Editing Puukko (section)

== Usage ==

=== Civilian use ===
[[Image:Sissipuukko 1.JPG|right|thumb|250px|Modern "Sissipuukko" (Ranger / Commando Puukko) a puukko type field knife, for military use]]In the Nordic countries, the puukko is an "everyday knife" used for everything from hunting, fishing, and gardening to opening boxes in a warehouse. 

Many traditional puukkos are now manufactured on an industrial or near-industrial scale by many companies, [[Marttiini]] and [[Iisakki Järvenpää|Iisakki Järvenpää Oy]] being the most notable.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} 

Carrying sharp objects which could be used as weapons on one's person was banned in Finland in 1977. Since then, the puukko has lost much of its visibility in public places and been restricted to household work, hunting and fishing. 

In many industries the [[mora knife]], which has a much cheaper construction, is in use. The mora knife's handle is typically plastic, and the blade is either stainless steel or of laminated construction; harder steel, which forms the edge, is clad in softer steel. In Finnish, these knives are also usually referred to as "puukko" or "mora.“

=== Military carry ===
[[File:Puukko 1939-1940.jpg|thumb|Puukko from 1939-1940]]
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.{{cn|date=January 2017}} 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 officer]]s, and officer [[cadet]]s 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]].{{or|date=January 2017}}  

The [[bayonet]] of the [[Rk-62|Rk-62 assault rifle]] was designed to also function as a puukko, as was the rare bayonet for the [[Mosin–Nagant#Finland|M/39 Mosin-Nagant]]. 

=== Criminal activities ===
Military models of puukko were popular in the Russian criminal underworld under the name "'''Finnish knife'''" or '''''finka''''' since the 20th century.  

The modified version were among the models on which the Soviet military knife [[NR-40]] was based and which was informally called "finka".{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}