All About Pocket Knives

Todor Hristov

Jelio

Kustaa Lammi blade built up by Boris Krylov

tongueriver, Have you had occasion to use one or another Puuko in the field? If so, I'd like to learn your impression of them, perhaps in comparison with similar American fixed blade knives.

I have not used them. I made my own puukko in a forging class in June and used it for field dressing, skinning and partly disjointing 4 medium game animals (deer and pronghorns) this year. But it is not a professionally made knife. I guess it is a 'custom', however!!!

Calvin, these all look absolutely first rate. I really like the Todor H. knife, absolutely clean essential knife, clean lines simple design perfectly executed. I bet it is very sharp and would remain so even after many cuts, many years. I hope you get to use it for field dressing.
Here are 2 knives made by "OK", Olavi Kempainen whose father (grandfather ?) designed the original Tommi puukko. Olavi's knives are said to be the best of all puukkos. I think he stopped making knives when in his late 80's about 2000.
Both knives are 8 1/2" OAL. I failed to take a picture of the side marked "OK".
kj

Wonderful knives, Roland!

And here are 2 very inexpensive puukkos. One came from ebay (dark sheath) and the other i bought for $30 from "Scandicraft" an online knife dealer in Finland. Both are 'custom' made, i.e. made by a 'Smith' in his own shop rather than being factory production.
Even these very inexpensive puukkos are amazing at edge holding. I am surprised that the Finnish puukko has not caught on in North America as a fixed blade EDC. If you try one expect it to be your life long companion. You won't want to swap it out for any other small fixed blade.
kj

Here is a Tommi puukko made by Olavi Kemppainen who along with his brother Alpo is a fifth generation "Tommi" puukko smiths. It was their great, great, great grandfather who designed and forged the first Tommi puukko. Since then each generation of sons have become knife "Smiths" and have worked in the same shop with the same tools. The heat treatment they use is a guarded secret and the resulting blades are thought to be the Best of All Finnish puukkos.
A Tommi design has the thickest part of the blade about 1/4 the way down from the spine and it tapers somewhat to the spine above and both sides taper down to create the edge. There is no edge grind. The handle is longer than the blade and is oval in cross section and there is no guard.
This knife has an OAL of 8 1/4", with a 3 3/4" blade, and a 4 1/2" handle.
kj