Wabakimi Sleipner Knife
Compact, hard-use bushcraft knife co-designed with Survivorman Les Stroud, the Helle Wabakimi Sleipner pairs a stout 3 mm high-alloy Sleipner tool steel blade with a hand-finished curly birch handle and classic leather sheath, built for serious backcountry work in harsh northern conditions.
The Helle Wabakimi Sleipner is a short, stocky bushcraft and hunting knife designed with survival expert Les Stroud for demanding all-season use. Its swept-belly blade excels at skinning and game processing while remaining compact enough for camp chores, carving, and everyday outdoor tasks.​
Made from Uddeholm Sleipner high-alloy tool steel, the 3 mm thick blade offers an impressive balance of edge retention and toughness, ideal for a knife that will see frequent use in the field. The half-full tang construction exposes steel along the spine for strength and ferro-rod striking, while keeping metal away from the fingers for more comfortable use in cold climates.​
A richly figured curly birch handle, hand-sanded to a smooth satin finish, provides a secure and ergonomic grip that stays comfortable during long carving or camp sessions. The handle is secured with two solid brass rivets and a rear pipe rivet and is paired with a classic vegetable-tanned leather belt sheath for dependable carry. As with all tool steel blades, the Wabakimi will patina and can rust if neglected, so it should be wiped dry and lightly oiled after use.​
Key Specifications
- Blade material: Uddeholm Sleipner high-alloy tool steel​
- Blade thickness: 3–3.1 mm​
- Blade length: approx. 80–84 mm​
- Blade style: Swept-belly bushcraft/hunting profile, ferro-rod-capable spine​
- Construction: Half-full tang (full-length, about three-quarter width)​
- Handle material: Curly birch, hand-sanded satin finish​
- Handle length: approx. 115–117 mm​
- Sheath: Genuine vegetable-tanned leather belt sheath​
- Weight: 135 g (4.76 oz)​
- Designers: Les Stroud & Helle (design years 2018 / 2023)​
- Co-designed with Les Stroud
- Developed with Survivorman Les Stroud, combining real-world survival experience with Helle’s Norwegian knife-making heritage.​
- Third and final model in the Stroud–Helle collaboration, named after the Wabakimi wilderness where Stroud lived off the land for a year.​
- Sleipner tool steel performance
- Uddeholm Sleipner tool steel delivers strong edge retention with good toughness, suited to frequent field use and hard cutting tasks.​
- High hardness and wear resistance help the edge stay sharp longer, making it a reliable choice for extended trips with limited sharpening opportunities.​
- Compact, hard-use bushcraft blade
- Short, robust blade with a pronounced belly is ideal for skinning, food prep, notching, and general camp work.​
- 3 mm+ spine thickness and a squared spine section allow striking ferro rods and controlled power cuts.​
- Cold-weather friendly tang construction
- Half-full tang shows steel along the spine for strength but keeps metal away from the front of the grip, improving comfort in cold conditions.​
- Full-length tang contributes to durability and confidence during batoning and other heavier tasks within a compact footprint.​
- Ergonomic curly birch handle
- Hand-finished curly birch handle with gentle palm swell is shaped for multiple grips and extended use without hotspots.​
- Brass rivets and a rear lanyard tube add strength, character, and tie-in options for security or customization.​
- Classic leather carry
- Supplied with a traditional genuine leather belt sheath for secure carry and quick access in the bush.​
- Vegetable-tanned leather ages with use, developing character that matches the knife’s field-worn patina over time.​
- Care and maintenance
- As a carbon-rich tool steel, Sleipner will patina and can rust if left wet; drying and light oiling after use are recommended.​
- Periodic stropping or sharpening will keep the edge performing at its best for bushcraft, hunting, and general outdoor work.​



































