Helle Fire & Helle Fjellkniven : any experience?

OK, lets stick to English, keeps the tread interesting for our non Dutch visitors, hey they might even learn something here! :)

I bought my Helle Trofe @ www.toolshop.de. A reliable web shop that offers free shipping within the EU on orders over 20 euros. Helle and EKA knives are hard to get in the Netherlands according to some people. Must say that I've never seen either brand in shops, besides I didn't want to go through the trouble of finding a shop that sells either EKA or Helle. With a reliable shop just accross the border and open 24/7 via the net it's not much of a problem though.

I emailed Helle about the handle finish they apply at the factory:

Question: Does the handle of my Helle Trofe knife have an oil finish (such as linseed oil) or do they leave your factory unfinished? Would you recommend an oil finish on the handle?

Answer: Yes, our knives are treated with oil, and that is what I can recommend you to do when the handle is going to be dry and lustreless.
Best regards,
AS Helle Fabrikker
v/Solbjørg Vik

So there's oil on the handle when it leaves the factory, but not nearly enough (or the wrong type?) to make the grain stand out like it does now. At first I applied a little oil (Corcol vloerolie) with a cotton rag then all of a sudden the planets aligned and the grain popped up beautifully. After that I soaked it for a few hours to intensify the pattern. Then came the tedious bit, wiping off the excess oil at regular short intervals to end up with a matte surface. The wood will "sweat out" the excess oil. If you pass this step the oil becomes glossy and a very sticky mess which takes ages to harden. Now the handle looks stunning and has a nice grippy texture, it doesn't feel smooth like a glossy lacquer finish would. Quite different from your Buck Vanguard.

HPIM0705.jpg

Here's the equally nice reverse side of the knife.
 
Runs With Scissors said:
After lugging my Golok four miles through the snow yesterday, I've decided to get something lighter and easier to hike with, so I've been on the prowl for decent Scandanavian designs myself.
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I don't know how long and heavy the golok is, but I've got an Iisakki Järvenpää Puukko and Leuku Combination that gives you a 7" large and a 3.75" small knife in one sheath. The entire set is 13 oz and 13" overall in the sheath.

The edges are Scandinavian grind, slightly convexed. You have a choice of carbon or stainless. Coincidentally, I bought them from an Alaskan. :) Definitely favorites, they do a lot of good work in the ktichen.
 
Excellent, I'm getting excited! Thanks again Beftus for all the info.
The Kero knife looks great to, a bargain. Choices. choices....

What strikes me most on these knives is the lush blend of traditional looks and function for a reasonable price.

I will soon order a Helle Fjellkniven form toolshop.de. And will suprise my fishing mate with one as a gift.
Just got to have it, and use it.

There seems to be quite some Scandi blade fans on the forum!
 
Ordered a Becker Bk7 instead, cos I was looking for a cheap user. A completely different cup of tea I know....hmmm
 
Blues said:
I've got the Fjellkniven. It's a great knife. Excellent ergonomic handle, wickedly sharp edge. A very handsome knife at the price.

The biggest shortcoming (imho) is the lack of a plastic insert in the leather sheath to protect against accidental cuts.
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I looked in my sheath and mine has a plastic insert. Love the knife. Helle is alot of knife tfor the $$$$
 
Mies said:
Ordered a Becker Bk7 instead, cos I was looking for a cheap user. A completely different cup of tea I know....hmmm
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:D :D that's friggin' funny!!! I've done the same thing before myself though.

FWIW, I think Beckers are hellaciously good users. I've developed quite the history with my BK5 Magnum Camp. I'll probably be buried with the darn thing. My wife is equally enamored with her BK 10. It's the only heavy duty knive she's really interested in, cause it's all she feel she needs. She might be onto something....(besides she probably figures if that ever fails her, there's always the hairy three hundred pound guy nearby with an axe/kukri/golok/machete/chainsaw/or other knife of the week)
 
tarmix101 said:
I looked in my sheath and mine has a plastic insert. Love the knife. Helle is alot of knife tfor the $$$$
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Must be a recent thing, unless your is older. I've had mine for a couple/three years (or so) and really wish it had the insert like many of my other Scandis.

Wish I could get my hands on one to add to the sheath I have.
 
Blues said:
Must be a recent thing, unless your is older. I've had mine for a couple/three years (or so) and really wish it had the insert like many of my other Scandis.

Wish I could get my hands on one to add to the sheath I have.
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I bought it from Ragnar @ Ragweed forge a month ago. so it might be a new thing.
 
tarmix101 said:
I bought it from Ragnar @ Ragweed forge a month ago. so it might be a new thing.
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That's where I got mine too. Ragnar is good as it gets.
 
Blues said:
That's where I got mine too. Ragnar is good as it gets.
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I recoment Ragnar to everyone I could. IMO one of the best internet dealers out there for us "scandi" fans. Great guy.
 
Now that I used the Becker BK7 for a year I'm ready to go Skandi.
The BK7 does a great job but it's rather heavy for fishing purposes.
I get strange looks when cutting a fishing line with it ;-)
I'm settling on a Helle Fjellkniven.
 
I've got a Helle Eggen which I used this summer backpacking in Colorado (4.1 oz.). Wickedly sharp, lightweight, excellent grip. I drilled a hole for a lanyard in the handle, should I need one and finished it with tung oil. The sheath was a good design but the leather was too thin and didn't even have a welt, so I used it as a pattern to make a sturdier/safer sheath out of heavier latigo leather. The laminated blade is very difficult to break but will bend under undue stress, but it can be re-straightened. Ragnar has a note on the blade composition on ragweedforge.com.
 
In todays mail from Ragnar came the Helle Fjelkniven. Found this forum by accident looking for info regarding treating the beautiful curly birch handle.

A product recommended by the luthier who built my custom Honduras mahogany uke finished in oil (tung oil) for preserving the finish is Howard Feed-N-Wax to "feed the wood" and if I felt like it Renaissance micro-crystalline wax polish. The Renaissance is a good but pricey product that I've used to protect other blades from the elements. With time and use both these products have protected the wood from my sweat and the elements.

Bit weird, but the other knife I was thinking about was the Fire. Not considering for the 1st purchase. Just dreaming about. Needed a general purpose utility, backpacking, whittling knife. Ragnar's understanding about his products was of significant help in choosing the Fjelkniv over the other 2 choices.
 
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