Local surplus store stops selling SAKs and replaces them with....

[Singh]

My local army surplus store has been selling SAKs for 60 years, but that has come to an end.  This weekend they're on clearance.

The store is now selling Helle knives instead. 



Why? They've been going more upscale in the past decade. Less and less surplus and more Columbia, Patagonia, and high end outdoor equipment. $200 for a fleece jacket? Get real.

 

[Gareth]

Perhaps there's just not the money in proper surplus any more?  I know that Edinburgh went from having at least four surplus stores about 15 years ago, to having just one that basically doesn't have any real surplus.

Shame that they don't seem to think a SAK has a place in their store.  Though I hope you managed to pick up a few in the clearance.

[Fortytwo]

The local Swedish surplus chain simply ran out out of military surplus I think. Now they don't really know what they are anymore, basically being bad at everything but at low prices.

[ColoSwiss]

Helle's are nice knives, but they basically compliment SAKS rather than replace them.

[twiliter]

Never heard of Helle until that post, but they look nice after browsing their website, reminds me of Mora or Marttiini, probably a regional thing. 

[Corwyn]

Never heard of Helle until that post, but they look nice after browsing their website, reminds me of Mora or Marttiini, probably a regional thing. 

Helle are more upscale than Mora/Marttiini, probably closer to Karesuando in price/quality.

[shibafu]

Perhaps there's just not the money in proper surplus any more?  I know that Edinburgh went from having at least four surplus stores about 15 years ago, to having just one that basically doesn't have any real surplus.

It is increasingly hard to find a real surplus store.  The last one in my neck of the woods closed down a few years ago.  I guess the margins are pretty low and on-line trading is the way to go.

There are still proper surplus stores around though.  I found a terrific one in Bournemouth - a bit eccentric (only open 3 days a week or something, and then not until noon!) but full of obscure surplus bits and pieces.  And it had the classic musty "surplus smell"

[cbl51]

Helle makes nice knives and the whole scandinavian puuko knife design is a nice knife.

BUT…

It's just a knife. Not even in the same ball park with a SAK! A SAK is a pocket size bundle of solutions to everyday problems, while a knife is just a cutting tool.

[Steinar]

Replacing SAKs with Helles does not make any sense at all. They have about as much in common as a bat and a mole. They are both knives/mammals, but that's about it.

(Helle make nice knives, sometimes they smurf up in the QA department, but you can do very much worse.)

[SAK Guy]

My local army surplus store has been selling SAKs for 60 years, but that has come to an end.  This weekend they're on clearance.

The store is now selling Helle knives instead. 



Why? They've been going more upscale in the past decade. Less and less surplus and more Columbia, Patagonia, and high end outdoor equipment. $200 for a fleece jacket? Get real.

What the Helle!!!!!!!!!

[Aloha]

My local army surplus store has been selling SAKs for 60 years, but that has come to an end.  This weekend they're on clearance.

The store is now selling Helle knives instead. 



Why? They've been going more upscale in the past decade. Less and less surplus and more Columbia, Patagonia, and high end outdoor equipment. $200 for a fleece jacket? Get real.

  none of this together even makes sense. 

[Humppa]

Hm... I also think that Helle are good knives for what they are. But not to compare with an SAK. That´s a little strange. Why don´t they just keep the SAKs and run Helle as well? Should not be the problem.

But if the store itself becomes more exclusive in its equipment, more high end outdoor clothes (that hardly get used in the wilderness, it seems. Been more worn in offices and on sunday family meetings than on a real nice hike or something like that - it could get damaged) - it just a reason for me that they stop selling SAKs. As it is much to common.

For all of this expensive stuff in general - I try to keep my paws away from it. It is mostly wasted money. I mean, 200.00 € for a softshell vest?
... Money walks... and money talks...

[pfrsantos]

bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla  selling SAKs for 60 years, bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla .  This weekend they're on clearance.

bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla

This is what I read...

Nice, huh?

 

[Gareth]

Helle are indeed great knives, in fact my favourite sheath knife is a Helle Symfoni.



However I don't see the logic in ditching Victorinox in favour of them.  Why not just run a selection of both?

[Singh]

$100 on a Helle or $20 on a Mora. Mora wins in my book.

I understand that they want to sell things that you can't get in most stores, so why not also offer Mora knives? Moras are affordable but you can't find them in the brick and mortar stores. Or they could offer the SAK models not sold in stores, or Swisstools.  Go ahead and the offer the high dollar stuff, but why not some affordable alternatives for us regular folk?

But no, they've decided to go exclusively for high $$$$ boutique. Get your  $100+  Helle Knife, $500 Columbia puffy jacket  and consider yourself a real outdoorsman.

And the the hipster with the man-bun will take your order.