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Puukko: Difference between revisions

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The traditional material for the handle is [[birch]]. Also [[oak]], [[ash (tree)|ash]], [[pine]] bark, horn (especially elk and reindeer), [[scrimshaw]] and bone are used. Often the handle is made from various materials between spacers. Today, however, industrially made puukkos often have plastic handles.
The traditional material for the handle is [[birch]]. Also [[oak]], [[ash (tree)|ash]], [[pine]] bark, horn (especially elk and reindeer), [[scrimshaw]] and bone are used. Often the handle is made from various materials between spacers. Today, however, industrially made puukkos often have plastic handles.


In Finland and northern Scandinavia many men put great pride in carving their puukko's handle. 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: not only those of a bladesmith, but also those of a carver, a jeweller, a designer, and a leatherworker to make the sheath — and if you master the difficult art of weaving birchbark, this is an opportunity to use it. Finest puukkos have blades of [[Damascus steel]], and forging a blade using [[crucible steel|blister steel]] was considered the hallmark of a master smith. As the process of making [[wootz]] was rediscovered in Finland in the 1980s, some master smiths have made wootz puukkos.
In Finland and northern Scandinavia many men put great pride in carving their puukko's handle. 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: not only those of a bladesmith, but also those of a carver, a jeweller, a designer, and a leatherworker to make the sheath and if you master the difficult art of weaving birchbark, this is an opportunity to use it. Finest puukkos have blades of Damascus steel, and forging a blade using [[crucible steel|blister steel]] was considered the hallmark of a master smith. As the process of making [[wootz]] was rediscovered in Finland in the 1980s, some master smiths have made wootz puukkos.


== Usuage ==
== Usuage ==
[[Image:Many puukkos.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Many different kind of puukkos and [[leuku]]s for different kind of usage]]
[[Image:Many puukkos.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Many different kind of puukkos and [[leuku]]s for different kind of usage]]
Getting one's first puukko is considered, in Finland, the symbol of coming of age for both boys and girls. This is about 5-7 years old. Men's and women's puukkos do not significantly differ. The only difference is that women's puukkos are often shorter, may have decorated sheaths, and are better suited for working with foodstuffs. Both boy and girl Scouts consider the puukko their scouting symbol as well as a handy tool. Getting a good puukko as a gift or present is considered a great honour in Finland.
Getting one's first puukko is considered, in Finland, the symbol of coming of age for both boys and girls. This is about 5-7 years old. Men's and women's puukkos do not significantly differ. The only difference is that women's puukkos are often shorter, may have decorated sheaths, and are better suited for working with foodstuffs. Both boy and girl Scouts consider the puukko their scouting symbol as well as a handy tool. Getting a good puukko as a gift or present is considered a great honour in Finland.
   
   
In the Nordic countries, the puukko is an "everyday" knife that is used for everything from hunting, fishing, and garden work to opening boxes in the warehouse. Many puukkos are industrially produced by factories of which Fiskars is the most notable. Bearing of sharp objects which could be used as weapons was banned in Finland in 1977. Since then, the puukko has lost its 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 the 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 in softer steel.  
In the Nordic countries, the puukko is an "everyday" knife that is used for everything from hunting, fishing, and garden work to opening boxes in the warehouse. Many puukkos are industrially produced by factories of which Fiskars is the most notable. Bearing of sharp objects which could be used as weapons was banned in Finland in 1977. Since then, the puukko has lost its 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 the 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 in softer steel.  


In Finland the carrying of knives without a permit or job related reason is prohibited in public spaces. Thus the only urban areas where they can nowadays be seen carried openly are garrisons. The puukko is the only civilian item which can be openly worn with combat gear without breaking the regulations, and most conscripts bring their own puukkos with them into military service. It is a custom of Finnish conscripts, Non-commissioned officers, and officer cadets to carry a decorated and engraved commemorative puukko of their year course as a part of thier uniform, not unlike a commemorative dagger. This is rationalized as the carrying of a handy tool, but it also doubles as a symbolic sidearm. However openly carrying a puukko, while technically illegal is not vigriously prevented. Construction workers often go to diners with a puukko hanging from their coveralls and in the rural and Northern parts of the land it is not uncommen to go shopping in the village stores wearing hunting clothes that includes a puukko.  
In Finland the carrying of knives without a permit or job related reason is prohibited in public spaces. Thus the only urban areas where they can nowadays be seen carried openly are garrisons. The puukko is the only civilian item which can be openly worn with combat gear without breaking the regulations, and most conscripts bring their own puukkos with them into military service. It is a custom of Finnish conscripts, Non-commissioned officers, and officer cadets to carry a decorated and engraved commemorative puukko of their year course as a part of thier uniform, not unlike a commemorative dagger. This is rationalized as the carrying of a handy tool, but it also doubles as a symbolic sidearm. However openly carrying a puukko, while technically illegal is not vigriously prevented. Construction workers often go to diners with a puukko hanging from their coveralls and in the rural and Northern parts of the land it is not uncommen to go shopping in the village stores wearing hunting clothes that includes a puukko.  
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