Is Kellam any good??

J

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I live in the northeast. While the summer can be quite nice and sunny, spring, and fall tend to be mostly wet and winter is snowy and wet. So I'm looking for a nice blade that can handle the cold / wet conditions. I've been looking around on here for a while and did a few searches and I'm seeing good things about puukkos. I went to Amazon and for about $70-$80 I can get a Kellam puuko. But then apparently Spyderco makes a puukko that's roughly $215.

My budget is more in the $100 range. I'm not a huge knife but, so I don't want to spend a crazy amount on a knife.

The knife would be used for cutting through frozen rope (I bundle my firewood in the summer and by winter to frozen solid) Ill probably use it to make kindling from the smaller logs in those bundles, as well as something to bring with me when I go ice fishing.

I don't mind what the handle is made out of as long as it doesn't split, break, or deteriorate in any way. As for blade steel, I'd have no problem with carbon steel, but then I'd have to worry about rust, so I'm open to suggestions. As I said my budget is $100, but I understajd it can be impossible for a knife to meet those standards and stay under budget so I'm flexible. I'd rather spend good money on a quality knife, than she'll out $75 every year on a new one.


Thanks
 
Kellam Knives has been around since I started making knives in 97.
I'm sure you will be very happy with one, I've only heard good things.
 
"Kellam" is a brand, not a manufacturer or maker. They sell knives from a variety of sources who sell directly. The knives they sell are at a variety of price points. If you Google a given Kellam model, the actual maker can be found.

Custom nordic knives for $100 would be unusual. A knife made up, quite nicely, from a factory blade can be had at that level. Many "Kellam" knives are assembled from factory blades.

Since I do not know you I will not venture an opinion on what would meet those needs, perfectly or less so. MORA knives are slicing machines and regarded as disposable in the nation where they are made.
 
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IMO the OP is on the right track by considering a Scandinavian style (or influenced) knife design. They are made with cold winter conditions in mind. Ever get in really cold conditions and use an exposed metal tang knife? Ever try to use a knife with a small, slim handle while wearing heavy winter gloves? Do a web search and check out Ragweed Forge. He has a wide range of these types of knives. And, if you were open to a modern design, check out the Fallkniven F1. (Sweden based company.) Stainless steel and grippy synthetic handles with a tang that is full but not exposed to your hand. (Where did the idea come from that 'full tang' means 'strong' ? There are skeletonized full tang knives with less metal at the critical blade/tang junction than some hidden tang knives.). The F1 is the survival knife of Swedish military pilots. They have a plastic Zytel sheath designed for cold temperature use. It's not overly tight fitted to the blade. (Ever have moisture get in a sheath, freeze, and then make it just about impossible to remove the knife ? Sometimes it seems that all today's knives are designed by guys in Florida or the South where snow is unknown.)

P.S. - also check out the stainless Helle Eggen knife from Norway. Ragweed has it. $ 99
 
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Thomas Linton said:
"Kellam" is a brand, not a manufacturer or maker. They sell knives from a variety of sources who sell directly. The knives they sell are at a variety of price points. If you Google a given Kellam model, the actual maker can be found.

Custom nordic knives for $100 wound be unusual. A knife made up, quite nicely, from a factory blade can be had at that level. Many "Kellam" knives are assembled from factory blades...
Click to expand...

Kellam sources blades in many ways, but the owners have had a production facility, sweden IIRC, for awhile. In the past they have sold customs made by others, both with factory and hand forged blades. Custom knives with blades made in factories, or forged by others, is a long tradition of craftwork in scandinavia

Kellam knives are good quality and the owners are nice people with a good long term reputation.

Serrated knives or dendritic steel blades are best for cutting wet or frozen rope.
 
Check out Helle, I personally prefer them to Kellam, and they'd be similar in style and design. Brad.
 
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brownshoe said:
Kellam sources blades in many ways, but the owners have had a production facility, sweden IIRC, for awhile. In the past they have sold customs made by others, both with factory and hand forged blades. Custom knives with blades made in factories, or forged by others, is a long tradition of craftwork in scandinavia

Kellam knives are good quality and the owners are nice people with a good long term reputation.

