Choice of hunting knife

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cottage cheese
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Re: Choice of hunting knife

Post by cottage cheese » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:25 pm

Hopefully I'm not throwing this OT.

Does anyone here have any comments or recommendations on Norwegian Helle Knives?

Thanks,
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Re: Choice of hunting knife

Post by Grumpy » Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:21 pm

cottage cheese wrote:Does anyone here have any comments or recommendations on Norwegian Helle Knives?
Yes.

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Re: Choice of hunting knife

Post by Grumpy » Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:41 pm

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Helle make some excellent knives and are regarded by many authorities as being amongst the finest hunting knives available anywhere......especially at the price
They use laminated blades - either stainless or carbon steel - in which a layer of hard steel is sandwiched between two layers ( one each side ) of a slightly softer steel. Very fine technology and workmanship.
The Helle Eggen made it to my final four short list. I rejected it because although it has a slight drop point - the spine has a slight curve - it doesn't have quite enough of a drop and not enough belly for skinning. If you don't need a skinner then it has to be compared with the Spyderco Bill Moran and the Beretta Loveless Drop Point......................a difficult decision.
By the way, the Helle Trofe ( Trophy ) has a slightly shorter, more conventional Puukko style blade but fitted with a lovely Reindeer antler, curly Birch and bone handle. Very pretty.
Last edited by Grumpy on Sat Sep 15, 2007 12:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Choice of hunting knife

Post by cottage cheese » Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:42 pm

Grumpy wrote::lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Helle make some excellent knives and are regarded by many authorities as being amongst the finest hunting knives available anywhere......especially at the price
They all use laminated blades - either stainless or carbon steel - in which a layer of hard steel is sandwiched between two layers ( one each side ) of a slightly softer steel. Very fine technology and workmanship.
The Helle Eggen made it to my final four short list. I rejected it because although it has a slight drop point - the spine has a slight curve - it doesn't have quite enough of a drop and not enough belly for skinning. If you don't need a skinner then it has to be compared with the Spyderco Bill Moran and the Beretta Loveless Drop Point......................a difficult decision.
By the way, the Helle Trof has a slightly shorter, more conventional Puukko style blade but fitted with a lovely Reindeer antler, curly Birch and bone handle. Very pretty.
Hey thanks Grumps for the info. Much appreciated since I just couldn't find much info on Helle Knives other than sites selling them.

I happen to own a Helle 'Tor'. I just though the knife was gorgeous in its simplicity.

I don't hunt or skin stuff... more of an indoors geekish bum. I've never used the knife and more unlikely it'll ever lose its virginity. Just thought it's a great keep sake. What would it be worth? I don't see it listed the Helle line up

Don't know much about knives though. Other than the Tor, all I have is a generic Swiss and an enlarged French equivalent. Had an M8 ... (it got stolen by a cop friend :)) ....and of course my traditional Head Chopper Daos.

Here's a pic of my Tor. Poor flash mutilated photo at that. Maybe I'll take a better pic just to make the thread more colourful. :)
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Re: Choice of hunting knife

Post by Grumpy » Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:59 pm

The Tor isn't a current model but would be valued at approximately the same as a similar knife from the range with the same size and construction of blade and handle.
If you've looked for the Helle website but were unable to find it this is because the company was put up for sale ( on the website ) a couple of years ago and has gone through at least one new owner before being acquired by Dryad Bows of Texas a few months ago. The current website can be found at:
http://www.dryadbows.com/helleknives/index.htm
There are more knives to be seen if you scroll down.

