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Janne

Sent off - Not allowed to play
Feb 10, 2016
12,330
2,293
Grand Cayman, Norway, Sweden
Pukko means knife in English.
Kniv in Swedish, your second language.

The military term you are looking for is 'Ranger'.
So in English - 'Ranger Knife' or 'Ranger's Knife' !

Rangers are a specific type of soldiers, after infiltration ( ski, foot, heli, parachute) behind enemy lines, demolition of important objects, removing officers, taking prisoners and interrogation, observation and surveillance, ranging for long range artillery and missiles, finding targets for such.

They work without supply for extended time, weeks, at a time.

A knife needs to be very sturdy, to be able to do everything from cutting wires to cleaning game.
 

TLM

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 16, 2019
3,092
1,624
Vantaa, Finland
I was referring to the historic origin of the word. At one time I believe "Jägers" were scouts and skirmishers, the Finnish battalion in imperial Germany were more like ordinary infantry but they brought the name with them.

I guess ranger would be the closest in present day terminology.
 
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Janne

Sent off - Not allowed to play
Feb 10, 2016
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Grand Cayman, Norway, Sweden
You are correct, that was the traditional task they had.
they were equipped with the best rifles available, to be able to hit at longer range. They 'hunted' the enemy, hence the name.
But, it was in the north American British colonies, during the war in early 1600' I think) where they established that kind of warfare. The units were formed from hunters.
They 'ranged' freely, not in the normal British way, which was standing in an orderly and civilized line, dressed in a Scarlet tunic, waiting for the enemy bullet....., but in an uncivilized way, hiding behing bushes, walking around them, sniping and being a nuisance!
They also had the first camo dresses, which were of a colour less visible than the standard Scarlet ( or Red)

The Swedish word means the same as in German, 'hunter'.
 
Last edited:
You are correct, that was the traditional task they had.
they were equipped with the best rifles available, to be able to hit at longer range. They 'hunted' the enemy, hence the name.
But, it was in the north American British colonies, during the war in early 1600' I think) where they established that kind of warfare. The units were formed from hunters.
They 'ranged' freely, not in the normal British way, which was standing in an orderly and civilized line, dressed in a Scarlet tunic, waiting for the enemy bullet....., but in an uncivilized way, hiding behing bushes, walking around them, sniping and being a nuisance!
They also had the first camo dresses, which were of a colour less visible than the standard Scarlet ( or Red)

The Swedish word means the same as in German, 'hunter'.


they existed in europe as far back as the war from 1618-1648, amongst their tasks was to take out enemy officers (as the ordinary soldiers of that time weren't trained to think independently and the officers stuck out an efficient way of creating chaos amongst the enemies); the common soldier of the time was burdened with a smoothbore musket while jagers were equipped with more accurate and expensive rifles. if my infos are correct the famous "" Kentucky Rifles" " were north american adaptations of the jagerrifles (=smaller calibre to save ammo + longer barrel as compensation for calibre change to keep range+ stopping power)
 
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Janne

Sent off - Not allowed to play
Feb 10, 2016
12,330
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Grand Cayman, Norway, Sweden
Correct!

Also, smaller caliber, higher quality steel, and rifling = higher permitted load and resulting pressure = longer, more accurate reach.

Even today, the soldier tends to ‘lose it’ when the officer gets down.

Snipers of today have still a very important battlefield 4ole.

The idea with these knives is very sound. Cheap, high quality, highly functional.
 

Nice65

Brilliant!
Apr 16, 2009
6,440
2,863
W.Sussex
I was referring to the historic origin of the word. At one time I believe "Jägers" were scouts and skirmishers, the Finnish battalion in imperial Germany were more like ordinary infantry but they brought the name with them.

I guess ranger would be the closest in present day terminology.

they existed in europe as far back as the war from 1618-1648, amongst their tasks was to take out enemy officers (as the ordinary soldiers of that time weren't trained to think independently and the officers stuck out an efficient way of creating chaos amongst the enemies); the common soldier of the time was burdened with a smoothbore musket while jagers were equipped with more accurate and expensive rifles. if my infos are correct the famous "" Kentucky Rifles" " were north american adaptations of the jagerrifles (=smaller calibre to save ammo + longer barrel as compensation for calibre change to keep range+ stopping power)

Gentleman, I consider myself to be master of off topic thread direction, I salute you. :D
 

TLM

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 16, 2019
3,092
1,624
Vantaa, Finland
:panda: sorry about the slight drift.