Serrated knives or dendritic steel blades are best for cutting wet or frozen rope.
Click to expand...

In 2012, a Kellam rep posted on another forum that all their fixed blade knives were "made in forges in in Finland." His answer as to where "Kellam" folding knives, or their components, were made was hard to understand.

He also said that Kellam owned Kaniuun Puukko, maker of the "Tommi Puukko." However, Kellam offers few of the Kaniuun puukot for sale and sells a couple of puukot as "Tommi" with other makers identified as the maker, "an award winning maker" and "V K Products."

I have owned for some years, and used extensively, a Kellam "Wolverine," a model made exclusively for Kellam by Ahti with a Lauri progression tempered blade. It seems like a really fine knife. I love it.
 
Kellam knives are great, whoever makes them, and you'll be happy with one. If you're new to puukot or Scandinavian designs in general, you really should start by learning the ins and outs of how they perform with an inexpensive Mora, whether the traditional red-handle number or one of the modern designs like the Companion. They are so cost effective you'll be amazed. You mentioned making kindling, I think? You might want to step up to a design called a leuku. Think of it as a short Finnish machete, but thicker. It's a traditional blade of the Sami people, aka Laplanders.

If you're keen on spending a bit more than the Mora, I really recommend Heimo Roselli's knives. Several retailers sell them, but they don't all carry his full line. You can see them all at his page, http://www.roselli.fi. My Roselli vaarinpuukko and a hatchet/small axe/tomahawk is my go-to setup.

Zieg
 
I have two Kellams, a Wolverine, and a Slasher. I live in extreme northern New York approximately 9 miles from Canada. The Slasher has processed wood down below -20 F without issue.

I like both of these blades. And will probably add a Tracker or Fang in the future.
 
Last fall, I convinced Mrs. Stainz I wanted a Kellam Puukko from the infamous web purveyor of nearly everything - with AMAZ-ing prices ON everything, too. Santa was good to me and I got my knife. About a year ago, I found myself perusing the closeout goodies at a locally owned sporting/outdoors store, aka the 'sharp things emporium', when I spied two Spyderco FB knives - a South Fork and a Puukko - both marked down and then in the closeout stash at half-off due to their less than pristine boxes. Gluttony prevailed (I had a plastic card with me...), so both came home with me. My wife refused to hide them away for Christmas - then snuck back and bought me a similarly discounted (Sale price - then half-off!) Surefire M3LT-s LED flashlight - it was a great Christmas! Here they are post Christmas last:

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I liked the Spyderco due to it's handsome desert ironwood handle and S30V blade steel. Then I got home with it and tried it in my medium+ sized hands... oops, it wasn't comfortable! It's raindrop cross-section handle was a bit thin on my finger tips. The Spyderco Puukko, like the South Fork, is made in Taiwan, too - not Golden, CO like my other Spyderco's. The Kellam Puukko, whoever made it, has been my clear choice here since I unwrapped it. Better handfit - more 'appropriate' looks - and a little over half my 'deal' price paid for the Spyderco - combine to make it my choice of the pair.

Now, a great choice - an alternative - would be the Condor Bushlore - if ordered from the fellow who re-edges them for you prior to delivery. Or - buy one and a Mora 'HighQ Robust' - and carry the Mora knife in the Condor's nice sheath while you touch up the Condor Bushlore knife. You can get both for around what the Kellam will cost... win win either way!

Stainz
 
My Kellam, almost certainly, was made by Ahti. Whether you buy from Kellam or Ahti, I'm confident it'll easily meet your needs.
 
I too bought the Spyderco puukko. I too found the thin bottom edge of the handle uncomfortable. I tried to discuss the problem with Spyderco. :(
 
Oh, and the Roselli knives are available through Kellam as the "R-Line." I'm carrying it today.

IMG10000.jpg


Zieg
 
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Only have 1, A Kellam "Fang", very well made, and one of the sharpest factory fixed blades I've ever had.
 
I find Kellam's prices somewhat high throughout their ranges and customs, but everything I've ever bought from them has been really first rate. Good company, i think. The KP line, the silversteel Kainuun Puukos from Finland, are extraordinary knives, all of them, but you can get it custom from the Kainuun if you can wait for it.
 
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