This is a traditional type of knife designed out of use byggde Sami People that lives north if the Actic Circle. The name in Sami languish is "stora Niibi" (big knife). In Swedish and Norwegian they are named "Samehuggare" - and the correct name in English is: Sami chopper.
In Finland the name for rhis type of knife is "leuku".
![[Image: 108ilgp.jpg]](http://i68.tinypic.com/108ilgp.jpg)
I made this Sami Chopper during the seventies and I have use it for many years now and I still carry it when I am out in the Forest.
The handle are short and the pommel is BIG - and that is the most important thing on rhis type of knife. The bladeshape and length can differ a little - but the handle shall be the same.
Sometimes when I use this knife I hold it only with my little finger and the rest of the handle just slides in my hand. I can also hold the handle with 2 or 3 fingers depening om what tupe of work I am doing.
The blade length can differ from 15-25 cm blade length - but the short hqndle with the big pommel never change. If there is no big pommel - it is no longer a Sami Chooper, it is just a big knife...
The pommel is there for a reason.
I can work with this knife with gloves on duringvthe winter - and it so not fly out if my hand, the pommel make it stay in my hand even when my fingers are cold and tierd.
The same thing when my hands are wet and cold - and when they are full with blood or/and animal fat.
I can chop thin trees and also thin branches, i use different places on the edge for that - and I also how I hold the handle in my hand. For thin branches i hold the handle with my little finger and Inuse the upper third of the blade dor chopping, and I use speed more then power, and I use my wrist more then under arm. It works very effective
(Thin branches of birch are used onnthe floor of a Sami Hogan (kata) and are put there in a special way. They work a "springs" in a comfortble bed. On this branches are hard huds, on the hard huds we use soft huds).
Any questions about Sami Knifes ?
Thomas
I forgot one thing...
This handle are made in reindeer antler and birch bark. Study the handle and you will se that the antler worns out more then the birch bark do - so the birch bark make "ridges" on the handle and those ridges helps also to make the handle to stay in the hand.
Real old Sami knife handle has often thin pieces of antler and many layers of birch bark. Especially knifes used for butchering has this. The knife can be hold comfortble also when there is blood and animal fat in the hand.
Nice thing to know I think
Thomas
In Finland the name for rhis type of knife is "leuku".
I made this Sami Chopper during the seventies and I have use it for many years now and I still carry it when I am out in the Forest.
The handle are short and the pommel is BIG - and that is the most important thing on rhis type of knife. The bladeshape and length can differ a little - but the handle shall be the same.
Sometimes when I use this knife I hold it only with my little finger and the rest of the handle just slides in my hand. I can also hold the handle with 2 or 3 fingers depening om what tupe of work I am doing.
The blade length can differ from 15-25 cm blade length - but the short hqndle with the big pommel never change. If there is no big pommel - it is no longer a Sami Chooper, it is just a big knife...
The pommel is there for a reason.
I can work with this knife with gloves on duringvthe winter - and it so not fly out if my hand, the pommel make it stay in my hand even when my fingers are cold and tierd.
The same thing when my hands are wet and cold - and when they are full with blood or/and animal fat.
I can chop thin trees and also thin branches, i use different places on the edge for that - and I also how I hold the handle in my hand. For thin branches i hold the handle with my little finger and Inuse the upper third of the blade dor chopping, and I use speed more then power, and I use my wrist more then under arm. It works very effective
(Thin branches of birch are used onnthe floor of a Sami Hogan (kata) and are put there in a special way. They work a "springs" in a comfortble bed. On this branches are hard huds, on the hard huds we use soft huds).
Any questions about Sami Knifes ?
Thomas
I forgot one thing...
This handle are made in reindeer antler and birch bark. Study the handle and you will se that the antler worns out more then the birch bark do - so the birch bark make "ridges" on the handle and those ridges helps also to make the handle to stay in the hand.
Real old Sami knife handle has often thin pieces of antler and many layers of birch bark. Especially knifes used for butchering has this. The knife can be hold comfortble also when there is blood and animal fat in the hand.
Nice thing to know I think
Thomas
