Stromeng Samekniv leuku

[Hepotec]

I recently bought a Stromeng Samekniv leuku, made in conjunction with Brusletto, I believe.

Nine inch blade, birch handle and a lovely reindeer hide sheath.

I was not overly impressed with the finish of the handle, but it is servicable and perfectly acceptable for a utility knife. The sheath is very pleasant though and the blade is excellent. Carbon steel and very sharp.

I was wary about using it too agressively at first but after only a few minutes I pushed it further and further, eventually splitting a 7 or 8 inch diameter log, using a smaller log as a hammer.

It seems to be as sharp as ever after a whole evening of abuse, chopping several smaller logs and splitting 2 entire 8 inch logs into kindling.

The shape of the handle isnt perfect, but with a little swork, I think it will be close to a perfect knife (for me anyhow).

I can't believe how impressed with this beauty and it only cost me £40.

Amazing when compared to something like the Gerber BMF, which cost me well over a hundred.

I won't be binning my axe just yet, but it will get less use from now on.


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/Hepotec/leuku.jpg

[ggfh666]

A pic can say as much as a thousands word. But good to know that price is not the only indicator of quality.

[Hepotec]

I have added a photo of the knife to the original post. (I think). Hope this helps. And thanks to Martyn for the advice in a previous thread which allowed me to do it.

[Danzo]

It's certainly an interesting looking knife and the sheath is beautiful. Your comments are similiar to what many people say about other production scandi blades such as Kellam; excellent blades, very atttractive sheaths yet very basic if functional handles. I have a Kellam AK and this is perfectly true of that model.

Danzo

[TheViking]

If you search for review and leuku, you will find a review made by me. :)

It's a great knife.

[Hepotec]

It was the above mentioned Viking review that gave me the information in the first place, although I have only just made the conection. I had looked at them for a while, and then read your review which tipped the balance. Thanks for the info. I'm currently making my own leuku, using the sameblad blade and a piece of curly birch. I find the Stromeng just a touch gracile for me, but then I seldom wear mittens, so thought I would tailor make one to my own spec. Looking good so far.

[Hoodoo]

I am also a big fan of this knife. Often times in a knife this size, you will get a very heavy knife that is a pain to tote around. This one is light and the blade starts to approach the chopping power of a good machete. This knife is the antithesis of the sharpened prybar and a lot of fun to use because of its wonderful cutting efficiency due to the thin blade. I own several big leukus and I find the handle on this one the most comfortable of all of them.

[Dave Barker]

unfortunately most of the production models are only finished to around 320 grit. Something that san actually desroy the figuring of the wood. You could try to go up the grades to say 800-100.

StrØmeng is a very well know and respected smith and i would not expect anything less of his blades.

my brother in law has one and uses it for about everythin. It has taken a real hammering and the blade is slightly offline. Still like a razor though and easy to keep sharp.

[Robocop]

Just joined, and this is my first post. I stumbled upon the site after looking for information/reviews on Stromeng knives. I'm not really a collector of knives, with only about half a dozen in the cupboard, but the knives I do collect are of pretty good quality.

I've always carried a decent size knife when I go bush, and my knife of choice when I was in a parachute battalion was the Gerber BMF.

No longer in the army, but still going bush, I found myself wanting a reasonable size knife, but without the weight of the BMF. As an aside; whatever happened to Gerber? I've been out of the knife 'scene' for several years, and checking the Gerber website the other day, they don't seem to make any bigger sized knives any more. And the BMF seems discontinued. What gives? Have they gone soft?

My uncle in Norway (I'm from Norway myself) sent me a Stromeng about 15 years ago. I've never really used it for anything, as I thought it was more of a souvenir/keepsake ornamental-type knife, so it was just added to the collection as such.

However, after recently breaking my knife of choice for the last years, a better than average hollow-handled survival knife (don't judge me by the fact that I have owned one of these. Never a fan of hollow-handled knives with their non-existent tang, I had bought it about 15 years ago from a yank over here on exercise. It featured an 8-9 inch blade, the back of it with alternating serrations, a slight drop point, a hollow ground edge on the business side, and the handle, guard and blade welded. As it was all one piece it seemed tough enough, although I never really put it through any serious work. Anyway, the blade broke about an inch from the guard when I landed on it jumping over rocks. Grrr...)

So I've been after something to replace it. I'd need a reasonably big knife for bushcraft etc, as well as a bit of pig-sticking, without a heap of weight, so have given a bit of consideration to the Scorpion from Muela. It seems quite robust with a pretty ergonomic handle. Also important to a left hander is the fact that the sheath enables the knife to be worn on the left side. Any opinions anyone...?

But with two kids and a mortgage, I thought it might make a bit more sense to first look at the knives I've already got. The double edged Gerber Mark II and Tac II are no good as utility knives, and the BMF is no lighter now then it was then, whereas I'm 15 years older.

So I looked afresh at the Stromeng. I blooded it during a recent pig hunting trip, and the blade seems long enough to get to the heart that matters (of the pig that is). The sheath is of course still right handed, so I made up a left handed sheath, although it is nowhere near as attractive as the original.

One thing I wanted to say about my knife is that it features a folding finger guard. The guard, about an inch long, folds down onto the handle when you put the knife in the sheath. It certainly makes you a bit more secure in your grip when you're plunging the knife into a squealing, writhing target.

Anyway, I was pleased to read that the knife is made to do actual work, and I now plan to make it my new knife of choice.

Take care,

Robocop

[Otto]

As Dave said: Its strømeng :-)
I have used some knives like this and they are pretty good. There are a number of people/companys who make knives that look like this one. A good alroud knife that can replace the camp axe imho.

