Original German Finnish WWII Puukko Souvenir Knife with Carved Wooden Scabbard

Original Item. Only One Available. A puukko is a small traditional Finnish general purpose belt knife with a single curved cutting edge, solid hidden tang, and usually, a flat spine.

This is a lovely souvenir Puukko knife made for or by a soldier during World War II. The intricate scabbard is carved to show a nun in a castle window, the year 1943, and a lion crest.

The paint of the handle is heavily cracking and crazing as shown. The blade itself is very oxidized but is in good overall order.

A lovely souvenir knife, ready for further research and display.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 4 1/8"
Overall length: 8 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 8 1/2” 

A puukko was traditionally the only civilian item that could be openly carried as a part of a soldier's combat gear without breaching the Finnish Defence Forces' regulations. A good puukko was considered an essential outdoorsman's tool, and thus vital for a soldier in the field.

Puukkos proved to be good close combat weapons in the Winter War and Continuation War. Paradoxically, the Defence Forces do not have knives on general issue, due mainly to the puukko having been a highly personal item. And even today, most conscripts follow the age-old tradition of bringing their own knives into service.

It is a custom of Finnish conscripts, especially non-commissioned officers, and officer cadets to carry a decorated and/or engraved commemorative puukko of their military school or training course as a part of their uniform, not unlike a commemorative dagger.