Puukko: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:knife.jpg|right|thumb|250px|traditional [[puukko]]]] |
[[Image:knife.jpg|right|thumb|250px|traditional [[puukko]]]] |
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Most puukkos have a slight shoulder but no choil, since the point where the edge ends and the handle begins is also the point where most power can be applied. A puukko often has no guard to stop the hand from slipping onto the edge, but this is of no greater importance, since it is primarily considered a cutting tool, not a stabbing weapon. In cases where the knife and the hand are expected to get wet, like if the puukko is meant for gutting fish or game, some form of guards are carved into the handle. |
Most puukkos have a slight shoulder but no choil, since the point where the edge ends and the handle begins is also the point where most power can be applied. A puukko often has no guard to stop the hand from slipping onto the edge, but this is of no greater importance, since it is primarily considered a cutting tool, not a stabbing weapon. In cases where the knife and the hand are expected to get wet, like if the puukko is meant for gutting fish or game, some form of guards are carved into the handle. |
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Recently, there has been a considerable renewal in using the knife as a defense weapon. The knife may be used as an improvised weapon, but there are many ways to hold a knife when it is used as a weapon. The above paragraph, and the most conventional method of hold a knife is to hold it in what is sometimes called: "Sabre Grip". However, the Finnish Puukko would not work well in terms of stabbing, but as the Finnish Russion War proved, it takes considerable force to stab through winter clothing. Much rather, the Finnish soldier would hold the knife in "ice pick grip" or in "reverse grip". The thumb may or may not be on top of the knife's handle. Such a grip would be far more advantageous for stabbing, and thus the use of the Finnish Puukko demands some attention to proper training. It is very easy to look at its simple design and not see it as the most obviously lethal improvised weapon it has proven to be. |
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The lethality of the improvised weapon or the Puukko is entirely dependent upon two factors: the simple design and the skill of the person using it. With this in mind, many Finnish children, and of course the children born to Finnish immigrants in Canada, receive a Puukko at a very early age, their mastery of the blade for purposes of hunting, fishing and camping is something that is quite different than other types and kinds of knives. |
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Both factory forged and hand forged blades are often laminated. A thin layer of very hard steel is sandwiched between two layers of softer metal, which make the blade less brittle and facillitates repeated sharpening. |
Both factory forged and hand forged blades are often laminated. A thin layer of very hard steel is sandwiched between two layers of softer metal, which make the blade less brittle and facillitates repeated sharpening. |
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In [[Finland]] and northern Scandinavia many men put great pride in carving their puukko's handle. Traditionally, the handle is made of birch, sometimes with horn spacers for decoration. Over generations, this knife has become intimately tied to Nordic culture, and in one or another version is part of many [[national costume]]s. A good puukko is equal parts artistic expression and tool. Making it requires a lot of different skills: those of a carver, a jeweller, a designer, and a leatherworker to make the sheat — and if you master the difficult art of weaving birchbark, this is an opportunity to use it. |
In [[Finland]] and northern Scandinavia many men put great pride in carving their puukko's handle. Traditionally, the handle is made of birch, sometimes with horn spacers for decoration. Over generations, this knife has become intimately tied to Nordic culture, and in one or another version is part of many [[national costume]]s. A good puukko is equal parts artistic expression and tool. Making it requires a lot of different skills: those of a carver, a jeweller, a designer, and a leatherworker to make the sheat — and if you master the difficult art of weaving birchbark, this is an opportunity to use it. |
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As well, many Finnish family lines hold the Puukko has an important rite of passage for young men. While it is perfectly acceptable for fathers and grandfathers to give their sons and grandsons a knife as a present, there is almost a holy ritual given to the "blood uncle" and his nephew or nephews when they are deemed to enter adulthood. While the exact age at which this happens changes, in more modern times the age is 13. AT this time, the new teenager is invited into the realm of the Finnish male, and the first acquistion is the Finnish made Puukko. Such knives are virtually indistinguishable from any other type of Puukko, but it is the sentimentality which is at issue. |
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Strangely, the tradition continues among Finnish immigrant families in North America, and is less strong a tradition in Finland itself. In fact, there are very many Finnish Puukkot that have made the voyage from Finland to Canada. |
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In the Nordic countries, the puukko is however an ''everyday'' knife that is used for everything from hunting, fishing and garden work to opening boxes in the warehouse, and many puukkos are industrially produced by factories of which [[Fiskars]] is the most notable. Bearing of all sharp objects which could be used as weapons was banned in Finland during the 1960's. Since then, the puukko has lost ist visibility in public places and been restricted to household work, hunting and fishing. In many industries, e.g. construction, the puukko has been replaced by the Swedish Mora-knife, which resembles puukko but has a much cheaper and less durable construction. The mora knife's handle is typically plastic, and the blade is either stainless steel or of laminated construction; harder steel which forms the edge is clad by softer steel. |
In the Nordic countries, the puukko is however an ''everyday'' knife that is used for everything from hunting, fishing and garden work to opening boxes in the warehouse, and many puukkos are industrially produced by factories of which [[Fiskars]] is the most notable. Bearing of all sharp objects which could be used as weapons was banned in Finland during the 1960's. Since then, the puukko has lost ist visibility in public places and been restricted to household work, hunting and fishing. In many industries, e.g. construction, the puukko has been replaced by the Swedish Mora-knife, which resembles puukko but has a much cheaper and less durable construction. The mora knife's handle is typically plastic, and the blade is either stainless steel or of laminated construction; harder steel which forms the edge is clad by softer steel. |
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As the carrying of puukkos is prohibited in public places, the only built areas where they can be nowadays be seen carried are garrisons. It is a custom of Finnish [[conscript]] [[NCO]]s and [[officer cadet]]s to carry a puukko of their year course as as part of combat uniform. This is rationalized as carrying of a handy tool but here, the puukko doubles as a symbolic sidearm. |
As the carrying of puukkos is prohibited in public places, the only built areas where they can be nowadays be seen carried are garrisons. It is a custom of Finnish [[conscript]] [[NCO]]s and [[officer cadet]]s to carry a puukko of their year course as as part of combat uniform. This is rationalized as carrying of a handy tool but here, the puukko doubles as a symbolic sidearm. |
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The symbolism of the sidearm is not to be understated as everyone in Finland has heard or remembers its usefulness during the "Winter War". It could be argued that the firearm did not help with stealth attacks, but it was the savage use of the Puukko that made kill ratios unpalatable to the Russian command. |
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[[Category:Knives]] |
[[Category:Knives]] |
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Revision as of 05:05, 8 December 2005
A puukko is the Finnish word for the traditional Finnish or Scandinavian style woodcraft belt-knife that is a tool rather than a weapon. The word is in the process of assimilation into English.
