Helle Knives: Your opinion?

J

jmflem

Joined
Feb 1, 2014
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I'm looking at the Helle Alden and the Fjellbekk. They're beautiful knives, but how do they hold up to use? How's there laminated steel? The only Scandinavian knives I have experience with are Moras, which I am very impressed with. The Alden is beautiful. I believe one of my Moras has Sandvik 12c27, but I haven't used it much. How has your experience been with this steel? I have very limited information on Helle knives so any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

EDIT: This would be for general bushcraft/camp use BTW (carving, fire making, food prep, etc.)

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helle knives are very well made and feel as good in hand as they look to the eye.
their HT is good, too.
that should make an excellent woods knife.
 
Prior to my custom puukko, my go-to woods knife was a Helle Symfoni. It worked just great for a few years of Scout trips, day hikes, and camping trips. Only bad thing was the leather sheath got a bit loose over time.
 
They make good blades. IMO they are a little thicker and therefore a little stronger than the Moras. They are also a little more expensive. IMO they will make a good bush craft knife. If you get one let us know how it turns out..
 
As above
I have found the handles to be extemely comfortable
The laminated holds it edge very well
Strop many times before sharpening
And the plain SS is also very good

Do NOT baton with them
They are not designed for that and too expensive for that
I had one that broke from light battoning, and it was replaced by the company
 
neeman said:
As above
I have found the handles to be extemely comfortable
The laminated holds it edge very well
Strop many times before sharpening
And the plain SS is also very good

Do NOT baton with them
They are not designed for that and too expensive for that
I had one that broke from light battoning, and it was replaced by the company
Click to expand...

That's my main concern, I saw a picture of the tang and it's even smaller than that of a Mora. Not even light batoning? The only batoning I ever do with my knives is kindling and such, or small logs (~2in diameter) when making a spoon or something. Anything bigger I don't really have a need to split, and if I did I'd use an axe. I've batoned kindling (small, light stuff already coming from a bigger log, processed with an axe. I needed it a little smaller.) with my Mora Heavy Duty before with no problems.
 
If I am going to be in an outdoor situation that requires me prepping wood for the fire I back up my fixed blades with a chopper of some sort. Thus I am not forced to baton firewood. That said I have successfully batoned wood with a Mora Craftsman - partial tang in a molded plastic handle. Take your time and use proper technique and all should be well. Flail away batoning like a monkey beating a drum and suffer the consequences.
 
I haven't handled any of their newer stuff. The knives I've seen are several decades old and are holding up good. I know it doesn't say anything about how they are now, but at least that they've been around for a while.

I wish they made more knives with carbon steel, but that's just me.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1cuYnbWmEMY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Halfneck said:
If I am going to be in an outdoor situation that requires me prepping wood for the fire I back up my fixed blades with a chopper of some sort. Thus I am not forced to baton firewood. That said I have successfully batoned wood with a Mora Craftsman - partial tang in a molded plastic handle. Take your time and use proper technique and all should be well. Flail away batoning like a monkey beating a drum and suffer the consequences.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah I'm definitely careful when battoning with my Mora....now my BK2 on the other hand, that's a different story :p.
 
sogflash said:
I haven't handled any of their newer stuff. The knives I've seen are several decades old and are holding up good. I know it doesn't say anything about how they are now, but at least that they've been around for a while.

I wish they made more knives with carbon steel, but that's just me.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1cuYnbWmEMY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Click to expand...

I believe their laminated steel has a carbon steel core.
 
jmflem said:
That's my main concern, I saw a picture of the tang and it's even smaller than that of a Mora. Not even light batoning? The only batoning I ever do with my knives is kindling and such, or small logs (~2in diameter) when making a spoon or something. Anything bigger I don't really have a need to split, and if I did I'd use an axe. I've batoned kindling (small, light stuff already coming from a bigger log, processed with an axe. I needed it a little smaller.) with my Mora Heavy Duty before with no problems.
Click to expand...

I had a Scout model in SS
I was lightly batoning 1" sticks
It broke
Helle replaced it via Ragar

A Mora Heavy Duty with a molded handle is much stronger

Also
The Laminated blades are mainly SS core
A few are carbon core
 
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