Puukko Handle Shapes?

Just adding few things I've seen weren't told.

The bird's head pomell become popular around the 30s, just when Janne Marttiini started to be famous. But that profile is not specifically related to fishing. Starting to be used among Kauhava makers it then spead all arounf Finland.
The first two knives you posted are Norvegian, while the fourth in an old days Mora.

A barrel handle is by any mean the most common one, being also the best for confort. Originated by medievan maasepän puukkos (villager smiths knives) they were crafted all around Finland and obviously there were equivalents in Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
Today, though, barrel handles are still common in Finland, while Scandinavian makers seem to prefer more sculpted ones more often.

In my experience the best way to recognize if a knife is Scandinavian or Finnish is to look at the blade. Scandinavian ones tend to have lower grinds (1/3), while Finnish have higher ones (1/2 or 2/3) depending on blade section.

As Thomas Linton said there is no real rule about grinds, since every maker has his own preferences. Bevels hight will remain anyway rather distinctive.


Leukus or huggares or stuora niibis are all another kind of knives. Born as derivation of the germanic seax they were developed by Sami as primary tool for anything from cutting poles for rising lavvus (tend) to butchering reindeeers.
The flared pomell helps pulling knife from sheath with gloves, allows a two-three finger grip around it during chopping and helps pushing while killing reindeers cutting through the spinal cord right behind the nape.

In any case Sami used to and still carry two knives in two separated sheaths. The leuku for heavy duties and a smaller one for finer tasks.
Axes were carried in sledges, but in north Lappland the vegetation isn't that thick or hard so to require an axe for most of the cases.
 
Frederick89 said:
The bird's head pomell become popular around the 30s, just when Janne Marttiini started to be famous. But that profile is not specifically related to fishing. Starting to be used among Kauhava makers it then spead all arounf Finland.
Click to expand...

I find this super interesting.

My understanding (could be way wrong) is that Western started to move away from the symmetrical Marbles style and began using the bird's head aluminum pommel in the 1930s as well. Not sure this one is from the 30s, but it makes the point... (image not mine)
IMG_0341_zps084a856f-1_zpsbc2e00cd.jpg


So, I wonder where the bird's head pommel started and how it moved around the globe?
 
Frederick89 said:
In my experience the best way to recognize if a knife is Scandinavian or Finnish is to look at the blade. Scandinavian ones tend to have lower grinds (1/3), while Finnish have higher ones (1/2 or 2/3) depending on blade section.
Click to expand...

Thanks, very useful tip. I note also that Norwegian knives tend to have the metal stud sticking out above the pommel, and Swedish ones tend to have a full metal crown on the pommel, with straight sheaths. The horse head is specifically Finnish.

Looking at Puukkos I am struck by the lack of antler being used on handles, with a strong preference for Birch wood or bark. I suspect it has to do with the effect of cold on the handle, or even the effect of how melted snow might freeze to a cold antler, but not to a wood handle, not sure. Feedback invited.

a couple more random googles
Puu is Finnish for tree, wood, or lumber
so a Puukko is a knife intended for cutting wood.

About the sheath, they are meant to be worn on the left, with the tip of the sheath pointing to the rear, cross draw style for a right hander.

In this photo you can also see a sheath, second from right, with a belt loop intended for a left handed crossdraw. I include the link to the excellent thread that was posted in:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/982348-Puukkos/page6
scruffuk said:
Here are some of my more traditional Puukko, together with a few other Nordic knives...

P2085773_zps0f0c7e53.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Saami knives are very often have antler handle(and sheaths),beautifully made :thumbup:

igor-b-2.jpg
 
jon_slider said:
Thanks, very useful tip. I note also that Norwegian knives tend to have the metal stud sticking out above the pommel, and Swedish ones tend to have a full metal crown on the pommel, with straight sheaths. The horse head is specifically Finnish.

Looking at Puukkos I am struck by the lack of antler being used on handles, with a strong preference for Birch wood or bark. I suspect it has to do with the effect of cold on the handle, or even the effect of how melted snow might freeze to a cold antler, but not to a wood handle, not sure. Feedback invited.

a couple more random googles
Puu is Finnish for tree, wood, or lumber
so a Puukko is a knife intended for cutting wood.

About the sheath, they are meant to be worn on the left, with the tip of the sheath pointing to the rear, cross draw style for a right hander.

In this photo you can also see a sheath, second from right, with a belt loop intended for a left handed crossdraw. I include the link to the excellent thread that was posted in:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/982348-Puukkos/page6
Click to expand...
It may be that puu refers to a wood handle. I'm just guessing, I don't speak Finnish.
I thought a trad way of wearing these in winter was attached to a button on the parka. The button was specifically for the puuko, & sheaths had a specific single slot for the button.
 
I found an article of traditional Finnish puukko. About the the name it says:

"Explanations have been sought on the name and typical shape of the Finnish puukko. Anthropologists have found three names: Kuras, veitsi (knife) and puukko. Of these Kuras and Veitsi are the original fenno-ugric names. In Kalevala (the national epic) knows Kuras like this: "Väinämöinen drew from its sheath the stern knife, from his hip he drew the bright kuras". Kuras has fallen into disuse. Veitsi has meant the puukko, since it was the general use knife back then.

