Pete's Custom Knives - Scagel style Hunter - 105mm HCS #27

Yep, it's that superb; 5 stars simply insufficient. I'd JUST spent $325 on Kola #11 + Helle dangler when Redbeard emailed me that he thought this Pete's his best so far & 1 of his own all-time fave puukkos. So I shelled out another $400 for my 55th! puukko. Worth every penny. Here's why:
BLADE: Authentic Finnish Lauri plenty-long 4 1/8" × just-right-width 3/4" × super-sturdy thickness of 1/8" at spine.
Yet knife slices relatively easily because gentle Scandi taper begins at center-line 3/8" from edge. Redbeard describes blade as "slightly upswept," but that's an optical illusion, as blade actually angles ever-so-slightly down from spine to tip starting almost 2" back from it. This "trick" confers a most-pleasing-to-eye "cutlass" look, though the only curve in blade is on drop-point edge side. Keep in mind this initially shiney Lauri is high carbon steel, so it will stain when exposed to acidic stuff, like my marinara sauce slathered over hot Italian sausage when I sliced thru it last night. Not a negative, just the reality of using HCS metal instead of SS.
HANDLE: From pommel end halfway up is screams-primo stag, this ergonomically curved-forward, almost birdhead piece of antler from SE Asian Sambar deer species. While surface smooth near top, the bottom portion is nubby against pinky & ring fingers, ensuring grippy even when greasy. Yet the bottom & back side of pommel against lower palm is sanded super smooth for comfort. 1 brass pin penetrates stag's center thru hidden tang inside. Just above, contrasting with light stag, are two 1/2-in-thick inserts of dark leather. Next upwards are two ~3\8-in-thick inserts of sheep's horn. With strong backlighting, they are transparent, revealing the epoxied grooved tang within. How cool is that? The upper 1 is carefully carved outward to smoothly merge with flanged-all-around guard of polished brass, ensuring index finger will not slip onto the ultra-sharp blade above. Last--& best--are the 7 bright copper spacers interspersed between stag & guard. Each is sandwiched between black G-10 spacers for max contrast, perhaps if not also to protect the relatively soft Cu. Remember, Pete does all this by hand using no machine tools! Handle having 3" circumference at middle, it should accomodate all but the most enormous & tiny hands.
SHEATH: Sideseam stitched with his typical oxblood nylon thread, it's constructed of Pete's usual 3mm-thick black Italian leather, this 1 different in that it's embossed all over front side with a repeating eye-&-lashes design silently saying, "I'm lookin' at you. You wanna look at what's inside, don't ya?" I personally love danglers, especially this 1, but it's easily removable with sturdy spring-actuated ring attached to its belt loop with speaks-premium Chicago ****. Then use stitched-on-sheath belt loop if you prefer a high & tight carry position. Both fit up to a 2.5" waist belt.
For all these reasons, this magnificent Pete's Scagel-style Hunter #27 is my favorite puukko. For now.