Carl Victor Heljestrand

Carl Victor Heljestrand was a Swedish industrialist who lived and worked in Eskilstuna, Sweden for most of his life. He was born in Eskilstuna on 30 January 1816 and died on 29 July 1861. He is noted for his work in the company started by his father, Alderman Olof Heljestrand, which produced steel products such as scissors, table forks, knives and straight razors.

Carl started to work in his father’s workshop at the age of twelve. After his father’s death in 1837 the workshop was taken over by his older brother Nils Frederik. Carl worked there until 1843. In that year he left for England on a grant to develop his skills. He found employment at Parker’s & Lindby’s knife factory in Sheffield.

At 1845 he left England and traveled through Germany and Belgium. While travelling back to Sweden he visited some of the Europe’s most renowned knife factories. He returned to Eskilstuna later the same year. Once back in Sweden, Carl founded his own workshop and further educated his staff and others involved in steel industry.