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Re: Choice of hunting knife

Post by cottage cheese » Sat Sep 15, 2007 10:32 am

Grumpy wrote:The Tor isn't a current model but would be valued at approximately the same as a similar knife from the range with the same size and construction of blade and handle.
If you've looked for the Helle website but were unable to find it this is because the company was put up for sale ( on the website ) a couple of years ago and has gone through at least one new owner before being acquired by Dryad Bows of Texas a few months ago. The current website can be found at:
http://www.dryadbows.com/helleknives/index.htm
There are more knives to be seen if you scroll down.
Grumps,

Thanks so much for the update on Helle. It'll be very useful. Looks like I've ended up with a decent piece after all eh? :)

Regards,
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Post by Olly » Sat Sep 15, 2007 5:24 pm

veejosh wrote:The Knife mentioned in Yaj's post (a Muela) has INOX written and the one I picked up was from the VICTORINOX showroom in Connought Place, N. Delhi for Rs 1300/- about 2 years ago. They had several other knives too.
Vikas
Victorianox has an interesting 7-8" long kirpan for Sikhs. Looking beyond the religious point of view, it seems to be a good piece... Any comments from guys owning it ?

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Post by Mack The Knife » Sat Sep 15, 2007 6:19 pm

Rubbish scabbard. Did not think much of the kirpan either.

Mack The Knife

P.S.: Just checked the Victorinox (India) website and they have dropped their price for the kirpan from Rs.3,400.00 to Rs.2,500.00 At that price I may just buy it as a future collectable.

http://www.victorinoxindia.com/Products_ks1_2812.htm

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Re: Choice of hunting knife

Post by Pran » Sat Sep 15, 2007 6:43 pm

Found Adlai's work pretty interesting.Adlai Stein's a popular member in one of the knifemaking forums I used to frequent.

http://www.macabeeknives.com/knives/hunter.html


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Re:

Post by .32 » Fri Jul 16, 2010 2:57 pm

Mack The Knife Bana wrote:Rubbish scabbard. Did not think much of the kirpan either.

Mack The Knife

P.S.: Just checked the Victorinox (India) website and they have dropped their price for the kirpan from Rs.3,400.00 to Rs.2,500.00 At that price I may just buy it as a future collectable.

http://www.victorinoxindia.com/Products_ks1_2812.htm

Can we see the pics. of Kirpans made by Victorinox & where to buy?

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Re: Re:

Post by m24 » Fri Jul 16, 2010 3:39 pm

.32 wrote:Can we see the pics. of Kirpans made by Victorinox & where to buy?
Don't think Victorinox makes them anymore. As for the pics, check the thread " Let's see your knives". Muela does have a few models of the same. And Muela kirpans are available at Basecamp stores. Check the thread on Muela knives in India.

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Re: Choice of hunting knife

Post by Vikram » Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:08 pm

Bump.
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Re: Choice of hunting knife

Post by Olly » Fri Oct 07, 2011 9:37 am

Here is a picture of the Victorinox kirpan, made particularly for the sikh community. It comes with a bright golden and flashy non-leather scabbard... sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the scabbard... :?

They don't make it anymore. Meula has a similar kirpan except that there are no inscriptions on it. It also comes with a leather scabbard.

Image

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Re: Choice of hunting knife

Post by TwoRivers » Fri Oct 07, 2011 12:11 pm

My choice was a Puma Hunter's Pal for many years, until the blade snapped off trying to half a moose pelvis; and I had to finish the skinning and butchering with my pocket knive. Ever since I have carried a bone saw. A hatchet will do, but a moose can chip the blade of a good Swedish axe, so a cheapie of softer steel is better for this purpose. A "string" saw also does the job while taking up a minimum of space.
While I eventually replaced the Puma, I also picked up some Mora and Fiskars Puukko style knives. They are more a general purpose, all around knife, and not the best skinners, but of good quality, and CHEAP. Though a bit small for moose. Picked up a Helle after breaking the Puma, but it found an admirer before I ever got to use it. A Cold Steel Master Hunter is another one I carry, though not a very good skinning blade, and a bit larger than I like.

Still can't resist picking up a reasonably priced knife now and then if it feels good in the hand, and the blade shape looks good. Sometimes I've gotten lucky, with fairly good steel in the blade, other times you get one that feels good, and does the intended job well, but get's dull spreading butter.

P.S.: Real Men don't use uulus, that's a woman's knife!

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