Helle has been making their knives by hand in the small village of Holmedal, located in the Sogn og Fjordane county of Norway, since 1932. This family-owned business has developed a reputation for creating handcrafted knives from only the highest quality material; a tradition that still stands today despite the proliferation of robotically created knives.
Ever since I was a kid I had an obsession with knives. In college I even sold them. I love knives and own at least a dozen, which drives my wife nuts. When I received the Temagami knife from Helle it came in a nice cardboard tube with a Helle cleaning cloth. As I pulled the knife from its sheath I could tell it was a very high quality knife. The handle fit perfectly in my hand, as if it had been custom-made just for me. It has a perfect weight and balance. A nice touch that Helle incorporated was not exposing the tang on the finger side to protect your fingers from the steel in cold temps. Instead, the tang is visible only on top and the pommel end.
This knife was newly revamped by the one and only Les Stroud, survivor man extraordinaire, for 2012. Check out this excellent video of his visit to the Helle “factory”.
The triple laminate steel, harder in the middle and softer on the sides, allows the blade to maintain a sharp edge longer. This feature was greatly appreciated on one dark, humid night while on a rescue of three stuck hikers. I was clinging to a cliff, sawing through layer after layer of old and rotting tat (climber’s term for old cord or webbing left behind on an anchor to aid in descent/rappel) attached to three bolts making it impossible to secure myself and a hand-line. The gaping depths below me clawed at my feet, which were balanced delicately on sandy sloped footholds. Thankfully, my Temagami knife sliced through the grit-covered, sun-baked tat like a hot knife through butter and I was able to secure myself before the dark void beneath me could claim yet another victim.
Even the sheath is a work of art. Carefully handcrafted, my knife slides in and out effortlessly and yet is secure enough that it will not fall out. The leather sheath snuggly grasps the handle of the knife but there is no clasp to “lock” it in, which has its positives and negatives. First, it is easy to get out when you need it – no fumbling with a stuck clasp. However, the knife is easily removable and if the knife is not within your line of sight it is easy for someone to come up and remove the knife without your knowledge. The sheath comes in at 55 grams, but despite its light weight is still extremely durable. My sheath is already showing signs of wear and developing character but with a little bit of leather polish and elbow grease it has regained some of its luster.
I fully expect this knife to last a very long time. Not only is it durable, but a work of art as well. Out of all of my other knives such as Benchmade, KaBar, Swiss Army, and Gerber, it is the go-to knife for all of my adventures. If you are in the market for a new knife, Helle is an excellent choice to consider.
Click Here to Purchase the Helle Temagami Knife
Manufacturer: Helle
Date available: Currently available
Manufacturer’s Website: Helle Temagami
MSRP: $168.95
Listed Weight: 215 grams
Actual Weight: 206 grams
Materials: Triple laminate steel and leather
Warranty info: Limited lifetime against defects in material and/or workmanship to the original owner
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