Mora-knives

I fail to understand why so many seems to like the mora in US. I´m registered on a swedish knife and gear forum. Among many of the members there, the mora-knife is considered a curse-word because of its boring design and not so good steel-quality.
Please visit the forum and talk to some of the knife-experts there. They speak english. www.utrustning.se

The mora is cheap, nicely shaped, sharp, thin-bladed (nice slicer), comes in a variety of blade lengths, and cheap.

Did I mention that it is cheap?

Because for $10-$15 it is reliable and expendable.
The size, blade style, edge profile and carbon steel make it a great survival tool at a low cost.
Sure there are nicer knives but the Mora is not expected to wow anyone it is simply expected to cut.

On another note it is like seeing European folks drinking Budweiser. I don't understand that either.

They may SPEAK English, but they don't TYPE it. I couldn't understand a word over there. Well, OK, I did figure out what "Logga In" means. But unfortunately I didn't have an Anv?ndarnamn or a L?senord <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

The Mora is great because it cuts wood better than most knifes, at any price! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I am not sure of the intent of your post. I do not own a mora knife myself. Everyone talks about how cheap in price they are and how good in quality they are. Those don't normally go hand in hand. However, why send us to a web site, for information, indicating they speak English, when the website is in Swedish? Is there an English link that I missed?

I was just looking at some of the Mora knives over at http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html and some of the stainless ones looks like they'd make some mighty fine steak knives for the dinner table. The KJ Eriksson #746 ($13.50) and #748 ($16) in particular caught my eye.

Anyone use them this way? Would this be a bit TOO utilitarian to gain the necessary WAF ("Wife Approval Factor")?

Due south of the Mora region there is a remarkable time capsule popularly known as 'Oetzi the iceman.' Take a look at his knife. It was a double edged spearpoint dagger and lacked even the rattail tang of a Mora. Duplicate that in 440 stainless and even on EBAY a pin will make more noise if dropped. But Oetzi seems to have lived a relatively long life for his time, and if you accept the forensic bloodtyping gave as good as he got in his final confrontation with that horrid little knife. Can anyone imagine the uproar I'd cause, sitting at the famous rock shelter on his trade route with a supply of red handled Moras? Of course there are 'better' knives available- at a price. But 'better' can be a very subjective term. I won't even discuss his copper axe vs a Wetterling.

is the mora good looking? no.
Is it made of the best steel? no.
Do we care if we break one? no
Will it break you budget? no

does the knife cut, split and carve wood, food, etc? YES.

It's a bit like a Fiat Panda versus a high end sport car. Does a sports car look more pretty? Does a sportscar pefrom better? yes. But is it really "better" and more practical?

Well, I came close to that. I have a series of the stainless steel ones for that purpose (and as smaller paring knives) while camping in my popup camper. I also have some longer ones for use in the camper's "kitchen" (usually a picnic table).

Though they haven't migrated to the kitchen in my house, I don't think my dear wife would object too much. She's starting to come around. She really likes my mini-RSK Mk1. There may even be a yellow-handled mini-RSK Mk1 in her stocking on Christmas day.

I would never argue that they are not a good value in the under $20 price range, but that is not an attribute of the knife, just an edge in marketing. I'm sure there are cutting jobs which a Mora does well and others for which it will be adequate. However, the Mora knives I've used didn't feel good too me. The handle sucked and the blade had too much flex. Maybe I was expecting too much given the hype from Mora fans, but I was really disappointed.

When I'm looking at knives which I will trust my life to, a cheap price point never enters the discussion. There are way too many to list knives that I would select over a Mora, they just cost a lot more. BTW, the AFSK I have in my accumulation of knives cost me $15 at a gunshow. That was a good value.

I'm with Seeker on this... first post, it's got another forums link, and there hasn't been a response in a while. I'm pretty ready to call the troll/spammer trigger on this thread.

It's cheap, sharp, reliable and giving someone a knife that they can break makes them a damn sight more carefull about looking after it.
It's also damned good at skinning trolls...... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

AFSK?
I think that old relic needs more scrutiny than a Mora does.
If there was ever a knife that was unreliable the AFSK would make the list.
Broken tips, broken saw backs, saw backs in general?, that rotting leather handle.
It weighs almost as much as three Moras and is a lot weaker design. The only good feature is the solid pommel.

I've never been able to raise more than a very weak spark maybe 25% of the time using a Mora and ferro rod, even with filing the spine nice and sharp. I like using them around the kitchen and garden, but that alone rules it out for serious consideration for me.

Some Moras are not carbon steel. The laminated steel knives do not make a spark unless you use the edge.

I have carbon steel, laminated, and stainless. They all exhibit lousy sparking performance. I suppose it is because they aren't hardened enough. The edge on the laminate would probably work the best, it's advertised as a high carbon core at 60/61 HRC.

I guess the point is that I shouldn't have to use (and ruin) the edge, when there are so many other knives out there with a properly hardened spine that will absolutely bathe you in sparks. I like my Moras for kitchen, garden, and around the house tasks, but no way I would trust one for survival.

hmm...i never had problems throwing sparks with my mora's. Just rough up the spine. Hiting real flint seems to be pretty effective to keep the roughness after you have done some work with a file.
But i only use carbon steel mora's, both from Frost and Erikssons.

A Mora is a functional cheap knife that is very sturdy compared to any folder that I know of (US nerds tend to want folders). Maybe it's less sturdy than more expensive fixed blades. I don't think they'd be any good as table knives in normal circumstances though, because of the blade profile. As I see it, a small knife is for cutting, it's not a pry bar or axe, so making it out of inch thick steel indicates confusion about its function. There are bigger knives you can chop with though.