Welcome to Sahanperä!

Pilke is located in Sahanperä in Rovanemi, which was once the birthplace of the northern forest industry. This knife was manufactured at the local Marttiini knife factory more than one hundred years ago.

Rovaniemi’s history as a northern wood procurement hub dates back to the 1870s. In the early 20th century, the area also became known for industrial wood processing activities. In fact, the very first industrial plants in the area were steam-powered frame saws – hence the name Sahanperä (‘Sawmill Corner’). The name remained even after the sawmills fell silent.

Sahanperä has also been known as a notorious place for bootleggers, home-brewed beer shacks and prostitutes, two of whom became legendary in Finland: Käpy-Esteri (Pine-cone Esther) and Kananpaska-Maikki (Chickens**t Maisy) The area had such an unsavoury reputation that visitors were offered only cautionary directions: “Ya know yer there when ya get stabbed.”