Good for some but not for all - Helle Utvaer Knife

The Utvaer is a solid camp knife that is surprising light and arguably one of the most handsome blades you will ever see when you hold it. The Sandvik steel used in the blade holds the edge for a good amount of time but, as with all new blades, you should strop the knife regularly for the first few uses to strength and touch up the edge. The scandi grind is taken down to zero degrees and has no micro-bevel - something I appreciate but if you chop with it or batton with it, the edge could chip in a spot. Again, strop and strop to help aid the edge until the blade is broken in well enough.

I have medium to smaller hands so it fits like a glove. If you have larger hands then this isn't the blade for you. Again, I have medium sized hands and when gripped for work, the Utvaer leaves zero room for movement. It fits me well but many will not like it and probably find it uncomfortable.

It works wood well for notching, feathersticking, very good for skinning medium to large game, great in the kitchen, and is so light you hardly notice using it. This knife does not fall into the one-knife-rules-them-all category. I have battoned with it for kindling with wood about 2 inches in diameter but nothing larger. For bushcrafting tasks it is simply awesome!!! If you really like Mora knifes this is a beefier, more robust, studier blade than the Mora but does everything the Mora 511 or Companion can do but better without fear of destroying the blade.

The spine is rounded which is great for bushcrafting as 90 degree sharpened spines can slice up your thumbs when using them to assist in detail cuts/carving. This means you cannot strike a ferro rod on the spine but the exposed pommel, which is at 90 degrees but not sharpened, does a so-so job as a ferro striker only because it so short and you get cramp up trying to strike the rod versus keeping the razor sharp edge away from your wrists and arm.

In the end this is a totally awesome bushcraft knife for BUSHCRAFT/CAMP chores. Its not big battoning blade, not a chopper and its lack of a sharp 90 degree spine limits it use in tender making and fire starting.

If you are in the market for a companion blade, skinning blade, bushcraft blade or something light but robust to take on lengthy hiking.camping trips and you DONT have big hands, this blade will serve you well for years to come. It also is so aesthetically pleasing that other that see the blade will ask to about it.

Pros - light weight, comes razor sharp, scandi grind bites into wood and is fantastic at notches and detailing, good skinner, full tang nordic blade, holds edge much longer than a lot of carbon blades.

Cons - Not for larger than average hands, not for chopping, fit-and-finish is a bit rough due to lack of final QC before shipping, no sharpened spine for processing tinder and use with ferro rods, a bit expensive for the over-all fit/finish of the knife.

This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.