[Otto]

Here is a link to his page:
http://www.knivsmed-stromeng.no/docs/kniver_9_14.htm

And if you havent studied the world language that is Norsk you can still look at the piccis. Or visit his shop/smithy in Karasjok.:)

[luresalive]

I also have one and find it a great blade to use, when in the bush I use it to cut hazel and blackthorn ( I also make walking sticks!) and it's a pleasure to use..Hepotec, where did you get it for £40? I got mine from Attleborough accessories and it was over £50 including postage???

[EdgePal]

This type of knife is common in the north parts of Scandinavia and it is old type of design. The Vikings where a similar type of knife, also have a spear with him (a spear is a knife on a stick, not anything you throw away).

The big end of the handle have a function, it is not only a design. I have talk about it before. It helps the knife stay in your hand when the hand is very tired (or cold) to hold the knife, I think Hypotec have find that out already…?

The handle shall be like it is. If you “polish” the handle more, then it will be “slippery” in the hand. If you oil it, thank God for the big end of the handle!

When you are using a knife like this for hard work during long times, you shall make the handle wet, then the grip get better and your hand is not being so tired so fast…

I like this type of knife, but, I like a little more heavy blade, let us say 1 – 1,5 mm thicker. When you work with this knife you sometimes can feel “vibrations” in the blade during hard work. I do not like that. That means that the power goes else where - instead of where I like it to go. That is why I like a little thicker and heavier blade – but that is my taste.

It is a very nice knife and its performs well, it is a very strong knife and its works well also in very cold temperatures. That is why it is so popular as it is - and why it is still in use.

Thomas

[bardster]

I have one of these and Love it! The edge was redone at Jacks Hammerin and its now a convex edge rather than the rather abrupt grind it had before. It gave stirling work carving the suckling pig and performed exceptionally well in the cutting competition, my technique failing rather than the knife. Its since been used in the kithen as the only large carving knife I have with a decent edge! Carved a pork joint up into chops tonight rather marvelously!

[Robocop]

Here is a pic of my knife.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j55/Viking_Cop/Stromeng.jpg

As you can see it has a fingerguard, which folds down onto the handle when you put the knife away. It comes in quite handy. This model must be discontinued, as it's not listed on their website. Like I said, I got it many years ago.

Robocop

[Sajuma]

My best mate has a double Leuku from them and he is a hunter, outdoorsman in and out no question about it. He likes it a lot and uses them for things like opening cans, battoning and such, I cant stop him for doing it, poor ba$tard, but after few years use it just keeps on going.
They seem to be really good knives.

Juha

[Sako 30-06]

As a Norwegian, I would like to add a few comments on the big Sami knife (leuku) in general and the Strømeng in particular:

This is definitely not an ornamental knife or a souvenir. The large Sami knife is a general purpose tool akin to a "camp knife" and excels in just its simplicity. It is popular among Norwegian outdoorsmen and is a rather common private addition to the field equipment carried by Norwegian elite soldiers. Strømeng is one of the largest makers of these knives and has a large part of the market in Norway. As mentioned above, the handle shape and finish is very well suited for the intended use in the knife's homelands. Such a knife should actually have a convex instead of a straight edge -- like an axe -- due to the heavy use it is intended for (chopping firewood and tent poles, dressing reindeer etc.). The fingerguard you see on one of the Strømengs is a design modification of rather new date. In Norway, this guard is commonly called "søringsperre", which means "Southerner-guard", implying that a real northerner has no use for it since he knows how to use the knife properly without cutting himself :D

A recommended addition to your field equipment as a replacement for a small axe. The 8" and the 9" models are probably the most popular in Norway.

[Albert E]

NIce one!!I like that one for the bush!!
Albert

[SICKBOY]

Been meaning to buy one of these sice i joined the forum ( a year after this thread was started :D ) but always stopped short for one reason or another, mainly because something else came up that i couldnt resist.
Really need a trip to Norway to have a look at a few :rolleyes:
If i could get one from the UK with a stacked leather or birch bark handle i probably would in a instant :]

[ggfh666]

I've only seen them with plain wooden handles....

[SICKBOY]

Theres a maker who sells them with all sorts of handles, i'll try and fish out the link, very nice but they start at 2500 kroner :C

Ta dah http://www.knivmakeriet.no/uk/

[Igorrock]

Here is my leuku. Blade is Norwegian-made.

http://www.aijaa.com/img/t/00397/2891750.t.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2891750.jpg)

[Noddy]

Nice one that is, Igorrock. What is the blade? Helle?

Lovely looking handle there :)

[LH 600]

Here is a pic of my knife.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j55/Viking_Cop/Stromeng.jpg

As you can see it has a fingerguard, which folds down onto the handle when you put the knife away. It comes in quite handy. This model must be discontinued, as it's not listed on their website. Like I said, I got it many years ago.

Robocop

The fingerguard models are used by The Norwegian spesial soldiers .

I buy mine in 1980. Still in use. The best knife iv`e have for the exploring :)
The blade quality is superb for sharping.

[forginhill]

Great buy! And top notch performance. Couldn't ask for more.

Todd

[LH 600]

Here my ISAK STRØMENG knife.
My father give this to me in 1980.
I have use this knife since then. Still workable ;) Razorsharp edge

The other Skinner do i get from my father in 1985.¨
I clean the knifes today lightly only.

I have to use them more :)

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/6615/img2854oy0.jpg

[ANDYLASER]

If you want to make your own, you can buy bare blades from Ragweed Forge (http://www.ragweedforge.com/BladeCatalog.html#S-blades) for the pricely sum of $26 for the 9" one.