The traditional Puukko knife
from Lapland is the all-purpose utility knife of the Sammi
people. As a nomadic people in a harsh environment, they
have refined the style over centuries until there is nothing
superfluous. The elegant result is a real demonstration
that form follows function. The classic Nordic blade is
narrow enough to penetrate, has a straight section for
slicing, and enough curve at the tip for light skinning
chores. Traditionally, Finnish knives were hand forged
from silver steel and heat treated repeatedly. This process
created a blade that was hard, sharp and easily honed.
Some of the finer Finnish knife makers still use this
process. This style of blade has been around for the last
2000 years.
If you are a reenactor, these
knives are excellent not only as a decorative knife for
banqueting, as it can easily cut through the worst food
a banquet can offer, but also as a utility knife in the
living history village. They will make light work of anything
thrown at it, from cutting vegetables, skinning and butchering
meat or if you use the bigger ones, they will split wood
easily.
Outside of historical reenactment,
they will make great hunting and fishing knives.
