Mora knives for camp.

[Idiot Savant]

Like a number of other things, I have way too many knives, I'm guessing around three dozen, and that doesn't include kitchen knives. This is especially weird since I'm more of a scissors guy than a knife guy. At home, about the only thing I use a knife for is opening boxes and cutting meat. I've been using the excuse that I'm a knife "collector".
I've bought a lot of knives from the Knife Center. When shopping, I'll often use the "sorting" drop down menu and choose to sort by lowest price to highest price. I'm a bargain hunter. Among the fixed blades, Mora Knives (Morakniv) are often the cheapest or close to it. I always thought they were too cheap. I figured they can't be very good, even though they get good reviews. I also thought they looked too basic, maybe even cheap.

I plan on taking an active roll in the fire building, on club trips. For this reason I've been taking a closer look at bushcraft knives and the Mora name kept coming up.
So, I bought two and have another one coming. One is never enough for me. I have to say I think I was wrong about Mora. Yes, they are pretty work knife looking, maybe something you'd see at a job site, but the quality seems to be there and they are quite comfortable in the hand. Their cheapest models are in the $10 to $12 range. Can't get much cheaper than that. Even their larger, heavy duty models are around $20 to $25. I challenge you to find a better fixed blade knife for less money.
Maybe not the best for slicing cheese or a tomato, but for other tasks, around camp, they are as functional as knives costing several times as much.
Take a look at them, next time you are looking for a fixed blade.

 

[Ripple]

I have to agree. I have a few my self and think they are just fine. The one I like is the companion. It has a hard plastic sheath with good retention and a belt clip. The blade is made of carbon steel with a scandi grind. There is a option for stainless, but the carbon is fine with minimal care. Also I like the carbon steel for use with ferro rods ( to start fires). Scandi grinds are probly the easiest to maintain in the feild, and sharpen free hand. The companion model is not a full tang knife so I avoid batoning wood with it, other models do offer a full tang option. And for the price? Everyone should have a few!

 

[ABT]

I’ll second that, Mora’s are awesome! And you cannot beat the price/value. I agree they are pretty ergonomic and comfortable to use. Not the prettiest, but unbelievably functional (which is aesthetically pleasing in its own way).

A couple of things I’ll add as a knife nerd and metallurgist (degree in metallurgical engineering, have worked in the steel industry my whole career):

-Many moras, especially the cheaper ones, are carbon steel not stainless. They do make inexpensive stainless, and even carbon laminated with stainless outers, just be aware of what you are buying. And don’t shy away from the carbon, theirs is really good. Yes it rusts easier, but it also holds an edge better than comparably priced stainless, and is generally easier to sharpen, and works better with a fire steel.

-Most moras have a Scandinavian grind on the edge (although not all do), I.e. a very wide bevel. This wide bevel is great for wood working and associated camp tasks and makes for super easy sharpening (it’s its own guide). Wood carving with a scandi bevel is pretty awesome.

-the cheaper Moras used to not have a finished spine and it was still rough from punching out the blade blank. Can be rough on your thumb depending on what you’re doing. Easy to clean up yourself, and still worth it because they put all the cost into a good blade (both steel and grind).

Definitely give them a try. I have many knives but started using Moras for those situations where I “didn’t want to hurt my nice knives” and they take the abuse and keep on trucking. I’ve been nothing but impressed with them for the money.

 

[ABT]

I have to agree. I have a few my self and think they are just fine. The one I like is the companion. It has a hard plastic sheath with good retention and a belt clip. The blade is made of carbon steel with a scandi grind. There is a option for stainless, but the carbon is fine with minimal care. Also I like the carbon steel for use with ferro rods ( to start fires). Scandi grinds are probly the easiest to maintain in the feild, and sharpen free hand. The companion model is not a full tang knife so I avoid batoning wood with it, other models do offer a full tang option. And for the price? Everyone should have a few!

Ha! I was still typing when you posted and said basically the same things you did. Oh well I’ll leave it up, great minds think alike

 

[memaquay]

I disliked the mora I ordered so much that I gave it to Alan. I`m not sure what he did with it, but the Black Bart bent shaft he sent me probably gets more use than that rusty chunk of metal.

As a Canadian, the only knives I really like are true blue American made Bucks, I have a whole collection. My favourite one is the Buck 110 folder, it goes on all canoe and hunting trips with me.

My other favourite American knife maker is Rippy, a member of this very canoe group. The Ripster only goes moose hunting with me, so it has remained fairly pristine.


As for battening wood, well I guess the Mora are well suited for that enterprise, kind of like plowing the driveway with a moped. Me, I like axes.

 

[Alan Gage]

I disliked the mora I ordered so much that I gave it to Alan. I`m not sure what he did with it, but the Black Bart bent shaft he sent me probably gets more use than that rusty chunk of metal.

It's suited me just fine and I turned it into my tripping knife. Not that I've done much tripping in the last few years but it rides along in the car with me in case I run into a zombie or something. A few rust spots but still in pretty good shape.

 

[ppine]

I have been collecting knives since the 6th grade. Around the water Mora knives are great. Stainless steel, plastic handle and sheath. Mine goes right on the life jacket. Half serrated blade is good for cutting fouled lines.

 

[lowangle al]

I like Moras. I've used both the cheap stainless serrated ones as a belt knife and the cheap wood handled carbon steel one as my first neck knife. I think they are a good value.

 

[CaptainOllieWest]

I also like Moras. Another great value is BPS from Ukraine.

Thread 'BPS Knives' https://www.canoetripping.net/threads/bps-knives.128969/

 

[ppine]

Buck knives are hard to sharpen and keep sharp.
I have only had one and it is a folder that is hard to keep open.

