Kauhavan puukko - Tekniikan vaiheita IN FINNISH

In the Kauhavan Puukko - Tekniikan vaiheita booklet clarifies the development of knife-making in Kauhava since 1879. That's when Iisakki Heikinpoika Pikkuluhta or Iisakki Järvenpää at the remotest corner of Mäkipää, Kauhava, began his career as a cutler knowing nothing about the profession. Together with the fellow handicraftsmen and later on with his assistants he tried and tested how different know-how of various professions would suit to the art of knife-making. He searched for professional knowledge from technical literature, designed and crafted all his tools on his own, acquired professional skills practically by trying and failing over and over again. Despite the difficult start, the knife-making techniques developed fast. As a proof, one might think of the Emperor's Knife (1894-), its lustruous blade and the beautiful inlays on the birch bark handle. Over decades many phases of knife-making have turned from handwork to machine work. In spite of tough competition there's still room for handicraft and traditional methods in the shrinking knife production in Kauhava.