I like this knife--the 50th! in my puukko collection--so much I could not wait for verified buyer invitation to write review. After 5 days in transit via USPokeySv, I finally rec'd it mid-day yesterday & used/fondled all day & half the night. Super-sharp 4-in BLADE of Polish 80CrV2 carbon steel is, refreshingly, not of exactly traditional puukko shape, as spine tapers to tip at steeper-than-usual angle, with very slight in-then-out swoop starting midway to end. Not only does this please the eye, but somewhat less heavy metal keeps blade-handle in balance. Generous 1 1/4-in base at ricasso allows the secondary Scandi grind bevel to be quite wide & increasingly so towards tip--easing slicing, especially thinly. Yet 4-in length, substantial 1/8-in thickness at spine, & super-sturdy overall build quality make knife fully bushcraft-ready. Blade extends precisely to edge of 1/8-in-thick C360 brass guard, enabling user to readily cut flush against any flat surface. Below it, 2 thin same-brass & G-10 spacers top the real star of show: Gorgeous 4 5/8-in-long spalted premium Turkish walnut burl HANDLE. Complex swirl figuring ranges from mid-brown to near-black for desireable contrast. Smooth as my college-freshman GF's butt.
Deep forefinger & shallower pinky carve-outs bracket 4 1/8-in-circumference swell between, making for superb ergonomics perfectly fitting my very large but thin hands. Note how thoughtful location of forefinger carve-out starts a full 1/2-in from top of guard:
Distance from blade coupled w/ deep contour ensure slim chance finger will slip upward & suffer a cut. JL logo & double lines just below embossed on front, leather SHEATH is my preferred traditional rear-seam dangler design, w/ brass D-ring attached to brass-riveted loop accomodating up to 2 1/4-in belt. Internal stiff protector could be improved w/ slanting-inward bevel to prevent blade from slipping between it & sheath & puncturing it. At a whopping $449.99, this is Redbeard's most expensive Jesse Lerman puukko to date, but his #20 is worth it.
