I really Like the Kellam's alot. Iv'e got a Slasher, and a Puukko. When I first got the Slasher (damn I hate the name of that one!) I didn't know what to do with it. I thought it was too light for a chopper, too long to be nimble at all. After taking it stompin' around the woods a couple times it's my just about my favorite knife for the purpose. Now I think it's light enough to carry with ease, can be batonned with no problem, and since I've actually USED IT, I've come to realize that it is just fine for fuzz sticks, camp kitchen stuff, etc. Very likely to be the knife I'd grab in one of those "SHTF" scenarios that everyone is talking about so much lately. I can't fillet a Tank with it, but I can sure clean a moose, build a shelter, make a fire, and cook a meal with it.
I like the Puukko real well too. I got a wild hair one day, sanded down the handle, refinished it with a half dozen coats of tung oil, and then convexed and mirror polished the blade, and did the sheath with some of that waterproof leather hardener. It cuts like a lightsaber, holds an edge very well, and it's comfy in the hand. Having said all that, I think it's going to soon be listed in another forum around here, just cause I have too many knives (Especially Scandi knives!) and not enough money.
I love the Helle's too. Used to have a couple dozen of them. I like the fat handle of the Symfoni as well. I recently got rid of my Bark River hunting knife, and I'm leaning real hard towards replacing it with either the Helle Earth or the Wind.. To this day the softness of the laminated blades are a bit strange to me, but they do work well. I have a friend that cleaned TWO MOOSE without ever resharpening his Harding. There's a guy at the Alaska State Fair that's been selling Helle's there forever with the guarantee that every one can clean a moose without ever needing to resharpen it.
That's a pretty bold warranty considering how widely cleaning skills techniques can vary. He told me no one had ever returned their knife yet.
I personally don't think they're very rugged knives. Certainly durable enough, but nowhere near as rugged as a Bark River, and probably outclassed by a few different Mora's as far as sheer toughness. (I've broken a few of them testing this theory)
But for a grown-up real world use knife, I believe they're just fine. Uhmm...I've never had luck using the spine for ferro rods. wayyy too soft, and stainless. gotta use a piece of the edge in my humble experience.
