What and how many knifes when in the field!

[BunnyDoom]

See below



Those are fine looking tools, WG. Very useful, I'm sure.

The family resemblance may be more than coincidence; my knife started out like this:

Stu Mitchell had this D2 blank lying around, unwanted. I bought it, ground a new tip (lots of cooling!) and handled it in canvas micarta. I made a little kydex sheath for it which rinses out easily. As usual, Stu's grind is a work of art!

Looks very similar to a knife I designed a couple of years ago: My new custom Knife

 

[Taff]

You will all notice one thing in common with theses knives? It's the ability to put your finger on the tip which enables you to open the belly without cutting the stomach.

 

[private fraser]

Eka Swingblade with Normark folder as backup.
Definitely not one of those Opinel thingies

 

[JH83]

I have 2 Helles, a folder and a fixed blade. The folder sits in a nice leather case and is worn where I need to be more subtle. Both cracking knives although not cheap. Incredibly sharp and take no effort to keep so. Have a variety of Moras for larder work.

 

[jthyttin]

The Scandinavians really know what's necessary in a good hunting knife - simplicity of form and perfection of function.

I must add that puukko is not just a hunting knife, it's allaround tool and the grind makes it superb tool while working with wood.

Like making traditional "kiehinen" (in Finnish) to start a fire (image found by Google image search)

 

[willie_gunn]

I must add that puukko is not just a hunting knife, it's allaround tool and the grind makes it superb tool while working with wood.

Like making traditional "kiehinen" (in Finnish) to start a fire

Of course you're exactly right and I did the puukko a dis-service by calling it "just" a hunting knife. It is really the original bushcraft knife.

I am still surprised, though, that the puukko is not more often seen on the belts of UK stalkers. We seem to have fallen for the cult of the bigger knife, with blades that would do well for gralloching cape buff and bison. With the diminutive nature of the majority of deer in Southern Britain the puukko can do everything needed with ease.

 

[jthyttin]

Blade sharpening angles in regular hunting knives are akin to butcher and/or kitchen knives, so it's easy to maintain a sharp edge with readily available tools (I mean setups that automatically maintain sharpening angle, whether they're table mounted or fit your pocket).

With puukko you should use a stone or diamond and carefully keep the angle. Furthermore, puukko doesn't have deep "belly" so it's like using a boning knife, not ideal for all tasks.

So other designs may fit the bill better if you're doing gralloch, skinning etc. and especially if you're doing it a lot.

 

[alphaburner]

Of course you're exactly right and I did the puukko a dis-service by calling it "just" a hunting knife. It is really the original bushcraft knife.

I am still surprised, though, that the puukko is not more often seen on the belts of UK stalkers. We seem to have fallen for the cult of the bigger knife, with blades that would do well for gralloching cape buff and bison. With the diminutive nature of the majority of deer in Southern Britain the puukko can do everything needed with ease.

Personally I prefer a convex edge when carrying out a gralloch. I like puukkos but not when stalking. Also I dislike the sheaths. I'd rather use Kydex or Zytel that can be washed.

 

[willie_gunn]

Personally I prefer a convex edge when carrying out a gralloch. I like puukkos but not when stalking. Also I dislike the sheaths. I'd rather use Kydex or Zytel that can be washed.

I understand that, but what's to stop someone making a kydex sheath for a puukko? Is there something about the puukko profile that would make it incompatible with kydex?

 

[jthyttin]

The profile is just fine, and you can make the Kydex sheaths yourself. Just search for "DIY kydex", there's a lot of instructions like:

DIY Primer on How to Get Started Working with KYDEX : ITS Tactical

 

[alphaburner]

I make my own kydex sheaths. It's difficult to get a puukko to lock into a sheath as there's no real protrusion to shape the kydex around .

 

[Klenchblaize]

Mr. Gunn has a point (no pun intended) as I've used one of these; my rabbit knife, to deal with s couple of fallow. It's particularly handy for rectum work if a wee bit pointy for the gralloch:
Herbertz Damascus Hunter | Heinnie Haynes
K

 

[jthyttin]

It's difficult to get a puukko to lock into a sheath as there's no real protrusion to shape the kydex around .

I've only tried (not my own) self-made sheaths with dishwasher proof puukkos (plastic/rubber handle) so didn't think of that. They were based on friction I guess, the handle was well presented (i.e. not too deep in sheath) and the retention was fine.

 

[rick6point5]

As a knife perv with far to many to count i dont have a fav but will take out a cheap utility as a back up plus a custom just so its gets a blooding, these Puukko's are fine enough for the a hole.

 

[Taff]

View attachment 51581
My squirrel hunting Puko, have used it on mant deer as well.

 

[jthyttin]

I'm sad to say Rick, but those knives in your pictures lack the essential puukko feature of being sharp all the way to the hilt. While fine for hunting chores, this seriously limits the usability in woodworking. Unfortunately this is not so rare nowadays, the non-sharpening I mean.

Also the non-flat back of the blade in the first one is hindrance for some use like splitting firewood if an axe is not at hand.

 

[Taff]

Sorry Rick I have to agree, so please post them to me immediately for further study and to prove that they are.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I'm sad to say Rick, but those knives in your pictures lack the essential puukko feature of being sharp all the way to the hilt. While fine for hunting chores, this seriously limits the usability in woodworking. Unfortunately this is not so rare nowadays, the non-sharpening I mean.

Also the non-flat back of the blade in the first one is hindrance for some use like splitting firewood if an axe is not at hand.

Yep, nowhere near “fit for purpose” or the classifieds section of BCUK so best they go up here for circa £50 inc P&P??

Cheers!

K

 

[rick6point5]

Quite agree on them not being the 'classic' Puukko shape or grind and are as such not fit for some of the tasks around camp that i would put others through, taking a fire steel or lump of wood to anyone of my specials makes me cringe..! Don't get me wrong, if I had no choice and it was survival then they would be sacrificed and I am sure would stand up to the job, but the spare I carry get's it first.

I do however own a number of different sized more 'practical & Original Pukko knives that I would call 'utility' or 'camp' knives, these have over the years taken a battering and still out perform many a more expensive so called custom version, I very rarely sharpen any of my Scandinavian blades, most are honed on a piece of bone or antler as I was shown.
If however i wish to chop wood i tend to use either of my fit for purpose Gransfors bruks, in fact they are actually both more than capable of any number of duties inc skinning and butchering larger animals as well, as tried it out of curiosity

Postal address please Taff and I'll pop them in 1st class..

 

[flytie]

I fell in love with this design at the shooting show and asked Emberleaf to make me one with an orange handle. I am incredibly pleased with the knife, it is perfect for my needs.