All About Pocket Knives

Here is an example of what a Finnish master blade smith can do. This one is called a Rautalammi, with silver wire inlay and it's by Jukka Hankala. He does everything form forging the blades to the leather work.

http://www.hankala.com/

Respect. That is absolutely gorgeous!! A work of art, no less.

Smokepole, That's really a nice looking knife you made ! Excellent job Bull

Thanks Bull, I appreciate the kind comments. Sorry for taking so long to reply but I was out hunting till yesterday.

A new puukko by Finnish master blade smith Pekka Tuominen. One of a kind W-pattern damascus blade with silver brass bolsters, walrus ivory handle and leather sheath, all work by Pekka.This isn't my puukko unfortunately, he sent me the photo for the blog.

Gorgeous. Beautiful. Congratulations. Wow! QS

I guess I should have mentioned that it's not my knife. Pekka sent me the photo to use for a post on my blog. I did an interview with him and posted photos of some of his puukkos.

Ouch! Well, just eliminate the congratulations and my reaction remains the same. I went to your blog. He does beautiful work. QS

Here is a new puukko from Antti Mäkinen of YP Taonta in Finland. It's a small one, beautiful sheath and hand forged razor sharp blade.

http://www.yp-taonta.fi/Valmiit%20Puukot/index.html

Some really nice blades for sale too

http://www.yp-taonta.fi/Puukonterat/index.html

Very nice. Looks like you could do some very precise work with it. I've long appreciated having a hand filling handle to go with a shorter blade.

Thanks Q S, it's a really nice little knife.

Here are two new puukkos made for me by Joonas Kallioneimi in Finland. Hand forged blades, handles of birch bark and ebonite, hand made leather sheaths. He just finished them on Thursday. He took pictures during their construction and is going to post an article about them in my blog soon.

Mike great looking puukkos and tuppis, Joonas does beautiful work. Enjoy.

Bill

Mike,

You've been holding out on us! I know you had placed an order with Joonas, but I didn't know it was a two-fer. Those are beauties, I especially like the blade shape on the ebonite knife. I love the clean lines of Joonas' knives. No frills, but the execution is over the top as shown with the dovetailed bolster and countersunk tang.

Your puukko from Pekka is incredible. That is one high end knife with the damascus blade and ivory handle. I like how the scabbard's design matches the handle decoration.

You've got it bad my friend.

- Christian

Vikingdog,

The ebonite knife defines the words sleek and handsome for me. Really makes a statement. Congrats!

kamagong wrote:Mike,

Y our puukko from Pekka is incredible. That is one high end knife with the damascus blade and ivory handle. I like how the scabbard's design matches the handle decoration.

- Christian

I wish that was my puukko Christian! I just edited the post to say that he sent me the photo to use on my blog. I had Joonas make me two because I think he's going to have a long waiting list for his work in the near future. Have you picked up anything lately?

vikingdog wrote:I wish that was my puukko Christian! I just edited the post to say that he sent me the photo to use on my blog. I had Joonas make me two because I think he's going to have a long waiting list for his work in the near future. Have you picked up anything lately?

Nothing on the puukko front, but I am expecting something from Jukka Hankala around Thanksgiving. I did receive a nice bowie last week though.

There sure are some beautiful knives in this thread. While not ornate, I really enjoy using this Mora knife as its beauty lies not only in its form but in its practicality.

Here are a couple more for you. They are both from Sweden and are of Sámi make, the indigenous people of Scandinavia. The first comes from the town of Jokkmokk and is handled in gnarly birch and reindeer antler. The next is from outside Vilhelmina and is handled in fantastic grey reindeer antler. Both would be terrific working knives but are treasured too much to allow for that.

Very nice! Do you know who the makers are? I just bought this maasenpän puukko from Ilkka Seikku. It is made the old fashioned way, forged from a feather file and the sheath is woven birch bark with a carved insert that holds the puukko securely in place.

I just bought this maasenpän puukko f

vikingdog, could you please tell me what "maasenpan" means or refers to. Thanks.

QS

Something like "old village blacksmiths knife" Here's a post about it:

http://nordiskaknivar.wordpress.com/

Vikingdog, I do not know the names of the makers. I wish I did. I do know that they are locals in their respective communities and that the knives are hand made.
Neat maasenpän puukko by the way, I enjoy that the handle is sealed with pitch.

To anyone interested I had an unusal encounter this A.M. I visited a sale with two ladies in attendance. One an elderly lady the other maybe in her 60's, there as a helper. As per usual I quizzed them regarding any precious metals, Coins, Firearms, militaria, knives etc. Met with no success from the older. The younger started talking re: a sale of her household items this winter. I asked if she had any of the previous, she seemed reticent. I asked directly if she had any Scandinavian knives. She said yes and that her Grandfather was a knifemaker from Finland. Knowing his connection to Astoria I asked if he was by chance Janni Martinni. The reply was yes. Her mother was Miss Lund the lady that Mr. Martinni wed many years ago. She went on to say and was amicable to write documentation that Mr. Martinni handed her personally several knives knives that she would be interested in selling.
As I find out more, if anyone is interested I will keep you up to date on my finds and possible purchase. There is just no better documentation of lineage than personal handling by the maker.
moss

That's pretty cool Moss. By all means keep us informed