Choosing a Knife — How to Pick a Good Outdoor Knife or Puukko

Are you looking to buy your first outdoor knife? Choosing a knife can be tricky at first, as there are plenty of options available. In this article, we’ll go through the key things to consider when choosing an outdoor knife or a Finnish puukko.

As with all outdoor gear, the intended use is the most important factor in choosing a knife. A knife is also a beautiful tool, and there’s nothing wrong with wanting it to look good in your eyes. There are many different types of knives for various uses — let’s take a look at some of them.

Consider these factors when buying a puukko (Nordic knife):

• Intended use: For general outdoor use, hiking, or bushcraft activities?
• Blade quality and material: Carbon steel or stainless steel?
• Blade length and shape: Shorter for carving, longer for splitting tasks.
• Handle material and shape: Traditional wooden handle or rubberized?
• Sheath: Leather, plastic, or composite?
• Value for money: A good puukko isn’t always the most expensive one.

Knife for Campfires and Shelters

At maintained campfire sites, firewood is often already chopped — and if it’s not, there’s usually an axe or splitting wedge available on site. In such cases, a knife is mainly used for opening food packages and carving kindling to start a fire for yourself and those who come after you.

For this type of fire use, a good knife typically has a slightly shorter blade, under 8 cm. A shorter blade makes carving easier and is more versatile than a longer one.

In the image: stainless chrome steel Arctic Legend puukko, well-suited for carving and similar tasks.

Blade Material: Stainless Chrome Steel or Carbon Steel

Stainless chrome steel withstands moisture better and doesn’t rust. It stays sharp for a long time but is more difficult to sharpen than carbon steel, usually requiring a diamond sharpener.

In the image: Roselli Grandfather’s Puukko with curly birch handle and 75 mm traditional carbon steel blade.

Carbon steel rusts more easily than stainless chrome steel, so it should always be dried after use. It also dulls faster, but is easier to sharpen — for example, with a sharpening stone. High-quality carbon steel still holds an edge well.

Knife for Hiking with a Stove as Primary Cooking Tool

If your hiking trip doesn’t include making campfires, there’s no need to carry a heavy knife. However, a knife or blade is a useful safety tool in case you need to light a fire or handle other tasks.

In the image: Morakniv Eldris. This handy small knife can also be worn with a neck cord. Also available as the Eldris Neck Knife Kit.

A small and lightweight knife is sufficient for nearly all needs that might arise on a hike: gear repairs, cutting rope, or even fire-making if needed.

Eräpuu offers an interesting and beautiful pocket knife with a bone/birch handle. A convenient “just-in-case” knife to bring along.

In the image: handy Marttiini folding knife.

For hiking, it’s also worth considering a folding knife that fits easily in your pocket, or a multitool such as those by Leatherman, Gerber, or Victorinox.

Bushcraft and Heavy-Duty Knives

Knives can also be used to split firewood and for tougher tasks. In traditional Puukko’s, the blade narrows into a tang inside the handle, and such knives can’t withstand rough use.

Typically, an axe handles the splitting work, but it can be done with a knife too. Knives with longer leuku-style blades are suitable for various chopping tasks, and with careful use, they can be used for splitting wood.

Morakniv offers a bushcraft knife made from high-carbon steel, with a sharp spine designed for use with fire starters. It features a grippy rubber handle. Check also the Morakniv Garber Multi-mount Set.

In the image: Marttiini Tundra Kelo full tang knife.

Full tang knives have blades that extend the full width of the handle and are sandwiched between two handle slabs. This construction makes the knife durable and able to withstand twisting and heavy use more than traditional knives. This is why they’re popular in bushcraft activities.

In the image: the legendary J-P Peltonen M95 Sissipuukko (Guerilla puukko) M95, available with composite or leather sheath and different coatings..

For military use, the Sissipuukko is a practical knife, available in different blade lengths and sheath styles. It features a secure grip and a Teflon-coated blade.

Special Knives for Hunting, Fishing, and Mushroom Picking

Our knife and tools -selection also includes fillet knives, mushroom knives, draw knives, carving knives, and other specialty tools — and the selection is constantly evolving. Come explore our full range.