Helsinki Knife Show 2019

The Helsinki Knife Show always marks the beginning of the new knife year. The 10th edition was held on January 4 and 5, in a new venue.

Tekst: Pekka Tuominen. Pictures: Ilari Mehtonen

Right: The prize winners of the 2019 Helsinki Knife Show. From left to right: Jukka Hankala,

Markku Parkkinen, Tapio Syrjälä and Waltteri Ryjenko.

The 10th annual Helsinki Knife Show was held in a new venue in the centre of the Finnish capital, the so-called 'Old Studenthouse'. This was built in 1870 as a freetime place for students of Helsinki Universaty.
The 2019 edition had 47 tables, with knives and knife makers from nine countries. About 750 visitors visited the 1½ days show, to look at beautiful handmade knives from all around the world.
Traditionally, the Helsinki Knife Show has several custom knife maker’s awards. The 2019 awards went to:
Best folding knife: Tapio Syrjälä
Best fixed blade knife: Markku Parkkinen
Best of show: Jukka Hankala
Prix Special: Waltteri Ryjenko
There will be no Helsinki Knife Show in 2020, but the event will be back in 2021 with new ideas, and a new face.