Helle Viking Fail

[trashcanman1984]

So, I really like the Helle knives, I have a few, and the Helle Viking is one of my favourite models.

Unfortunately over the Christmas period, on a chestnut roasting task outside, while doing feather sticks the blade broke away from the handle...in disgust I threw the handle in the fire and placed the blade away to safeguard my children....then reached for an abused Mora Classic (that won't die!).

On thinking about it, I thought it would be good to ask if anyone else has had the same issue?

Picture of the remaining blade...



I have been thinking of welding it to a flat bar of mild steel, but it's likely to go in the metal bin.

Safe to say that I am disappointed, it was not abused, and used for carving only.

 

[hughtrimble]

That is surprising. It's a shame you threw the handle away as it would have been good to see the tang in that. Worth contacting Helle as they may be interested in seeing this regardless of there no longer being a handle.

 

[Mesquite]

How long did you have the knife for before it broke?

 

[HorseGuy]

Worth contacting Helle

When my first Helle knife showed up with a faulty handle and blunt as a spoon (it literally couldn't cut paper) I contacted Helle directly by email and also on Facebook and they ignored me. No reply from either.

 

[k9trev]

Never rated them myself pretty handles thats about it

 

[HillBill]

Tang failure. Most likely due to a stress fracture/riser from the heat treatment process. When you look at the break from the tang end, is there an area which is a different colour to the 'clean' grain? Normally a straw/yellowish type colour?

Would you be able to provide a pic of the grain too please? Close up as you can get, end on from the break.

 

[Toddy]

I found Helle to be very prompt and helpful. Sent me a new knife mine had delaminated when I cut into tree ties that had been left on too long.
No fuss, no bother. Really good customer service.
I reckon it'd be worth contacting them.

M

 

[hughtrimble]

When my first Helle knife showed up with a faulty handle and blunt as a spoon (it literally couldn't cut paper) I contacted Helle directly by email and also on Facebook and they ignored me. No reply from either.

That is very disappointing

 

[trashcanman1984]

Tang failure. Most likely due to a stress fracture/riser from the heat treatment process. When you look at the break from the tang end, is there an area which is a different colour to the 'clean' grain? Normally a straw/yellowish type colour?

Would you be able to provide a pic of the grain too please? Close up as you can get, end on from the break.

I'll post a picture tomorrow, thank you

 

[trashcanman1984]

How long did you have the knife for before it broke?

About 7 years, but it has not been used much. It has really only had very infrequent use....I have young children so the joys of being able to have full on carving seasons have been hard to find. Also I often reach for the Mora's for carving, as they are often there.

 

[trashcanman1984]

I found Helle to be very prompt and helpful. Sent me a new knife mine had delaminated when I cut into tree ties that had been left on too long.
No fuss, no bother. Really good customer service.
I reckon it'd be worth contacting them.

M

Thanks @Toddy I might give them a email... worse case I am in the same situation as I am now.

 

[trashcanman1984]

@HillBill here is a picture. Blade was put away wet, so cleaned off the rust





I might make a small folding knife with it?

 

[Nice65]

Definitely looks like an inclusion here.

 

[trashcanman1984]

Definitely looks like an inclusion here.


View attachment 100590

Agreed.....

 

[TLM]

OK, from what I can see: rectangular section of the stick tang, the final break happened in the bright area on the left; brittle fracture with a few striations so it did not happen all at once but at least in a few stages.

Then the strange part: something like shear lips on both long sides but at 90 deg angle to the final break, likeliest cause sidewise bending.

Shear lips and brittle fracture can be found at the same piece but seldom at that angle.

The bad news: it does look like there was a crack in the middle for a long time; brownish and greenish area. The problem is that I can't imagine how a crack like that has formed.

Was this a laminated blade? If yes that might be an explanation for some features but still kind of strange.

As a final guess something might have gone very badly at the final heat treatment.

 

[trashcanman1984]

OK, from what I can see: rectangular section of the stick tang, the final break happened in the bright area on the left; brittle fracture with a few striations so it did not happen all at once but at least in a few stages.

Then the strange part: something like shear lips on both long sides but at 90 deg angle to the final break, likeliest cause sidewise bending.

Shear lips and brittle fracture can be found at the same piece but seldom at that angle.

The bad news: it does look like there was a crack in the middle for a long time; brownish and greenish area. The problem is that I can't imagine how a crack like that has formed.

Was this a laminated blade? If yes that might be an explanation for some features but still kind of strange.

As a final guess something might have gone very badly at the final heat treatment.

Yes, it is a laminated carbon steel blade. It has not been abused, but in carving there has been sideways pressure, and I used to carve hard woods.

 

[Tengu]

I thought so.

But does that mean ALL laminated blades not suited to side pressure?

 

[Stew]

@HillBill here is a picture. Blade was put away wet, so cleaned off the rust

View attachment 100587

View attachment 100588

I might make a small folding knife with it?

I really struggle with pics of grain but would you say that looks a bit like a pile of sugar? Perhaps a bit of a bad heat treat there - what do you think @HillBill ?

The inclusion, I would say is an artifact of the lamination tearing off on one side.

 

[Stew]

As to the remnants, you could do a folder or a small carver - just bury the blade further in.

 

[trashcanman1984]

As to the remnants, you could do a folder or a small carver - just bury the blade further in.

A small carver would be easier, thank you. It will likely never happen though...