****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
This is the SHARPEST knife out of the box that I've ever received. And that is saying something. If you're into knives then you'll recognize the following: ESEE Laser Strike, ESEE 4, ESEE Izula, Mora Bushcraft Force (2nd best out of the box, also get it from Amazon), Bark River Aurora, Bark River Bravo Necker II, Cold Steel Secret Edge and more. This is also one of the most beautiful blades I own. In fact, I actually got it as a birthday gift and was planning on just having it a collectors piece, but I've taken it out on a few backpacking trips and used it for wood working as well.PROS:- Wicked sharp and it keeps its edge after all but the worst abuse - think batoning, which I don't recommend with this kind of knife unless it's a genuine survival situation (see comments on tang below)- Scandi grind - the edge is ideal for wood work, camp chores and slicing, especially cleaning game, etc. It's not a beater's edge so I wouldn't chop heavily or, again, baton with it.- Hand made - no doubt about it this is lovingly assembled by the Helle family in Norway. The wood handle near the finger guard and the cap on the tang at the pommel al show sings of hammering and individual fine tuning- Hefty for a Helle. This is a nice, semi-thick blade with a deep belly swoop which I particularly admire- High shine finish. It's like a mirror- Super light weight in carry and in hand- Great and simple leather dangler sheath which I love for woods useCONS:- Blade edge can take micro rolls and chips when used hard on harder woods like oak and hickory - or harder - especially when the wood is dry. Edge is easily fixed on water stones and followed with black and white compound on wood backed leather strop- Blade is very forward heavy. All of the weight is in the blade. This isn't necessarily back, but the balance is not on the index finger. Depending on use this can be good or bad. For hunting, maybe this is good. For wood work, many, myself included, prefer more balance in the handle.- Semi full tang. The tang DOES run the length of the blade, but is a slender rod through the handle making it less durable under high impact use than say an ESSE, Bark River, Becker, etc. This knife is designed for cutting, not chopping. Just keep that in mind.- Handle is a natural material which is excellent, but it's not incredibly comfortable for long use. Bark River has the most ergonomic grips I've tried. This is ok and isn't necessarily uncomfortable, but I personally prefer other grips- No kydex sheath. This is not a con unless you desire this trait. For use in wet weather, etc., many prefer a plastic sheath for fast drying etc. Of course, it's odd and, dare I say, insulting to put a traditional scandi blade in a modernized sheath. I only mention it in case you're looking for that.Helle knives are an outstanding choice for sharpness, craftsmanship and heritage. They are clean, elegant and function. This GT is one of my favorite designs, again because of it's more aggressive look due to the belly line and guard. It's a great option as a wilderness knife if you want something in this blade size and especially if you pair it with a heavy duty worker if you plan on serious chopping. Is it a true survival knife (some always want to know)? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on what you are looking for and that, interestingly enough, is often different from person to person. I am a 2-3 knife carrier in the backcountry. I like a good necker for quick access and basic work. A 4-5" utility blade for carving, cutting, wood work and the like and then a 6-7" beater for chopping and battening - think fire and shelter prep. If I could only have ONE knife, I'd go with the 4-5" utility because I have it as a category overlap so to speak. However, even for day hikes and short walks away from camp, I always have my necker on and my utility in my quick bag, so I'm covered. Back to the "survival" question then: can this knife work in that middle category? Absolutely, especially if, again, chopping is limited. If you want a true Helle survival style knife look at the Temagami, that was it's design purpose, though it has a shorter blade, it's got a more robust tang, etc.Nutshell: This is my go-to choice in my collection for slicing and wood working. I don't and wont abuse it unless it's ABSOLUTELY essential. It is NOT my favorite overall knife because of handle comfort, forward weight and perceived durability, but I love it nonetheless. For the back country my PERSONAL choice is currently my BRKT Aurora because of it's edge strength, sharpness, heft, thickness and ergonomics. I can do more with that knife than almost any other blade. Love my ESSEs too, but the coating makes them impractical with fire steals, etc. That knife is also double the cost of this one.Bottom Line: If you are looking at Helle and want a larger, beautiful show piece or excellent cutter knife that you don't plan on abusing to death unless it's the last resort, then you'll love the Helle GT.I'll try to add some photos soon...
