Personally, I agree that the plastic handles on the modern Moras (actually polypropylene I think) are much better than the traditional ones.

You can buy 5 or 6 inch Mora blades, no handles, and build your own.

But it sounds like you're looking for something that will take more abuse than a Mora.

I haven't had an opportunity to use the Condor knives, but others seem quite taken with them for hard bushcraft-type use. Perhaps the wood-handled Condor Bushlore would be in the ballpark for you.

Some reviews and pics of the Condor Rodan, Bushlore, etc. here:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47424

Another hands-on review (with updates from others) from the Zombie Squad folks:
http://www.zombiehunters.org/forum/viewt...60&start=24