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)
