Traditional Rheinland Hatchet - German Camping and Bushcraft Hatchet

Helko Werk is widely recognized as a producer of premium world-class handmade axes and is one of the oldest axe manufacturers still operating in Europe. The story of Helko Werk began in the village of Cronenberg, Germany, now part of the city of Wuppertal, where in 1844, August Helsper founded the August Helsper Werkzeugfabrik (the Helsper Tool Factory) and began producing axes for the region. The Helsper Tool Factory increased its export of axes beyond the borders of Europe during the early twentieth century, and by the 1930s was regularly shipping axes to countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. It was also around this time that the Helsper family formed a partnership with the Kotthaus family, setting the stage for exponential growth and giving the company its current name: Helko (an amalgam of Helsper and Kotthaus).

Helko Werk's Classic range combines versatility, performance, and aesthetics to create a premium line of pristine working axes. The Helko Werk Traditional line is a premium collection of hand-forged German heritage axes, handcrafted by one of Helko's Master Smiths. The Vario 2000, a Helko Werk patented design, uses a German-engineered fastening system that introduces incredible versatility and efficiency, as all Vario heads, handles, and fastening components are fully interchangeable and inter-compatible.

The Förster by Helko is a commercial line of professional axes and forestry tools manufactured by the Helko Werk company. Our signature Frontier Collection includes an assortment of top-quality outdoor and travel gear, proudly handmade in the USA and built to last a lifetime. We also offer a wide range of premium sharpening, maintenance, and leather products, including sheaths and accessories, all handmade in the USA from full-grain, vegetable-tanned cowhide leather.

The Rheinland Hatchet, handmade in Wuppertal, Germany, features a Rheinland pattern - a traditional German wide-bit blade - that is exceptionally well-suited for cutting work. The axe head is open-face drop forged individually by hand from German C50 high-grade carbon steel, with a Rockwell hardness of 53-56 HRC. The sustainably sourced Grade A American hickory handle is hand-finished with a boiled linseed oil finish and sanded to 150 grit for a comfortable and smooth feel.

Each Helko Werk axe or hatchet comes with a vegetable-tanned premium leather sheath and a bottle of Axe Guard, a 100% green metal treatment oil manufactured in the USA, to help maintain the steel and prevent rust over time. Proper sharpening and maintenance techniques are crucial for keeping your Helko Werk tools in top condition, including the use of a flat file, sharpening stone, and our Dual-Sided Axe File. Always store your axe in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or heat sources, and clean and oil the head after each use.

Safety is paramount when using any splitting or chopping tool. Always use a firm and stable chopping surface, and take care to avoid striking the handle against logs or other objects, as this can be the leading cause of damaged handles. If the blade becomes stuck, rock it back and forth in line with the blade, never twist side to side.

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