I think we got the origin of the name cleared and the reason for slightly heavy construction of the knives.

For a reason that is not quite clear Leka is producing a lot of military or 'military grade' stuff.
 

Herman30

Native
Aug 30, 2015
1,351
1,030
57
Finland
For a reason that is not quite clear Leka is producing a lot of military or 'military grade' stuff.
Because official finnish army stuff is not good enough (Leka makes their own improved versions of official army wear) or lacks some stuff that is nice to have.
 

z_bumbi

Tenderfoot
Apr 22, 2016
94
46
Linköping, Sweden
Just buy a mora dude

Besides the 20 odd I allready have? (Counting moras, frost and at least one older made in Eskilstuna of the same typ)
With a "scandi grind" and a blade that is 4,2 mm I find that the blade is to thick for most tasks. If I go out to mostly baton wood for fun it's my first choice but my current knife of choice for outdoor stuff is the sissipuuko with it's flat grind (old version).
 

TLM

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 16, 2019
3,092
1,624
Vantaa, Finland
Interesting I don't think I have ever seen a full flat grind on a SP. The blade was originally from a bayonette and quite thick as it was supposed to be a workhorse knife. And it was and still is. At least a few different blade thicknesses have existed and a few grind styles.

The absolute thickness of the blade is not what counts and I have found the edge angle to be fairly similar in most versions of a working puukko. The edge angle of JP is mentioned somewhere in documentation, just for comparison.
 

Janne

Sent off - Not allowed to play
Feb 10, 2016
12,330
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Grand Cayman, Norway, Sweden
The Bayonets I have seen ( Scandinavian armies, US, Izraeli) are useless except as a sticking implement.

A relic from the past, that look menacing and ‘king Arthurian’ when displayed on hard duty outside a royal castle.

Agree, it is the angle of the edge, but a blade thickness of more than 3 mm is leaning towards an axe.
 

TLM

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 16, 2019
3,092
1,624
Vantaa, Finland
JP Peltonen used bayonette blade blanks when those were available and designed from there.

In the army (stone axes had been just invented) we were taught bayonetting, by then I had about 10 years of epee fencing behind me. The sargent was not amused when I skewered him time after time.
 

Janne

Sent off - Not allowed to play
Feb 10, 2016
12,330
2,293
Grand Cayman, Norway, Sweden
Same here, bayoneting was taught. Was on the basic training curriculum, written around the Battle of Agincourt.
Useless, as we were told as students, as we told to the new recruits.



Maybe he used surplus, cheap as chips bayonets because it gave him a good quality steel already flattened?
Back in the days they recycled to save money. Today we recycle and pay money.
 

TLM

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 16, 2019
3,092
1,624
Vantaa, Finland
As I recall the story it went something like this:
JP was serving in the UN peacekeeping force (Lebanon I guess) and was frustrated as no strong enough knives were available, he made one himself from what was available.
 
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TLM

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 16, 2019
3,092
1,624
Vantaa, Finland
So far I haven't been able to find anyone at Leka who would know the reason for the small hole at the tip. The only reason for it so far has been "production reasons" which could mean anything ...
 

Nice65

Brilliant!
Apr 16, 2009
6,440
2,863
W.Sussex
So far I haven't been able to find anyone at Leka who would know the reason for the small hole at the tip. The only reason for it so far has been "production reasons" which could mean anything ...

I saw one of those “How it’s Made” programmes, I’m sure it’s to hold the stacked blades still as they cool to prevent warping.
 

Janne

Sent off - Not allowed to play
Feb 10, 2016
12,330
2,293
Grand Cayman, Norway, Sweden
That must be it!
On Mondays, Wednesday and Friday they hang it from the tip hole, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from the handle hole!
:)

Take two Skrama Seaxes, put an M6 (I think) bolt & nut and tighten it moderately, you should be able to cut (barbed) wire with them!
 

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