Helle Harding problem

[michiel]

I've got a helle Harding for 7 years now. It's been used a lot and it's a great knife. I just noticed that there is a small gap between the metal bolster and the wood. Also the blade wiggles a tiny bit. You dont really notice it with normal handling, but when I wiggle the tip of the blade I can feel it. it's like the tang is getting loose. Do you have any ideas on how I can fix this?

It's a great knife and I've got a lot of memories of it, so I would like to fix it Without rehandling it.

Michiel

 

[dwardo]

I have also had an issue with my helle futura which i expect will be the case with a lot of stick tangs that have a lot of use. My blade too also had a tiny ammount of play in it after quite a few years of hard use.
I think the only way to cure it is to re-bos the stick tang pin a little but i did not want to risk it so i let me friend use it (doesnt use a knife a lot) until i send it back to helle who im sure will be only happy to help out.
I have recently started making my own knives so im not stuck for a spare but if i didnt i would of just sent it to helle who have great customer service and always seem happy to help.

Hope this helps..

Hey another possibility is rip the handle off het yer self a bit of wood and give it an overhall !

 

[Hoodoo]

I think Helle stands by their knives. I'd contact them and see what they say.

 

[michiel]

I contacted helle and the sent me this reply:

Dear Michiel. We have received your email to joe@helleknives.com. Could you please sendus a picture of the damaged Helle Harding? It seems to us that you arewithin right to complain to this product but we need a picture showing theproblem. Most probably, we will send you a new knife, and therefore wealso need your address.I look forward to hear from you again.
Best regards
AS Helle Fabrikkerv/Solbjørg Vik6982 HOLMEDAL Telefon: 57733502Telefax: 57733501 Mail: solbjorg.vik@helle.no

I'll send a picture asap and asked if I should sent the knife back to them when I get a new one. This is great customer service!

Michiel

 

[Squidders]

That's a nice reply... I like Helle, their knives are good value and by this e-mail, they seem to be a nice company to deal with.

 

[michiel]

Update: This is the response I got after sendig pictures:

Dear MichielPlease send us complet name and address, and we will send you a new HelleHarding.
Best regards,
AS Helle Fabrikkerv/Solbjørg Vik6982 HOLMEDAL Telefon: 57733502Telefax: 57733501 Mail: solbjorg.vik@helle.no

 

[Squidders]

Well that's a result... sounds painless to deal with them... I haven't had to but it's comforting to know some companies value their products and reputation and put customer service first.

 

[michiel]

I think I'm givig the old one to my cousin. His mom said he can have a fixed blade. I wanted to give him a mora clipper, but I thin this il be a nice extra. Hope he doesn't mind having a used blade that I used a lot. But it does have character

Michiel

 

[michiel]

Update!

They sent the knife last week. A few days ago there was a note from the post in my letterbox. So I went to pick the knife up. The postal service told me they never handled the package and said some company like Fed Ex or DHL must have shipped it. So I mailed to Helle to ask if they shipped it with such a company. They said they shipped it with the regular postal service. They started an investigation for the knife. I sent a copy of the card to them so they know what it looks like. If i don't have my knife within 2 weeks they'll send a new one. Great proposal. I hate the Belgian post. This is the third time they lost a knife that I ordered.
So far the Belgian post has cost me €356. If this doesn't get solved, they will have a furious Michiel at their doorstep.

Sorry about the rant, but I'm really ****** off!

Michiel

 

[michiel]

The knife arrived!

After the postal incident, Vik (from Helle) started an investigation to find out what happened. The card that was delivered at my door, should have been sent to Norway.

Anyway...

I'm thrilled! There are a lot of new things on this harding. My old one is 6 or 7 years old and was my first real fixed blade.
the differences:
A plastic liner in the sheath
Double stitched sheath
Thicker leather,
Nicer finished spine,
MIRROR finished edge
the name of the knife is etched on the blade,
the old one came in a box, the new ones in a tube.

Overall I'm very pleased. I'm going camping from friday till tuesday, so this one will acompany me ones again.

Michiel

 

[michiel]

PICS!!!!

They are not edited, so the colours are much warmer in real life. Thanks for looking.

Michiel

 

[Hoodoo]

Very nice! I like the improvements. The Harding was the first knife that taught me that even short-beveled scandi-ground knives could still be effective wood carvers. It has been a favorite of mine ever since.

As for robustness, personally I generally do not expect knives with laminated blades or handles with multiple sections to stand up to repeated baton use.

 

[michiel]

I don't baton them. I've got an axe for that. Been wittling almost 2 hours now and it's as good as the old one was, just better finished

 

[brancho]

Thats a nice knife and I am glad to see it arrived.

 

[SOAR]

I really like the sheath, the first knife I ever used was a Helle futura it is still going strong today. Its good to know that Helle stand by their knives. Nice knife mate.

 

[mick spain]

Lovely knife and sheath