The basic components of a puukko are a hilt and a blade along with a sheath, which can be attached to a belt. The puukko's blade has a single curving edge and a flat back. The flat back allows the user to place a thumb or his other hand on it to concentrate the force. Puukkos are used both as a tool for all kinds of carving, especially to work wood, and to clean the catches of anglers and hunters. Some puukko designs have a slightly upwards or downwards curved point, depending on what purpose the knife has. A hunting puukko's tip is often curved downwards to make skinning and opening the animal easier and less messy. The blade is relatively short, usually about the same length as the handle.
Most puukkos have a slight shoulder but no choil, since the point where the edge ends and the handle begins is also the point where most power can be applied. A puukko often has no guard to stop the hand from slipping onto the edge, but this is of no greater importance, since it is primarily considered a cutting tool, not a stabbing weapon. In cases where the knife and the hand are expected to get wet, like if the puukko is meant for gutting fish or game, some form of guards are carved into the handle.
Recently, there has been a considerable renewal in using the knife as a defense weapon. The knife may be used as an improvised weapon, but there are many ways to hold a knife when it is used as a weapon. The above paragraph, and the most conventional method of hold a knife is to hold it in what is sometimes called: "Sabre Grip". However, the Finnish Puukko would not work well in terms of stabbing, but as the Finnish Russion War proved, it takes considerable force to stab through winter clothing. Much rather, the Finnish soldier would hold the knife in "ice pick grip" or in "reverse grip". The thumb may or may not be on top of the knife's handle. Such a grip would be far more advantageous for stabbing, and thus the use of the Finnish Puukko demands some attention to proper training. It is very easy to look at its simple design and not see it as the most obviously lethal improvised weapon it has proven to be.
The lethality of the improvised weapon or the Puukko is entirely dependent upon two factors: the simple design and the skill of the person using it. With this in mind, many Finnish children, and of course the children born to Finnish immigrants in Canada, receive a Puukko at a very early age, their mastery of the blade for purposes of hunting, fishing and camping is something that is quite different than other types and kinds of knives.
Both factory forged and hand forged blades are often laminated. A thin layer of very hard steel is sandwiched between two layers of softer metal, which make the blade less brittle and facillitates repeated sharpening.
In Finland and northern Scandinavia many men put great pride in carving their puukko's handle. Traditionally, the handle is made of birch, sometimes with horn spacers for decoration. Over generations, this knife has become intimately tied to Nordic culture, and in one or another version is part of many national costumes. A good puukko is equal parts artistic expression and tool. Making it requires a lot of different skills: those of a carver, a jeweller, a designer, and a leatherworker to make the sheat — and if you master the difficult art of weaving birchbark, this is an opportunity to use it.
As well, many Finnish family lines hold the Puukko has an important rite of passage for young men. While it is perfectly acceptable for fathers and grandfathers to give their sons and grandsons a knife as a present, there is almost a holy ritual given to the "blood uncle" and his nephew or nephews when they are deemed to enter adulthood. While the exact age at which this happens changes, in more modern times the age is 13. AT this time, the new teenager is invited into the realm of the Finnish male, and the first acquistion is the Finnish made Puukko. Such knives are virtually indistinguishable from any other type of Puukko, but it is the sentimentality which is at issue.
Strangely, the tradition continues among Finnish immigrant families in North America, and is less strong a tradition in Finland itself. In fact, there are very many Finnish Puukkot that have made the voyage from Finland to Canada.
In the Nordic countries, the puukko is however an everyday knife that is used for everything from hunting, fishing and garden work to opening boxes in the warehouse, and many puukkos are industrially produced by factories of which Fiskars is the most notable. Bearing of all sharp objects which could be used as weapons was banned in Finland during the 1960's. Since then, the puukko has lost ist visibility in public places and been restricted to household work, hunting and fishing. In many industries, e.g. construction, the puukko has been replaced by the Swedish Mora-knife, which resembles puukko but has a much cheaper and less durable construction. The mora knife's handle is typically plastic, and the blade is either stainless steel or of laminated construction; harder steel which forms the edge is clad by softer steel.
As the carrying of puukkos is prohibited in public places, the only built areas where they can be nowadays be seen carried are garrisons. It is a custom of Finnish conscript NCOs and officer cadets to carry a puukko of their year course as as part of combat uniform. This is rationalized as carrying of a handy tool but here, the puukko doubles as a symbolic sidearm.
The symbolism of the sidearm is not to be understated as everyone in Finland has heard or remembers its usefulness during the "Winter War". It could be argued that the firearm did not help with stealth attacks, but it was the savage use of the Puukko that made kill ratios unpalatable to the Russian command.