The best fixed-blade knives ooze pure utility. They're totally unfussy and meant to last forever. But they're also deceptively well-designed---there is a set of standards by which most fixed blades are measured. Typically, the highest quality knives have blades that are full-tang, single-sided, made with a strong (usually high-carbon) alloy, and are set in a comfortable, quality handle.
The new Helle Utvær ($239) delivers on each of these in spades. Designed by the Danish knifemaker Jesper Voxnaes, the Utvær has a 4-inch, drop-point, single-sided blade made from Scandinavian ground stainless steel. The blade is fastened into a curly birch handle and comes protected in a brown leather sheath. It's constructed with Sandvik 12C27, a stainless steel alloy that's stronger than most other comparable alloys on the market. Sandvik 12C27 has a hardness range 54-61 HRC, which puts it near the top of the Rockwell hardness scale for stainless steel alloys. This is a knife you can abuse.
It's fitting that a beautiful and rugged object comes from such a beautiful and rugged land. The knife is named for the Utvær islands in the North Sea, between Scotland and Norway. These islands still bear the scars of the Viking Age in their rocky mountainsides, which were, appropriately enough, used as whetstones for Viking swords long ago.
A bit later in Norwegian history, brothers Steinar and Sigmund Helle founded what would become A/S Helle Fabrikker in the tiny rural village of Holmedal on the western coast of Norway. The Helle tradition began in the midst of Norway's crippling economic depression in 1932 with simple-but-tough sheath knives produced in the forge on the farm that belonged to their father. Helle knives and cutlery quickly became popular in the region. But when you sell super-strong knives that rarely break, return customers are few---if the brothers were to grow their business, they needed to expand into new markets. So, Steinar packed a backpack full of knives and headed over the mountains to Oslo---on a bicycle, naturally. Eight decades later, Helle endures as one of the most respected knifemakers throughout all of Northern Europe.
Though compact folding knives have been showing up with increasing frequency on wish lists, must-haves, and everyday carry lists, there's a time and a place for a quality fixed-blade knife. Perfect for camping, survivalist situations, or tasks that demand a strong blade that won't loosen or snap under pressure, fixed-blade knives are an essential piece of any outdoor or knife enthusiast's collection. The Utvær is a gorgeous choice.
