Helle Knives

Limpy88

Limpy88

Joined
Aug 4, 2012
Messages
254
http://www.helle.no/

local small camping store is having a sale this week. The have a nice display of Benchmade, Kershaw, syderco knives. They also had some Helle knives. Most were in the $125-170 range. Simple scandic grinds with nice wood. When looking them over. The plunge lines were all off. None were even. 5 different models I picked up and all the plunge lines were way off. And the truogh tang pin on the butt was very rough finished like 36 grit rough and off center. They staff said because they are hand made. Yeah, but hand made knives are better quality,l. Granted these knives are meant to never see a safe and always used. But for the money I would expect at least even plunge. What do u guys think.
 
I have one old Helle knife,(Scandinavian type of blade and scabbard) and guys,let me tell you,this knife is so outstanding in quality,that it is realy hard to describe just by few words...I do not know exactly the hardness of this blade,but iam guessing it is well over 60Hrc while there is still spring to an edge....Edge retention its self is beyond my understanding on these knifes,so durable it is.Handle and blade is mid size,ultra light weight construction...These are very specific knifes,made to excellent performance.Highly recommend to all, who have very high demands on knife.
 
The two Helle knives I have owned and used have been very high in quality and I have used them on several hikes and camping trips.



 
Maybe I should have said fit and finish. I doubt the ability to be used fir there purpose will be an issue. It seems like they rushed out the door before a final check.
 
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Sad to hear ! My early one goes back to 1947.
Any know of a change in ownersip ? Anyway it's a bad sign and maybe the end !
 
I've always thought the Helle knives had very good f&f, better than most other Scandinavian brands and on par with Karesuando and the nicer Marttiini knives. But "plunge lines"? Admittedly that's something I never paid much attention to. You can't even see both sides of the blade at the same time to compare.

I'm curious enough now to go check mine...

...

The Helle in my collection is the Millstone model, and I've had it ten years or more. The grind lines are spot-on.

For comparsion, the Karesuando Wolf is off just a hair (not noticeable without close inspection) and the Marttiini Bronze Bird is spot-on.
 
My Harding I picked up a couple of months back is spot on for F&F. There was one small mark on the edge, but mine was the display one that everyone and their brother had handled at an outdoors show. Nothing that 2 swipes on a stone couldn't fix, and saved me $20 too boot. Heck of a nice knife. I'd gladly purchase another if I had a need for another camping knife.
 
Bob W said:
I've always thought the Helle knives had very good f&f, better than most other Scandinavian brands and on par with Karesuando and the nicer Marttiini knives. But "plunge lines"? Admittedly that's something I never paid much attention to. You can't even see both sides of the blade at the same time to compare
Click to expand...

If you flip any knife up side down and look at the edge you can see the plunge line. It is something every knife maker practices to get right as it is the sign of good maker and good knife.
 
While it may not be the case, it sounds like a collection of seconds. I have several, and they are spot on.
 
I hilted up a pair of laminated stainless Helle blades for a guy-they were nicely executed but the tangs were very, very bendy-beyond regular scandi laminates or differentially hardened stuff.
 
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