Helle knives are hand made in Holmedal Norway, as they have been since 1932. Helle relies on the experience and knowledge of skilled craftsmen to master the up to 45 manual steps that go into the making of Helle knives, and stand behind each of the knives they make with a lifetime guarantee. Helle started by servicing the needs of local fisherman, farmers and hunters who required functional, rugged outdoor knives for outdoor use, but who also appreciated that a Helle knife could also serve as a “Sunday Knife” - one that was beautiful enough to accompany it’s wearer to church, or to other special occasions, as is the local tradition.
Make no mistake – while a thing of beauty, first and foremost a Helle knife is a knife that is made to be used, and to withstand the rigours of the outdoors whether you farm, fish, hunt, or camp.
All the wood used in a Helle knife is air dried, not kiln dried. While drying wood in kilns is certainly faster, the kiln renders the wood more susceptible to temperature and humidity changes after drying is completed. Air drying is a much slower process, but yields wood that is much more stable, making for a superior knife handle that much less prone to heaving or swelling once fitted with a blade.
Most Helle knives use a triple laminated high carbon stainless steel that was originally developed in conjunction with a Norwegian steel mill. Laminating steel involves layering two steels with differing qualities together in order to gain advantages of both. The core of the Helle steel is very hard (@ 59 HRC) which makes for an exceptional blade edge. As the steel is hard, it holds an edge extremely well. Manufacture the whole blade out of this hard steel however, and there is a danger that the blade can be prone to being brittle (it may snap or break if lateral force is applied). To combat this, a second layer of softer, 18/8 protective stainless steel surrounds the core, and provides flexibility and protection from corrosion - producing a blade with the best qualities of both steels combined.
Helle’s sheaths are hand made in Holmedal as well using time honoured traditions of local sheath makers. Specially tanned leathers, treated with saddle grease ensures functionality and durability, while the shape, design and finishing details on the sheaths help to further the story behind each knife, and enhance the beauty and aesthetic appeal of the knives they house.
