Helle Dele Chef’s Knife
Like pretty much anything in life, there are expensive and cheaper versions of products, and which you buy depends on many reasons. For example, a £10 watch will tell the time just as well as £10,000 watch, and a Kia Picanto will happily take you work, as would a Rolls Royce.
It isn’t just about how more expensive products make you feel, It’s the quality of materials, knowledge, expertise and hand finishing that make them stand out, and in a world where many products have a limited longevity built in, it’s nice to have something that will last and become a family heirloom.
Helle has a long and rich history of making outdoor knives. The Helle knife factory is situated in the village of Holmedal, in an area surrounded by the raw and rugged beauty of the mountains and fjords of western Norway. This is where the village blacksmith, Bernt Helle, handed down the traditional art of forging to his sons, Steinar and Sigmund Helle. In the 1930s Steinar cycled 565 kilometres over the mountains from the west coast to Oslo to sell knives, and as soon as they were sold he cycled all the way back again - that’s dedication!
Nowadays, skilled specialists take pride in making Helle synonymous with quality. A Helle knife goes through up to 45 different manual operations before it is finally inspected and approved. Look closely and you will see that not two Helle knives are alike; they are all handcrafted and unique.
Back to the knife. The Dele, which in Norwegian means both ‘to split’ and ‘to share’, is the first Helle chef knife made in 60 years. It’s a tool to be used when preparing a meal, either around the campfire, barbecue or at home in the kitchen. The Dele was developed over a period of 24 months, alongside professional chefs that spend as much time outdoors as they do in the kitchen, such as Norwegian chef Margit Dale.
The Dele isn’t simply a posh knife that you carefully put away in a kitchen drawer only to be given a rare outing, no, the Dele is designed and crafted with a focus on function, form and durability, this knife is built to withstand the rigors of outdoor cooking, and to look epic whilst doing it. Since I was kindly sent the Dele back in January (‘24), I’ve used it every single day since then - both whilst camping and at home - mostly at home.
So what’s it like to use?
The blade is bloomin’ sharp. Make sure you have a decent first aid kit to hand as the highly-polished 12C27 steel blade ensures razor-sharp performance and effortless slicing of any food, and any fingers that gets in its way. At the same time it has a thick enough spine to tackle harder cutting, and has the right size and shape for optimal balance between control for smaller cuts and size for larger, chopping tasks. To keep things safe, the Dele comes with a blade protector in genuine leather which protects it when you bring it along on your culinary adventures.
As a chef knife, Dele comes with a full flat grind, and If like me you don’t know what that means, a full flat grind is preferred by many because it allows for easy, precise cuts and reduces the resistance when slicing through ingredients. It also makes the blade easier to sharpen. The flat bolster between the handle and blade allows a secure front grip when you are chopping onions or other vegetables. The full-bodied grip on the other hand allows for effortless slicing as well as a comfortable grip when doing heavier cutting. The blade isn’t deep, but you can still scoop up food that you’ve just chopped and place in a pan. You don’t need to find a separate serrated knife for tomatoes either, as it cuts like a hot knife through butter. The moment it arrived I raided the fridge for anything I could get my hands on that I could cut and slice, and the Dele sliced everything with consummate ease.
At 200g it’s light, and the ergonomic handle, that’s made from Curly Birch and Vulcan fibre, is inspired by the ample-bellied handles of Helle’s traditional outdoor knives, and provides a comfortable and secure grip. Birchwood has good anti-bacterial properties, feels great in the hand – and as an added feature the individual patterning of the curly birch means that no two knives look alike, and I’m looking forward to watching it age and patina nicely.
On the subject of ageing, it’s important to take care of your knife so that it can be shared across generations. Rinse it off after use and wash the blade with a mild detergent. Like all wood based implements, don’t leave the handle to soak in water or put the knife in the dishwasher. If you apply a coat of food grade oil to the handle at least every month and leave to dry you will be rewarded with a handle that stays beautiful, and a knife that performs to perfection.
Our verdict
I love this knife! Simple as that, really.
As mentioned, it cuts everything with ease, is light yet well balanced and looks great. Yes it’s a lot of money, but as the old adage goes, the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
Measurements:
Blade length - 160mm
Blade thickness - 3mm
Handle length - 115mm
Weight incl sheath - 205g
Helle knives have lifetime warranty against production defects.
price: £206 (found elsewhere for £161.49)
more at » https://www.whitbyandco.co.uk/products/helle-dele-outdoor-chef-knife