 

[kahel]

Maybe building it yourself is an option. ?!
You would only need to buy a knife blade.
You could then build the rest yourself as you wish.

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I used inexpensive Karesuando blades in two different sizes. I had the rest lying around here.
Leather scraps, a little rubber, bronze coins for the handles.
And of course a little leather and thread for the knife sheaths.

Spoiler: the same blade

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Spoiler: another one

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[Boreal Birch]

I had a bunch of Buck Knives at one time. Once I discovered hand forged Puukko knives from Finland, I gave all my Buck knives to a guy I didn’t particularly care for. He had a bunch of kids that looked like they each might be in need of a knife, that their father was never going to be able to afford.
The Swedish people are very particular about getting good value for their money. Mora knives deliver that in spades. Their laminated carving and hook knives are standard in the wooden spoon carving community. Like Memaquay said be a axe person, then rough out the spoon or spatula blank from a nice piece of greenish fire wood. Then when sitting around the campfire instead of whittling on a stick, you can carve something that’s useful. Eating your morning steel cut oats with a spoon that you carved is one of life’s simple pleasures. Using one that someone gave you is pretty special too!

 

[kahel]

Then when sitting around the campfire instead of whittling on a stick, you can carve something that’s useful. Eating your morning steel cut oats with a spoon that you carved is one of life’s simple pleasures. Using one that someone gave you is pretty special too!

like so ...

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[memaquay]

LOL, it's hard to believe and quite ironic during this particular time that the only guy promoting an American knife company is a Canadian.

For anyone interested, here is the story that turned me onto Bucks. on page 3 Samsam describes how he killed the bear.

View topic - Bear Attacks Canoeist, Wawa Area | Canadian Canoe Routes

www.myccr.com

 

[Gamma1214]

I have no experience with Mora and rarely buy new (well... anything really). I do own a rather large, (probably 40 year old) fixed blade Buck that I carry on my belt for hunting but it's a little clumsy for sitting in a canoe and, on a trip, I've never seen the need for anything more than the old (at least 25 years old) Schrade 3 blade folder that I carry in my pocket every day.

Like mem, I don't baton wood with a knife. Why bother when I have an ax?

As for fighting bears, I like to give 'em a chance... I just grab a switch off the ground & wade right in.

PS: kuddos to samsman in that thread. I'm not really sure that I'd have been that diplomatic with people playing Monday morning quarterback.

 

[Alan Gage]

LOL, it's hard to believe and quite ironic during this particular time that the only guy promoting an American knife company is a Canadian.

For anyone interested, here is the story that turned me onto Bucks. on page 3 Samsam describes how he killed the bear.

View topic - Bear Attacks Canoeist, Wawa Area | Canadian Canoe Routes

www.myccr.com

Funny, that thread is what prompted me to buy the big Buck as my first tripping knife.

Alan

 

[scoutergriz]

I have no experience with Mora and rarely buy new (well... anything really). I do own a rather large, (probably 40 year old) fixed blade Buck that I carry on my belt for hunting but it's a little clumsy for sitting in a canoe and, on a trip, I've never seen the need for anything more than the old (at least 25 years old) Schrade 3 blade folder that I carry in my pocket every day.

Like mem, I don't baton wood with a knife. Why bother when I have an ax?

As for fighting bears, I like to give 'em a chance... I just grab a switch off the ground & wade right in.

PS: kuddos to samsman in that thread. I'm not really sure that I'd have been that diplomatic with people playing Monday morning quarterback.

I've actually met Samsam and his dog and seen the scars, he's the real deal, I don't know if I've got the guts to do what he did with nothing more than a buck knife. I mean they can hold a wicked sharp edge and have some heft to them, but in a world where the biggest thing they're usually used on is salami or rope, I just find the heft and size of them is generally unnecessary for the average camper. My pocket Swiss Army knife is more than capable for most tasks that require a blade and has the added advantage of screwdrivers and pliers that allow me to tinker on my equipment- the sewing awl has been used extensively to repair tents or packs or punch holes in too- loose belts

 

[kahel]

Mora? I like Mora Knifes

In addition to all my Mora carving knives, I also have some that I like to use at camp.



Mora-Bushcraft-Forest

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Spoiler: with leather sheat

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Mora-Bushcraft-Black

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Spoiler: one for two

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Spoiler: Simple, inexpensive Mora knives in Chick

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[lowangle al]

As for fighting bears, I like to give 'em a chance...

An old employer of mine, Gene Moe, killed a grizzly on Kodiak Island. He used a combination of boxing and stabbing. He killed the bear but had extensive injuries and was lucky to survive.

I haven't taken a Mora on a trip in a long time, but if I ever get back to salt water I'll be taking my stainless one.

 

[Boreal Birch]

Way back in time Athabaskan hunters hunted Grizzly Bears with a spears, with birch shaft that they would brace the butt against the ground to absorb the force from a charging bear, the shaft was equipped with a cross piece to keep the impailed bear from sliding down the shaft and getting to the hunter before surcoming.
I knew an older Athabaskan man, that killed numerous bears with his axe. A axe seems to me to be a better defensive or offensive weapon than even a six inch Buck bladed knife. It being more useful in the production of firewood.
Americans are much more likely to prefer Rambo style knives, I did too in my youth, l still have a large Randall made fighting knife that I carried daily along with a M-60 machine gun.
For the last fifty years I’ve gotten more use out of a six inch filleting knife than any other large knife I have owned. Currently thinking that the five inch Helle Norwegian filleting blade, is even better than the bigger Rappala bladed knife.