Väkipuukko
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Väkipuukko (literally "power puukko") is a historical Finnish edged weapon, which resembles a machete or a seax. In archaeological literature, väkipuukko is usually translated either seax or scramasax. It was used both as a woodsman's tool and as a military sidearm. It went out of use in the 13th century and advent of blast furnaces in Scandinavia and mass production of iron and swords, armour and polearms[citation needed], but survives today as Sami leuku[citation needed].
A väkipuukko has a blade length 250 - 500 mm and width 20 to 40 mm. Its handle is not unlike that of a puukko, and it may have quillons or not. It has a slightly curved blade with one single cutting edge, and usually a full-length fuller. Like puukko, it was often forged by laminating an slab of pattern welded cutting edge made of crucible steel and wrought iron between two softer metal strips. It can be classified as a very short backsword.
Most väkipuukko findings are of the Merovingian period (550 - 800) or Viking period (800 - 1025). Since metallurgy in the Pre-Christian Finland was primitive[citation needed], and steel rare[citation needed], swords may have been mainly status symbols of a chieftain than real weapons of war[citation needed]. Väkipuukko was the common infantryman's sidearm, main arms being either spears or bows[citation needed]. A väkipuukko could also duplicate as a woodsman's tool, and being used not unlike machete or billhook. It represents an intermediary between puukko and sword.
A väkipuukko can be used on either chopping or stabbing. It is a good weapon in cramped quarters against lightly armoured opponents, but its shortness is a disadvantage against longer sidearms, like swords and anyone wearing heavy armour. Väkipuukkos were superseded in the Middle Ages by true swords by metallurgical developments in Finland and Sweden and good quality iron for both mail and swords becoming commonplace.
More on väkipuukkos:
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- Cleve, Nils 1943. Skelettgravfälten på Kjuloholm I Kjolo I. Den yngre folkvandringstiden. Suomen muinaismuistoyhdistyksen aikakauskirja XLIV. Helsingfors 1943.
- Salmo, Helmer 1938. Die Waffen der Merowingerzeit in Finnland. Suomen muinaismuistoyhdistyksen aikakauskirja XLII:1. Helsinki.
