks, then the khukri cooks, now the puuko pals
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#12 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 1,725
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We prefer "dha dudes" or "dha guys".
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#13 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,287
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I like Dhafia myself consigliere .
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#14 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
Posts: 432
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Battara -
Please, it's puukko (two k's) and puukkophile, not puukko pals (that sounds so mundane :-) Have to maintain some semblence of dignity with these obsessions :-) Rich S |
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#15 | |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 1,725
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![]() Quote:
![]() (Sorry for the hijack Lew. ![]() |
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#16 | |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 1,725
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![]() Quote:
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.... ![]() |
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#17 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 306
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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... |
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#18 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
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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. |
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#19 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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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 |
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#20 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 175
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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?
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#21 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 1,725
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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.
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#22 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,712
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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. |
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#23 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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Hi Spiral
That is one nice looking puukko the carving is exquisite I am green ![]() Lew |
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#24 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
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IMHO, the Norwegian staskniv is in the puukko group as
are most Scandanavian knives. The Swedish barrel knife would be if it were a fixed blade. Don't know about folding puukko :-) BTW - my wife collects Swedish Barrel knives. Has about 50 of them; all sizes fromm 10inch (closed length) to about 1 inch; most with wood handles; but a couple rarities in ivory; another in tortise shell. They were also copied and made in India (these usually have the typical carving set type carved handles). I just got a absolute mint L & K Kauhava "Scout Knife" off ebay. (These have a guard and basically look like any western style hunting knife). Red galalite handle with aluminum hook pommel and brass guard.Amazing it is mint considering the company went out of business in 1945 according to Ristinen's book. Rich S |
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#25 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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Rich
You are a lucky man to have a wife that likes to collect knives. Most of my knife collecting buddies have wives who think we are out of our minds the wives just see them as rusty old junk ![]() Lew |
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#26 | |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
Posts: 432
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![]() Quote:
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 |
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#27 | |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
Posts: 432
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Just because my wife collects knives doesn't necessarily mean she doesn't think I'm out of my mind :-) Rich S |
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#28 | |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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![]() Quote:
![]() I like that pukko, Spiral. I'm with Lou - beautiful carving! ![]() |
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#29 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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Thank you Louis, Battara, thats very complimentry of you!
It is nice, I must admit! The fact the scabbard is carved out of one solid piece of wood always astounds me. Rich have you any photos of other Staskniv in your collection or elsewhere? It would be nice to see some others. ![]() Perhaps I should have collected these pukkos & barrel knives like your good self & your wife rather than kukri! Storage & display must be so easy! ![]() But alas kukri are my favorites! ![]() But perhaps I will be lucky & come across another Louen for $10 one day, ![]() ![]() Its funny but if Louen was a top American knifemaker & famous Victorian church carver 100-160 years ago, rather than Norwegian , I think it would probably be worth thousands rather than hundreds of dollars. Or am I mistaken? What do you guys think? Tis a strange world after all. ![]() Spiral |
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#30 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
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The only Norwegian knife I have is one I got from
Ragweed Forge, a Haugrud Baglerkniven. I also like the leather sheathed ones with scroll work on the sheath and knife fittings. There an interesting one on ebay now (but I can't mention that :-) Too expensive for me, but a nice looking knife IMHO. Most of my puukko are Finnish with a couple Swedish thrown in for good measure. I guess what I find most amazing with Scandinavian knives is the steel quality (will take and hold a shaving edge - literally) and the clean functional lines. Rich S |
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