This Stunning New Knife Boasts a Blade Steel You Don’t See Every Day

Hakkapella Damasteel is real. But it ain’t cheap.

Published December 16, 2024

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Updated December 16, 2024

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The year 1676 probably does not hold a lot of significance for you, but it is a rather meaningful one in the knife world. That year, an hour north of Stockholm, Sweden, a mill in the tiny town of Söderfors began manufacturing anchors.

Thanks to an innovative forge-welding technique, this mill’s anchors were strong and better than the rest, helping the steel industry spring to life in Söderfors and laying a foundation that would eventually lead to the birth of Damasteel in the mid-1990s.

Without this now-renowned steel manufacturer, dear friends, we would not have the eye-popping pocket knife you see on this page, WeKnife’s High-Fin XL (Damasteel Blade).

weknife hi-fin xl beauty — Deployed in all its glory, the High-Fin XL measures nearly 7 inches.

Hakkapella hero

Funny thing is, nearly 350 years is a rather short amount of time when you consider the history of Damasteel’s signature product, Damascus steel.

Dating back to at least 1500 BC, this unique metal emerged from the aforementioned forge welding, blending different types of steel together.

According to Damasteel, Hakkapella is the best overall performing stainless Damascus patterned steel, boasting top-notch edge retention and corrosion resistance, the highest cleanliness and unrivaled toughness and strength.
The fact that its ripples look rad AF is just a bonus.

The process results in not only a rippling sheen but also blades that everyone from Roman centurions to Viking chieftains regarded as mystical, mythical and damn-near magical.

These days, it pops up pocket knives, in varying forms, typically higher-end one. The real stuff — not knockoffs that only look like Damascus — comes at a premium.

weknife hi-fin xl half fold — A blade with an edge that extends below the handle provides a nice amount of clearance for chopping tasks.

That’s what makes this High-Fin XL such a wonder to behold. Damasteel is among the most respected producers of Damascus steel, and this specific version, Hakkapella, is particularly special.

According to Damasteel itself, Hakkapella is the best overall performing stainless Damascus patterned steel, boasting top-notch edge retention and corrosion resistance, the highest cleanliness and unrivaled toughness and strength.

The fact that its ripples look rad AF is just a bonus, really.

weknife hi-fin xl off-side — The off side features a pocket clip that like many other components is made of 6AL4V Titanium.

Of course, We Knife would not take the trouble to procure this steel if it did not have a designed it felt was worthy. Designed by Mike Gavac, founder of Gavko Knives, the High-Fin XL — the younger but bigger brother of the original High-Fin — appears to fit the bill.

The blade is a 3.48-inch reverse tanto that measures 1.22 inches wide, offering plenty of cutting edge and surface area.

Made of 6AL4V Titanium, the handle scales, screws, pivot cap, pocket clip and thumb studs are nearly as premium as the blade is.

Deploying ambidextrously via said thumb studs, the blade swings smoothly on a caged ceramic ball bearing and is held in place by a trusty frame lock.

weknife hi-fin xl folded — Even when tucked into its handle, the High-Fin catches the eye.

The overall length is 6.98 inches and the weight is 3.49 ounces. Which means that in both looks and size, the High-Fin XL is hardly inconspicuous.

It’s frankly probably much more than you really need on a daily basis, but it’s also likely to bring a big smile to your face every time you flick it open with a satifying “ka-thunk.”

In other words, if you have the scratch, it might be worth grabbing just for the (sorry in advance) Hakkapell of it.

Availability and pricing

Unveiled over the summer at Blade Show, The WeKnife High-Fin XL (Damasteel Blade) is available now for $740. If you love the shape but not the price, there are four other treatments with alternative material combos starting at $305.