Helle Nordlys FG

The Nordlys Flatgrind (FG) is a very different sibling to the standard Nordlys. While the basic shape of the knife is the same, the FG version feels very different. Not only does it have a much thinner blade with a flat grind that means that it excels as a slicer rather than for heavier work, it is much more lightweight. In fact, the Nordlys FG measures in at 67 % the weight of the standard version, primarily because of the thinner stock and a skeletonized handle.

Flat grinds on knives are popular because they provide a versatile balance of strength, sharpness, and ease of maintenance. In a flat grind, the blade tapers evenly from the spine to the cutting edge, creating a V-shaped cross-section. This design reduces cutting drag, allowing the blade to slice more efficiently through materials like vegetables, meat, and wood. Flat grinds also offer a thin edge, which makes them easy to sharpen and maintain.

As a result, the Nordlys FG is more adept at food preparation and other tasks that require fine cuts rather than heavier chores, which the standard Nordlys version excels at. The Nordlys FG stands out as the perfect choice for all those that want a knife for precision cutting.

Nordlys means Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in Norwegian. Lys means both light and fair. Nordlys FG incorporates the innovative features of its larger siblings, but delivers it in a substantially lighter package. At 12.4 cm, the Nordlys FG handle is 1.3 cm shorter than on the Nord, but you still have the space for a forward grip for finer cuts and a pommel grip when chopping.

The flatground blade is 2,1 mm thick and made out of the very tough and stainless 12C27 Alleima steel. The overall weight of the Nordlys FG therefore clocks in at only 100 grams – extremely light for being a full tang knife of this size.