The name puukko may be of frisian-german ancestry, from the word "Pook" which meant the knife used by the merchants. In Estonian language word "puss" means puukko. Smilarities between words puu (wood) and puukko suggests that the knife was often used to carve this material."

Sorry for my bad english.
 
mtangent said:
It may be that puu refers to a wood handle. I'm just guessing, I don't speak Finnish.
I thought a trad way of wearing these in winter was attached to a button on the parka. The button was specifically for the puuko, & sheaths had a specific single slot for the button.
Click to expand...

I doupt that the button carry was common, maybe only when dressed to finer clothes. The knives were valuable and there was the danger of losing it if carried in work conditions. Would you carry a valuable tool in an uncertain manner?

By the way, reindeer bone is a quite common handle material in Saami knives.
 
There's some nice knives in this thread ;) :D

Puukko literally means 'a knife with a wooden handle' at least that's what my brothers Finnish girlfriend told me.
 
That is the Finnish Scout knife. These days those are made by Iisakki Järvenpää.
 
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HFinn said:
That is the Finnish Scout knife. These days those are made by Iisakki Järvenpää.
Click to expand...

I notice that a "Scout" knife in Europe is a shortish fixed blade - usually with a guard.

Finnish official Boy Scout knife of a bygone era and so marked:




 
HFinn said:
I doupt that the button carry was common, maybe only when dressed to finer clothes. The knives were valuable and there was the danger of losing it if carried in work conditions. Would you carry a valuable tool in an uncertain manner?

By the way, reindeer bone is a quite common handle material in Saami knives.
Click to expand...

I don't know, only relating what I have read.
But, I think the puuko was the EDC of the culture, & many are not as flash as those shown here, so they were carried in work & rough environments.
I don't see why a button isn't secure, if the button & sheath are designed for such. It meant the knife was available outside the parka, easy to access.
 
mtangent said:
I don't know, only relating what I have read.
But, I think the puuko was the EDC of the culture, & many are not as flash as those shown here, so they were carried in work & rough environments.
I don't see why a button isn't secure, if the button & sheath are designed for such. It meant the knife was available outside the parka, easy to access.
Click to expand...

Or it was available inside the parka, buttoned to the inner coat or vest = warm handle. That would be like a "neck" carry.

I don't suppose 5% of my old ones came that way. Some had blunt metal hooks on chains, presumably for a form of attachment sans belt.
 
There are probably a multitude of carry methods. Anything we can think of was probably done at some time.
 
mtangent said:
I thought a trad way of wearing these in winter was attached to a button on the parka. The button was specifically for the puuko, & sheaths had a specific single slot for the button.
Click to expand...

I believe you are correct.

Some Puukko sheath danglers have a slot that allows you to hang the sheath from a button. You can see the slot here
%2524_20.JPG


it is described as being part of the Iisakki Järvenpää Aito Puukko sheath here as well:
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showt...pää-Aito-Puukko-Initial-Impressions-Pic-Heavy
"There's even a slot on the dangler for a button, should you wish to hang your sheath from a button."
the slot is not visible in the photo, but notice the type of dangler is a flat piece of leather, not a twisted knotted thin leather "string"
aito_01.jpg


In addition, some Puukko danglers are secured by a button on the dangler, after passing the loop under and over a belt. Here is one example:

Puukko_Laburnam_LauriPT95_22.JPG


that type of button is stronger than just dangling from a button on a garment, because the loop is folded over the belt, making the tension on the button half as much as in the slotted Järvenpää dangler. Plus the button is attached with very strong thread, or leather, not regular sewing thread for garment buttons.

Ive seen many other photos of puukko danglers with slots in them, single slots for a button, not the same as double slots for a belt.

here is a double slot for a belt, far right:
P2085773_zps0f0c7e53.jpg

although those slots could also be used on a button.
 
That's a well constructed post, Jon.
It all makes sense. Puuko's are light knives, & don't require massive attachments to be safe.
 
Adding mystery to the buttonhole idea, is this review I just read at Knifecenter.
http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/SW...h-3G-Blade-Curly-Birch-Handles-Leather-Sheath
A Norwegian guy reviewing a Fallkniven. The final sentence is of interest to this thread.

Morten
Norway
Jul 03, 2012
Pros: Finish, Handle Material, Weight, Overall Quality
Cons: Sheath/Scabbard, None
Traditional skandinavian "tollekniv" - A boy`s first knife
Its traditional in any way, and true to function and grip. Only with a modern steel ( its not really important for a child but makes it more collectable). I bought this for my son who is soon to become 5 year - as his first knife. ( it has good balance, and has a good grip handle for carving). Its for me important that he has to start early to recognice knife as primary a tool, and not a weapon. In the area where i come from, we are farmers, and are hunting,/ freshwater- fishing. This utility knife even follows our traditional clothings called "bunad" .., this blade is made for use and is not a decoration thing. - The knife looked close to perfect when arrived: Only that I will add some oil for the wood and its a little too sharp for kid:) - only negative is that the sheath had no buttom-hole for drying but I will drill one myself.
 
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