Knife 64 – Leuku

Leuku knife

In keeping with the History quest, According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_knife the Leuku also known as a Sami knife (Samistuorraniibi = “big knife”, Finnishlapinleuku or leuku), is a large knife traditionally used by the Sami people.

As best as I can tell by my research, these knives are about 1/8″ – 3/16″ steel and when 9″ long about 1 1/2″ wide. Most examples taper slightly back to the handle. Mos have a slight bulge at the butt of the handle.

  • Blade – 9 1/2″
  • Overall — 14 3/4
  • Handle – stabilized maple
  • 1/8″ – 1095 steel

Knife 64 - Leuku

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To make the brass pieces I clamped a straight edge across the back of the drill press table. I set the bit as short as I could to help avoid wobble. I used a bit 1/16″ smaller than the tang to allow some room to bring it back to straight if it was off a bit.

Knife 64 - Leuku

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It’s a little off center but the brass is big enough that it will not matter.

Knife 64 - Leuku

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I used small files to finish cleanup.

Knife 64 - Leuku

I used a hack saw blade I had narrowed the end to cut out some of the brass.

I discovered on the very last piece I had a small dremel cutter that worked to help open it up

Knife 64 - Leuku
Knife 64 - Leuku

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I’m tapering the opening a little so the back is more open than the front. I can press it on that way for a tight fit, but a small gap in the back will allow for some epoxy, JB weld or solder. I will probably use epoxy. The blue marking on the back is to make sure I don’t confuse what is front and what is the back.

Knife 64 - Leuku
Knife 64 - Leuku

Filing the brass flat. Here i am using sand paper on the dmt. The dmt just provides a nice flat surface and the grit helps hold the sand paper in place.

Knife 64 - Leuku

Using a ball peen hammer to give some texture to the guard.

Knife 64 - Leuku
Knife 64 - Leuku

At this point i decided to make another. I need to stabilize some handle material anyhow, along with being out of propane. I made the second one out of a piece of 3/16″ 1084 and made it about an inch shorter.

Knife 64 - Leuku
Knife 64 - Leuku

The Leuku knife

Stabilized maple handle with brass guard and pummel

Knife 64 - Leuku
Knife 64 - Leuku
Knife 64 - Leuku
Knife 64 - Leuku

The Leuku knife

Knife 64 - Leuku
Knife 64 - Leuku

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