Puuko and Leuku recommendations

S

Schnelly

Joined
Sep 11, 2013
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Hey I'm a newb here but I've been accumulating knives for 30 or so years. Here's my problem. I've been wanting to try a good puuko and leuku for years. I'm looking for knives in the $40-100 range and would like to hear about your preferences and experiences. I'm thinking I might have to step up to $150 or so for the leuku. I can't afford a custom blade anytime soon. Thoughts on brands and such? I'm familiar with Ragnars website and I already have a box full of moras. I'm hoping somebody out there has tried multiple brands.
 
I have a helle leuku 8.5in stainless and its a great all round knife.

Its seen use lopping salmon heads/tails, a little battoning and chopping and general kitchen duties. It really is like a sturdy field butcher knife.
I have brought it hiking as a small machete for trails overgrown with blackberries and for fireprep, its nice battoning with a long blade (folding saw as well)

Go for the carbon military version with the tarred handle on Ragnars, small finger guard and looks like a good user(can't remember the brand), thats the one I would buy.
 
Have a look at "Steintanz's" channel over at Youtube.

He has videos showing him actually using well known brands like Wood Jewel, Ahti, Helle, and Brusletto.

The best part about him is that he keeps his vids forgive-ably short and doesn't really talk much (just highlighting how he uses them in bushcraft and camp tasks).

http://www.youtube.com/user/steintanz


Wood Jewel pair below -

[youtube]fETVSh1ZDsA[/youtube]
 
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Here's on more on the popular Stromeng, as their leukus are well-known. A good and "convincing" review IMHO. The version with a guard is issued to the Norwegian troops.

[youtube]BdAgSk2WmpE[/youtube]
 
Rich S said:
The Iisakki Jarvenpaa leuku/puukko set is great as is the Wood Jewel sets. Both available
from Ragweed Forge

http://www.ragweedforge.com

Rich
Click to expand...

I have both as well (though not the sets). You will find the Jarvenpaas to be a little less expensive and just as good. Wood Jewel uses Lauri blades. These are very good but they are almost never delivered with a Scandi grind. Lauri blades (used by many mfgrs) always have a secondary bevel.
 
The Järvenpää Aito Puukko with a stacked birch bark handle is pretty sweet. This one's my mine.

Swedishknife.jpg


I agree with you and just about everyone else in this thread...whatever you get, Ragnar's the guy to get it from.
 
I've been thinking about trying out a leuku for a time. How is the fit and finish on some of these brands? I'm wondering if they're sealed with epoxy, do they have tight fitting hardware or is it common to have gaps between the handle and the steel. I'm worried about rust under the handle. Thanks.
 
I have a Jarvenpaa puukko that was bought in Europe over twenty years ago. It has the stacked birch bark handle. It is pretty water-tight. The handle is lacquered from the blade to the butt, including the bolster, and aside from some crazing and chipping, it has held up well. Certainly the lacquer remains in any (tiny) gaps. I wouldn't worry about rust under the handle, but remember, these types of knives are finnished (pun) to a different standard than you might expect in North America. They are intended as working tools.
 
HoosierQ said:
I have both as well (though not the sets). You will find the Jarvenpaas to be a little less expensive and just as good. Wood Jewel uses Lauri blades. These are very good but they are almost never delivered with a Scandi grind. Lauri blades (used by many mfgrs) always have a secondary bevel.
Click to expand...
That is quite unexpected: I have purchased a number of Lauri blades for knife-making in the past: they were all with Scandi grind. So could it be that knife manufacturers put the secondary bevel on to reduce number of claims from your average tourist?
 
Poez said:
That is quite unexpected: I have purchased a number of Lauri blades for knife-making in the past: they were all with Scandi grind. So could it be that knife manufacturers put the secondary bevel on to reduce number of claims from your average tourist?
Click to expand...

Well that is a horse of a different color isn't it. I would guess you are correct. I have both a Lapin and a Wood Jewel and they both came with secondary bevels. It was very pronounced on the Lapin...less so on the Wood Jewel. But with the Wood Jewel they buffed the primary bevel so much that it "slopped" up onto the flat and took off quite a bit of the brute de forge or whatever. Both were sharp as could be. I flattened the Lapin out and really didn't do a very good job...those Lauri blades are HARD man! I will be doing same with my Wood Jewel. I have learned a lot since the Lapin episode and it'll go both quicker and better this time around.

I know that Lauri (Laurin Metalli is it not?) has a very good reputation...which is why I was surprised. Thanks for the clarification!
 
hi,
i m new in this forum,so i don t dare to give some recommandations, but i m the proud owner of 3 erapuu knife and i found them great.they are made in findland,not to expensive and scary sharp. if i remember well they should cost around 60 to 90 euro,great traditonal leuku rought and beautifull, for carbon steel lover!
i ve been living in norway previously and start to get into scandi/sami knife and as far as traditional knive and tool/price oriented i find them to be the best,the only probleme there website is in finnish!
hope this can help,by the way i m sorry for my english but i tryed my best as a french speaker.
 
I have very good experiences with Roselli puukkos. My favourite small knife is the Bearclaw tooth made of UHC steel.

118_R231-01.jpg


Roselli has also some Leuku's. I have a semi-custom knife that is made of Roselli leuku blade and the hunting knife handle. It has served me well while backpacking.
 
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That Bearclaw looks nice. I've heard good things about Roselli's UHC steel. I might have to try one of those out.

As to the OP, I'm really hoping I get one of the Järvenpää Aito Puukko's with stacked birch bark handle that marcinek posted a picture of. I think they're the best deal going for us Americans right now. Ragnar is the place to go.
 
Anyone bought anything from lamnia.fi website? LOTS of options there. I havent bought from them just stumbled on the website.
 
Schnelly said:
Anyone bought anything from lamnia.fi website? LOTS of options there. I havent bought from them just stumbled on the website.
Click to expand...


I have bought many, it is THE shop I like to use. But I live in Finland :). Anyway, they have a very good service. Recommended.
 
From the various scandi grind knifes I own I recommend J.Marttiini from Finland. The company offers a large selection of traditional Puuko, Leuku and modern style knifes. Well made and reassembly priced. The stainless Lynx knife 129 works really well as my small allround camp/hunting blade. Scandi grind with a bowie tip (!).

Also have a look at the more traditional Lapin Puukko, also from Finland. There Leukupuukko 4 carries charm, carves well and has some forward balance. Arbitrary, because traditional design and material, is the high needs of maintenance. The varnish came off and a lot of crap gets stuck underneath the wooden handle. Also the lack of finger guard, hand-saving handle contour and razor edge next to the handle....makes me use this type of Puuko/Leuku with care.

My go-to scandi is the untraditional Condor Bushlore. the knife sits real comfortable in my hand, out-carves a Mora and is full-tang. Before I could use the newly received knife it needed lots of work. Regrind edge, blade stripped and sanding/oiling the handle.

Don’t think I need to write anything about Mora’s ;)
 
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