HANDY - The Legendary Marttiini Knife with Decades of Tradition

HANDY - For Decades a Knife in Almost Every Finnish Household

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The following review will provide some insights into the knife, its quality, and whether it should be used for everyday tasks.

Product Details

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Dimensions

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• Total Length: 19 cm
• Blade Length: 7.5 cm

Materials

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• Stainless Steel, Curly Birch, Waxed

Price

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• 45.90€

I purchased the HANDY (or Uusi Kätevä), which means “useful or practical,” for about 45 euros. For an everyday knife, such as one used in the kitchen, it is naturally more expensive than a simple vegetable knife from a discount store. However, this knife can handle more than just kitchen tasks, as it is also a utility Puukko knife.

What Can I Use the Kätevä / HANDY For?

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• Kitchen Work: Cutting vegetables, fruits, meat, and other foods.
• Outdoor Activities: Camping, hiking, fishing, and other leisure activities where a reliable knife is needed.
• Crafting and DIY: Carving, cutting materials like ropes, leather, or small pieces of wood.
• Everyday Tasks: Opening packages, cutting cardboard, ropes, and other everyday materials.

As mentioned in the title of the post, the knife has a long tradition in Finland, not only in the outdoor field but also in the household. While I cannot confirm this specifically, it is clear from my experience that as a Puukko, it is indeed very useful for everyday tasks. It is excellent for cutting vegetables, allows for small carvings, and peeling apples, potatoes, as well as chives and green onions is also perfectly feasible. Given that its blade is relatively short and lacks a finger guard, I would not, as often shown in outdoor videos, use it for wood splitting, although I am confident that its sharpness and material would allow for it.

What Are the Advantages of Owning This Knife?

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It is undoubtedly a very good knife that feels very stable in hand and is easy to grip (even for large hands). The notch on the handle allows you to hold the knife securely in any situation.

Personally, I see this knife as an entry-level option for those who want their first Finnish knife or wish to invest a bit less. The HANDY integrates well into an existing knife block and is suitable for cutting fruits and vegetables. The advantage of the sturdy blade, which undoubtedly offers good sharpness and stability, is much more pleasant than with some vegetable knives. Of course, when cutting small vegetables or herbs, for example, you need to angle the blade and cut with the front part of the steel, but you get used to it.

Not Only for Everyday Use

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With its leather sheath and the option to carry it on a belt, the Kätevä from Marttiini is not only a good choice for household use. You can comfortably wear it at your hip, quickly draw it from the sheath when needed, and have it ready for use immediately. Tasks such as cutting a branch from a hazel shrub, sharpening it, and then attaching dough for stick bread or marshmallows can be done quickly with this knife. When setting up a tent, trimming cords for tensioning or cutting a rope to length is also possible.

Are There Any Disadvantages?

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Speaking directly about disadvantages, I wouldn’t say there are any specific ones. It depends more on the use case. Compared to the Marttiini Tundra Bushcraft, this knife has a somewhat short blade and a more everyday handle. So, one should consciously avoid using it for activities like wood splitting. Additionally, cutting chives or green onions can be a bit unusual at first if you intend to use it for that. As always, it depends on the use case. Oh, and when it comes to cleaning: A bit of water with dish soap and a damp cloth should suffice. No more! It is unfortunately not suitable for the dishwasher. I would be concerned that the handle might not withstand after the tenth round.

Verdict & Opinion

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With the Marttiini Uusi Kätevä, you benefit from having a solid, robust knife. The blade is made of stainless steel, and the handle is entirely wood. Thus, unlike other kitchen knives, it does not contain plastic, which enhances comfort when holding it. Additionally, it is quite affordable. Of course, it is more expensive than a 10-euro kitchen knife from a discount store, but it is also much more versatile and stable. Only cleaning in the dishwasher is unfortunately not an option.

However, you get a knife with which you can gain early experience in handling knives from a young age and use it for outdoor activities, as is typical for scouts. As mentioned in the report, it is versatile but also has its limits. Nevertheless, I consider it one of the ideal entry-level knives from Marttiini.