Helle & Survivorman Unveil The Wabakimi Knife
Helle Knives of Norway and Les Stoud jointly announced a new knife back in January and it is finally ready (and should be at your local Canadian Helle dealer within the month!).
The third in a series of Helle knives designed with Les Stroud, the Wabakimi combines Helle’s 86 years crafting traditional Scandinavian knives with Stroud’s mastery of primitive skills.
“The Wabakimi knife represents nearly a decade working closely with Les. From our first meeting in 2009, to creating a collection of world renowned outdoor knives, we’ve come a long way both personally and professionally. We’re excited to see where the next journey leads.”
The new design was conceptualized over several months and handmade prototypes from the Helle factory in Norway were sent to Stroud for extensive field-testing in Alaska. Each prototype received further adjustments and refinements based on invaluable feedback from Stroud. This approach of researching, prototyping, field-testing and refinement constitutes the heart and soul of the Helle design philosophy.
“The Wabakimi wilderness helped shaped my path and set in motion a life celebrating nature and wilderness. With these experiences in mind, and working closely with my friends at Helle, we have created a knife worthy of this remote, wild place.”
The Wabakimi is a medium-sized, well-balanced knife small enough for hip carry, with an amply sized handle to make precise cutting and long carving sessions comfortable and efficient. The new Wabakimi knife fits between the larger, best selling Temagami (2010), a practical wilderness knife, and the light and compact Mândra (2017) neck knife. The Wabakimi combines the advantages of the Temagami’s ergonomic handle and long, pointed blade with the Mândra’s rounded shape. Featuring a three-quarter, partial tang reinforced with two robust pins, the handle is made from curly birch wood with a lanyard hole and a 3.3-inch drop point blade using Helle’s renowned triple laminated steel.
Wabakimi Knife Specifications:
• Blade material: triple laminated stainless steel
• Handle material: curly birch
• Blade thickness: 3 mm
• Blade length: 3.3-inches
• Handle length: 4.6-inches
• Sheath material: genuine leather
• Weight: 135 g
MSRP $199 U.S.D.
The beautiful blog post image of the Wabakimi knife is ©Anthon Awaken
