Varusteleka (Terävä)
Varusteleka (Terävä) handle scales
Varusteleka (often associated with Terävä puukko knives) is a leading Finnish military surplus retailer and gear brand, celebrated for rugged, no-nonsense products tailored to Nordic conditions
Founded in September 2003 by Valtteri Lindholm in Helsinki, Finland. Frustrated with poor service and selection at existing army surplus shops, Valtteri borrowed €1,000 from a friend, built a basic webstore, and sourced military surplus from Germany—starting as a one-man operation focused on affordable, functional gear for soldiers, reservists, and outdoors enthusiasts
Growth accelerated: first employees hired in 2006, shopping cart added same year, and rapid expansion followed. By 2012, Varusteleka launched in-house brands—Särmä (clothing), Särmä TST (tactical), Terävä ("sharp" in Finnish, for knives), and Jämä—to address gaps in quality and availability
Terävä knives emerged from demand: popular Peltonen Sissipuukko ranger knives were often out of stock due to limited production, prompting Varusteleka to design their own. The flagship Terävä Jääkäripuukko (Jaeger Puukko, honoring Finnish Jäger light infantry tradition) debuted around 2013–2014, made by Laurin Metalli in Kauhava using 80CrV2 carbon steel. Variants (85mm, 110mm, 140mm) and the innovative Skrama chopper followed, blending traditional puukko heritage with modern durability
