The First Helle Retailer Day
We were recently given the opportunity to visit the most picturesque knife factory in one of the smallest knife centers of the world: Helle Knives in Holmedal, Norway. The factory itself is perched on the edge of a fjord (the white building pictured in the photo above), and the entire Helle team was extremely gracious and welcoming to the 10 retailers in attendance at their first-ever retailer day.
As Holmedal is a winding 4 hour drive (or 4 hour ferry ride) north of the city of Bergen (and the location of the nearest airport), Helle doesn't get many drop-in visitors. It was an honor to be asked to their special corner of the world far from the tourist rush.
Swiss Knife Shop Team with Svein-Erik Helle at the Helle Factory
A Very Brief History of Helle Knives
The small but mighty Helle factory, built on a Viking boat burial ground (and perhaps haunted by a Viking woman) on the shores of a scenic fjord, employs approximately 20 people. These talented people, from the sanders to the blade sharpeners, hand-make each Helle knife.
While we were in Holmedal, we were given free reign of the factory, with nothing off-limits to photos or videos, because, according to Svein-Erik Helle, the current president, the secret is in the hands of the artisans. There is no fancy equipment or proprietary process. It is skill and experience that make these knives heirloom-quality pieces that can be passed on for generations.
Svein-Erik and his cousin, Jan Steffen, are both business partners and cousins. Their grandfather and great-uncle, Steinar and Sigmund, founded Helle in 1932, and it has been run by the Helle family ever since. From the 1940s to the 1970s, Helle focused on tableware, but in 1967 they patented a laminate steel production process and this allowed them to shift their focus to the outdoor knives for which they are now known.
Steinar and Sigmund built a knife brand built around the needs of local farmers. To this day, each Helle knife is imbued with Norwegian spirit and designed for the Norwegian outdoor lifestyle. Each piece is designed for serious use by the people who use them every day.
Helle Knives History Lesson with Svein-Erik
Our time at Helle began with a history lesson from Svein-Erik, a born teacher, and it was evident that he has a deep sense of pride in the brand. We were seated in front of the original office table where Steinar and Sigmund laid out their first designs while he showed us knives from throughout Helle's history and told his family's story.
How Helle Knives are Made
After learning about the past, we were ushered into the factory itself.
We began the factory tour at the beginning of the journey of any Helle knife, the room where the steel is stamped out into the rough blade shapes that are tempered and then polished, shaped and sharpened by hand. We got a chance to try our hand at running the machine that punches out the blades and, under the watchful eyes of the experts, we did alright with this step.
Leftover Steel from Punching Out Helle Knife Blades
Curly Birch Wood Curing at Helle Knives in Norway
Next, we were off to handle-making. We were led through the "chicken house," which began life as a chicken coop, where the beautiful handle materials are dried, stored and prepared. One of Helle's signature handle materials is curly birch, which is all farmed in Norway.
Once the wood has cured, it is shaped into handles. Helle uses almost exclusively natural handle materials - primarily wood from Norway and Spanish leather. The handle materials are stacked together (if the handle isn't a single material only), shaped, tumbled and oiled.
Polished Helle Knife Curly Birch Handles Waiting for Assembly
Artisan Sharpening and Shaping Helle Knife Blade
On a separate track, the blades that were stamped out in the first room are hand-finished and ground to precise angles and blade shapes by very expert hands.
Once the blade is sharp and polished and the handles are ready, the next step is assembly, where the blade and the handle are put together. We got to try our hand at this step for the most simple assembly - a stick tang blade. For a stick tang knife, blade is placed in a vice, and the handle is put on using a dab of glue and a mallet. If there's a grommet at the end, as with the Harding model, this is when that is added, as well.
Helle Knife Assembly in Holmedal, Norway
Swiss Knife Shop Team Sanding Helle Harding Knife Handle
Finally, each knife handle is sanded to the perfect shape and oiled. The sanding is where the handle magic happens. Each person in the sanding department is trained for at least 2 years. First, they learn how to make the perfect shape, and next, they learn how to do it quickly enough to be efficient.
We were each given a Harding to sand into shape and, I can say confidently, 2 years would not be enough training for me to become a Helle artisan. It was quite humbling to take this gorgeous knife and add the final touches.
Even with a lot of guidance from a very, very patient expert who has been at Helle for over 10 years, my handle would not have passed even a cursory once-over from the QA department. A second pass with fine-grip paper, some expertly-applied oil and some very good advice made my Harding handle serviceable, but while I have a souvenir I'll treasure, I'm not quitting my day job any time soon.
View of the Fjord from the Helle Knife Factory Pouch Department
Spanish Leather Being Punched into Shape at the Helle Knives Factory
The Magic of Helle Heirloom-Quality Knives
Every Helle sheath is also made in Holmedal from genuine Spanish leather. The pouch department, which has the most beautiful view of fjord of the factory, punches the leather into shape, sews it, molds it to fit each model specifically, and cures it so it holds its shape.
It is clear that, while made with wonderful materials - from Swedish steel to Norwegian-grown curly birch and Spanish leather - the value in any Helle knife is the expert hands that transform those materials into a beautiful, functional, rugged outdoor knife.
A Dalsfjorden Fjord Cruise
After all that hard work and learning, Svein-Erik treated us to a cruise on the fjord. As with everything at this wonderful company, the cruise was a community experience, with the pilot of the boat being the same person who does electrical work for the factory. We went in and out among the gorgeous rocky islands and out to the edge of the sea. It was unbelievably beautiful in every direction. We saw sheep grazing, horses, and even a playful seal.
Fjord Boat Cruise in Holmedal, Norway
Eventually, the boat deposited us on a bank across the fjord from the factory where, after a 15 minute hike, we were treated to a delicious dinner prepared by a local couple that farms and cooks. Dinner was in a barn-like building with fjord views (of course!) and the entertainment after dinner was Svein-Erik's high school friend expertly playing traditional Norwegian fiddle tunes. It was like something out of a movie.
Beautiful Fjord-side Dinner Hosted by Helle Knives
After dinner, the boats brought us back across the fjord to the factory - a journey made even more magical by both the setting sun and a rainbow.
The Most Beautiful Knife Factory
It is safe to say that Helle knives are made in the most beautiful knife factory on earth. We are so grateful to have been included in this event, and now have an even deeper appreciation of Helle knives and what it takes to craft them.
Swiss Knife Shop is Your Source for Helle Knives
Swiss Knife Shop proudly carries the entire line of Helle Knives available in the US, and our in-house engraving department can add custom engraving to any Helle blade.
