Spring turning in to a summer.

Snow has melted, so rivers and creeks have plenty of water. Weather changes from warm summer-like days to chilly and rainy. You can see small leaves on the birched and willows. Birds singing summer tunes.

At this time of the year I like to hike on trails. Can't let the dogs running free, as they could do damage for nesting birds. Ducks, capercaillies, and grouses have their nests on the ground, just to name few.

Good season for hiking, forests are not that wet anymore and mosquitoes haven't arrived yet.

At this height we have plenty of tall forest like this, easy to walk, trail or not.

Forests have been without snow for a while now, but lakes and ponds have some ice left still. By the end of the winter it was 80-90cm thick, so takes time to melt.

North sides of the fells have some snow left. In the creeks away from the sun you can find snow still in June, sometimes even in July.

Nice view from the top of Otsamo fell near Inari. There's an open day hut as well.

Kumu and Pyry enjoying the view too. Well... I think they're just waiting to get going again.

Forest and forest as far as you can see. Not the biggest wilderness areas in the world, but you won't run out of hiking grounds easily here.

Interesting spot for a pine to grow. One would imagine a strong wind had taken it down already.

Just a while ago I was forging some puukko blades. Charcoal forge does the heating.

Blade making starts from forging a stick tang.

Then the bar is cut and blade shape is forged.

Bevels forged. Spine is left curved, as forging the sides to rhombic cross section will straighten it.

Sides forged, maker's mark stamped.

Bevel forging is finished, tang straightened, and the blade is normalized.

Forging finished.

Blades ground for heat treatment.

This set of blades will be made in to puukkos, and they should be for sale later this week. 

So stay tuned!

5 leukus for sale. ( SOLD! )

So here we go, these 5 large leukus, large Lappish style knives, are for sale. 80CrV2 carbon steel blades, scandi grind with small secondary. Handles in curly birch with brass bolster plates. Leather sheath with a full wooden liner for the blade.

If you're interested in one, write me at pasihurttila@gmail.com

 No 1     SOLD!

Blade 219 x 37 x4,8mm. Handle 124mm long, center 40 x 24mm, pommel 50 x 29mm.

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No 2     SOLD!

 Blade 222 x 36,5 x4,8mm. Handle 125mm long, center 40 x 24mm, pommel 50 x 29mm.

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No 3     SOLD!

 Blade 223 x 37 x5mm. Handle 124mm long, center 40,5 x 24mm, pommel 50 x 29mm.

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No 4     SOLD!

 Blade 216 x 37 x 5mm. Handle 125,5mm long, center 40,5 x 24,5mm, pommel 51 x 30mm.

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 No 5     SOLD!

 Blade 226 x 36 x 5mm. Handle 124,5mm long, center 40 x 24mm, pommel 50 x 29mm.

Some leukus in the making.

Since the last post the snow has melted here in northern Lapland. Seems it happened quite quickly, and now we're having pretty nice weather with just a little bit of some greenish here and there.

Birds start nesting, hares are still half whiteish, everything needs to hurry towards the summer. Nights don't get really dark anymore, the very northest part of the Lapland bit further away from here has reached the time of midnight sun already.

Last few days I've been working on a small set of leukus. Here's a random look at the work with some pictures:

Blades were forged out of a flat bar of 80CrV2 tool steel. No forging pics this time, if you're interested there's some in this Nordiskaknivar blog post from 2013.

When blades are ready it's time to fit brass front bolster plates. All the work is done with a dordless drill and needle rasps.

Then curly birch blocks are cut from with a hand saw.

Ends are levelled on belt sander. Lines for the tang are drawn on.

Using the drill again. Several holes from both ends, then using the same drill as a kind of a mill to enlarge the hole.

Final fitting is done with needle rasps.

After the curly birch blog fits snugly on the tang it't time to fit the butt bolster plate. Thin spacers of reindeer hide between the brass and wood.

Handle parts fitted, ready to be glued with epoxy

Tang is peened on the butt plate when the glue is still open. Handle is slightly sanded to see that all parts fit properly. Now the glue is left to set for a day.

Next day starts with shaping the handles roughly on a belt sander.

Then moving to hand sanding.

Screws are attached to reinforce the pommel. Heads are sanded down. Final sanding on the handle is done.

Handles ready, now it's time to make the wooden liner for the sheaths....

Blade shape is drawn on a strip of birch. Cut out with a knife and chisel.

Backs of the liners are made of birch plywood. Then glued together, and the liner is shaped.

When liners are finished, it's time for the leukus to take an oil bath.

Next day is a sewing day! Cow hide is cut, mouth part of the sheath slightly thinned, and then folded.

Knife is wrapped in plastic foil, liner put on the blade, then the wet leather is sewn over the whole package.

After they're dry, sheaths are trimmed, dyed, and treated with leather cream. Then the final polishing on the knife itself, and should be good to go!

These leukus should be ready by tomorrow evening. They'll be up for sale then, so if you're interested in one, stay tuned!