Sámi Wilderness Knives from Finland

Wood Jewel knives are crafted in Finnish Lapland in the arctic circle. They are made in the tradition style of the nomadic Sámi reindeer herders who live there, and have flat ground, high carbon steel blades, hardened to Rockwell 59 with handles of curly birch and reindeer antler. The Wood Jewel Combo Leuku Wilderness Knife consists of two knives in a single, deep-pouch, full-grain, vegetable-tanned, hide sheath which hangs from a twisted thong belt loop. The small knife has a short robust blade for general purpose and precision tasks but the star of the show is the Leuku knife with its huge 210mm blade. Designed primarily for wilderness shelter building, it very much does what it says on the tin. Peeling barkI spent a happy afternoon using this tool to make parts for a iron age style roundhouse shelter and cooking supports. It was the single most impressive cutting implement I have ever used, cutting cleanly without the slightest judder through thicknesses I would have thought only a bill-hook could handle. Not just a one trick pony, it peeled bark and split both roundwood lathes and kindling wood with equal ease. Had I needed knives for skinning and butchery, I'm sure they would have proved more than capable. The Leuku is far more comfortable and versatile than any machete I have ever used. A simply wonderful bushcraft tool that is so good, it's really hard to put down. Thank you to the Sustainability Centre who kindly lent me their bushcraft training area and Penny Rose who took the pictures. 

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