Do you need a finger guard?

herisson said:
Now, one could argue that the puukko pattern (not reserved to Mora) is common to all the northern Scandinavian era (Sweden, Norway and Finland). However, the stabby version (Mora of Sweden) is swedish. And yes, the puukkos with guards are the ones aimed at Scouts / children. Cue the Northerners vs Southerners joke...
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Id go further and say, that I see a lot of nice Puukko interpretations comming from knifemakers not necessarily from Finland or Scandinavia.

NB Finland is not part of Scandinavia.
 
Lapedog said:
I’m personally very partial to the deep single finger choil like on the Street Beat or Charlie Mike’s picture above.
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Yep, that works too. :thumbsup:

A knife without a guard can be quite secure in the hand if sufficient effort is put into designing the handle.
 
For a long term and regular use woods fixed blade, I want a guard. I have it both ways, but if I were choosing one to take to the woods not knowing what I am likely to do with it, I prefer the guard. The Buck 192 is a classic and well known example.
 
And some beautiful puukkos coming from Bulgaria... The nerve !
 
Yes, but as mentioned, it doesn't need to be a true guard. It just needs to be a little hang over, deep choil, or similar to help index the knife in your hand a provide a little blocking.
 
tltt said:
Yes, but as mentioned, it doesn't need to be a true guard. It just needs to be a little hang over, deep choil, or similar to help index the knife in your hand a provide a little blocking.
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Some knives dont need a guard - others do IMO.

To each his own.
 
I like all my knives to have a definitive stop for the hand. Having processed many a critter both scheduled and unscheduled, I just prefer the slip protection.

Blood, sweat, moisture... Makes many materials slick.

I've been bitten by a guardless knife while using it on a hog.

This is a different pig and different knife, but in terms of slip protection the swatmandu is middle of the road for me. Been using the ratmandu/swatmandu for a few years now and really like it.
 
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A choil is good, a guard is better, but patience is best. I don’t like knifes with rubber guards at all. I have fittted brass guards onto knives whose choil was not deep enough for my rib like fingers, or whose guard was a tiny rubber nub. It has improved the knife for me when I have done so.
Even on folders, a flipper style tab is nice, even if the knife is not a flipper. But I own plenty of knives without choil or guards as well. As long as the knife is designed well, I have no problem using them.
Buck 119’s require a guard because the handle gets slippery.
A wooden puuko doesn’t need a choil because of the shape/size of the handle and the contour of the blade.
 
I used to prefer knives with guards but these days (also) like very simple 'clean' knives - i.e.without guard, finger moulds etc etc.

Yonose said:
A wooden puuko doesn’t need a choil because of the shape/size of the handle and the contour of the blade.
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One would not think, that a wooden Puukko would cut very well to begin with;):)
 
Not really, but it's part of why flippers are my preferred opening mechanism. I think they feel nice in the hand
 
DeadboxHero said:
Guards are for babies
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That's ridiculous. Get some fat on that handle and tell me guards are for babies from the ER.

Not so tough to keep from slipping when you are completely focused on your grip while sitting making a video of "proof".
 
When the hands are cold and dexterity is very low while concentrating on the task at hand because it NEEDS to get done, accidents happen.

Under controlled environments in a backyard where the only task being performed is a wet stab "test" Yea the likely hood of a slip is minimal.
 
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