Helle Knives - Quality Control Issues?

R

rekamretsnef

Joined
Dec 28, 2015
Messages
3
While browsing reddit the other day I came across some people complaining about Helle's supposed recent quality control issues. I bought an Utvaer about two years ago and it's my favorite blade by far. The general consensus with my own research seems to confirm that Helle is a solid brand, but I wonder if anyone here has experienced the same issues? Most of the negative feedback I've seen refers to fit and finish more than anything. Yet from my perspective, I understand that mass produced "hand-made" knives are not going to be perfect. For me, these tiny imperfections only add to the character of the knife and do not diminish its functional utility. However there have been a few horror stories of bent blades, chipped and rolled edges, uneven grinds, etc. My own blade's grind is ever so slightly uneven but again is not a detriment when actually using the knife. I'm also careful when I use it despite putting it through some heavy abuse batoning and chopping. Let me know what you guys think.

Cheers
 
The Helle range of knives are mostly simple knives without any bells and whistles.

They work.

Most of the knives being simple, I dont know how much one would expect in the fit and finish department. They can be a bit rustic - its part of their charm.
Maybe some expect more and are disappointed by the quality of the simplest Helle knives.

I like several of their knives. That said, it has been a while since Ive handled one and Im not aware of any issues.
 
Last edited:
I've several Helle knives and love their laminated stainless blades. Excellent IMHO; no issues from me.

Rich
 
I have a Helle Harding on the way. I'll report, hopefully good news.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
This is the second new poster in a week or so implying problems with Helle knives with 0 links or references. Helle knives have been highly regarded as far as I know (I own three and find them excellent) and have seen 0 negatives of any significance posted here or elsewhere. Certainly they are not the greatest of knives and I'm sure they have had their share of issues; I just wonder at the timing. I realize that this OP is careful to NOT characterize them as deficient, but still??? :confused: Just coincidence???
 
The knives I have held were all well made for the price. I met the owners at a NRA national show awhile ago, they seemed good people. The linked thread shows a guy who complains but does not care to send it back or to Helle...
 
Perhaps @katanas was correct in his suspicions. I've found almost no evidence anywhere of these supposed quality control issues. Full disclosure: I was hoping to come here and confirm my own opinions, that Helle makes great knives.
 
Smells fishy. Amazon is rife with fakes in all departments right now. As for the original poster, I wish I had that kind of cash, I'm pretty forgiving about f&f, since these things are tools, but something is wrong there. 120$ on a knife, don't check the reviews before-hand, and not bothering to send it back.... something isn't adding up.
 
Hmm, I've always thought of Helle as a quality brand, but seeing the poor reviews here and here, amongst others, now I'm not so sure.
 
I have a couple of Helles (a Viking and a Gaupe) and I love them. The grind on the Viking is a little uneven but that doesn't bother me.

I am aware of one person who had a rust issue on the tang of a stainless Helle. If I remember correctly the knife hadn't been used. He was having it re-handled and when they took off the original handle they discovered some rust and pitting. More concerning, they received no reply when they emailed Helle about it. That was a while ago so he may have heard since.

I generally like Helle a lot and recommend them.
 
I have a Helle Fossekallen which has uneven grinds but is otherwise a wonderful knife.
 
Absolutely no quality issues with the Helle Harding I received today! Scary sharp, it needs only a few passes on a leather strop. The grind is perfectly symmetrical. Exquisite fit & finish in the construction of the handle. The sheath is flawless.

I need to decide whether to rub the handle with mineral oil or a wax.

Pictures, or it didn't happen...

76e7604dbd7b34097d89783b7a77fa06.jpg


Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
I started with Helle early in life with a 1947 version !! I rarely use this as it's the oldest knife I have . I do have some blades which I added handles .Those are stainless. The latest one I found with some delamination at the tip of the blade. In wonder if that was caused by grinding problems.
Remember that the knives of Helle, Mora etc start out with the steel wound in a large reel like a giant roll of toilet paper . The set caused by the rolled up steel must be removed .I'm sure that's what the problem was about .
Before you whine about a knife first contact the dealer and maker to resolve. If it isn't resolved then and only then comment on a forum.
 
I picked up an Eggen over the summer but handled several others. All were very nicely finished. No complaints about mine.
 
I have a Leir, and it's just fine. Saw a full display at a hardware store in the White Mountains, and everything looked great.

A few thoughts:

As for the blade warp: It happens. If I took every knife in my collection and looked at the blade, there would be deflection in a percentage of them. If I didn't like what I saw when the knife arrived, it went back - with a request to find one that was better. The way the steel is packed for shipping (as said earlier), distortion from heat treatment, etc. - all can cause warping.

I worked at a Brick and Mortar cutlery shop for years. When we presented a knife to a customer, we checked it beforehand. If it had problems, we sent it back. If the customer noticed something we didn't, same thing happened. There is a risk buying sight unseen.

I sense that knives are seen much more as tools in Scandinavia, and not collectors' items. The knife in the reddit link would work just fine. If the buyer didn't like it, he could have sent it back. Or, he could make it a hard-use knife, as it was meant to be.

That buyer is poking a hornets' nest to see if the hornets agree with him; that cannot end well.
 
berzerker said:
I sense that knives are seen much more as tools in Scandinavia, and not collectors' items. The knife in the reddit link would work just fine. If the buyer didn't like it, he could have sent it back. Or, he could make it a hard-use knife, as it was meant to be.
Click to expand...

I agree. I chose a Helle for form AND function. It's my #1 choice when strolling the back 40.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top