Building on an 85-year tradition handcrafting knives designed and tested in the outdoors, Helle unveils its latest collaboration with Les Stroud, star of Survivorman. Named for the vast wilderness park in Ontario, Canada, the Wabakimi knife is designed for self-reliance in nature.
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 latest addition is a medium-sized, well-balanced knife small enough for hip carry, yet amply sized to make precise cutting and long carving sessions comfortable and efficient.
The new 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.
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.
In 1994 Stroud spent a year living close to the land and surviving using only what nature provided in Wabakimi, part of Canada’s far northern boreal forests. “The Wabakimi wilderness helped shaped my path and set in motion a life celebrating nature and wilderness,” says Les Stroud. “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 knife represents nearly a decade working closely with Les,” adds Anders Haglund with Helle of Norway. “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.
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
About Helle of Norway
Since 1932, Helle has earned a solid reputation for quality, craftsmanship and producing aesthetically stunning and highly functional knives made to withstand a lifetime of rugged outdoor use. All Helle knives are handcrafted in Norway to exacting standards based on over 85-years of tradition blending form and function. It takes up to 45-manual processes to complete each Helle knife, from sanding and polishing of the handles to forming the Scandinavian ground blades. The result is an authentic, truly one of a kind knife made to last a lifetime of rugged outdoor use. For more information visit www.helle.no.
About Les Stroud
Survival expert, filmmaker, writer, singer-songwriter, speaker and performer best known as the Canadian Screen Award winning producer, creator and star of the hit TV series Survivorman. Les Stroud is the only producer in the history of television to produce an internationally broadcast series entirely written, videotaped and hosted alone. He has been nominated for 26 Canadian Screen Awards and has won for Best Writer (twice) and Best Photography. A celebrated keynote speaker, musician and Globe and Mail best selling author of “Survive! Essential Skills and Tactics to Get You Out of Anywhere – Alive!” and “Will to Live”. A proud member of the prestigious Explorers Club, Les received Fellow (highest rank) of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society. He contributes to dozens of charities and benefits and is an advanced survival trainer for the Canadian Military Armed Forces. For more information visit http://lesstroud.ca/.
