Finnish knives

Lew · 26th March 2008, 02:42 AM

I feel terrible my ingnorance was showing

. Kalle Wahtera of Turku how can you tell the buyer does not mention any markings?

Rich · 26th March 2008, 02:49 AM

First the style is pretty unmistakable and also the seller does
mention the name in answer to a question. Wahtera didn't sign
on the blade, only embossed in the leather of the sheath.

Having an original Wahtera to a collector of Finnish knives is
like having a Springfield marked Randall made by Bo Randall
himself.

If you find a Wahtera for $150, please buy it and send it to me :-)
But it must be an original Wahtera. The style was later copied by
other makers.

Rich S

derek · 29th March 2008, 04:54 AM

Hi Rich,

Great info. I've got Lester Ristinen's The Knives of Finland, but surprisingly I don't see this maker in his lists. Where did you find that?
(pic from one of my old archive posts).

-d

Rich · 29th March 2008, 10:47 AM

Derek -

That's Ristinen's first book. Get his second, it is MUCH better and
has a lot more info, pics, etc. "Collectable Knives of Finland".

It is still in print and available from a number of sources at $40
plus shipping. Maybe find a copy cheaper somewhere. I just checked
Amazon and they have it for $40. Also available from
Memories of Finland (click on the puukko knives link) for the same price.

http://www.memoriesoffinland.com/cat...sp?catagory=31

A must have for non-Finnish readers collecting puukko.

Rich S

29th March 2008, 04:54 AM	#3
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Hi Rich, Great info. I've got Lester Ristinen's The Knives of Finland, but surprisingly I don't see this maker in his lists. Where did you find that? (pic from one of my old archive posts). -d Attached Images

29th March 2008, 10:47 AM	#4
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Derek - That's Ristinen's first book. Get his second, it is MUCH better and has a lot more info, pics, etc. "Collectable Knives of Finland". It is still in print and available from a number of sources at $40 plus shipping. Maybe find a copy cheaper somewhere. I just checked Amazon and they have it for $40. Also available from Memories of Finland (click on the puukko knives link) for the same price. http://www.memoriesoffinland.com/cat...sp?catagory=31 A must have for non-Finnish readers collecting puukko. Rich S Last edited by Rich; 29th March 2008 at 12:08 PM.

26th March 2008, 02:42 AM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I feel terrible my ingnorance was showing . Kalle Wahtera of Turku how can you tell the buyer does not mention any markings?

26th March 2008, 02:49 AM	#2
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	First the style is pretty unmistakable and also the seller does mention the name in answer to a question. Wahtera didn't sign on the blade, only embossed in the leather of the sheath. Having an original Wahtera to a collector of Finnish knives is like having a Springfield marked Randall made by Bo Randall himself. If you find a Wahtera for $150, please buy it and send it to me :-) But it must be an original Wahtera. The style was later copied by other makers. Rich S