Morakniv Kansbol vs Bushcraft?

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KodeFore

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I just discovered Morakniv Simple inexpensive knives at very affordable prices.
i bought the most basic 511 carbon and for a few dollars more i got the companion stainless. i think i got them both on sale at Amazon for 25$
The 511 is already earning its keep in the kitchen.
One on one, the companion is the better value for sure but someone, Kalashnikov i think it was, said "Quantity has a quality all of its own" . I will probably eventually end buying 5 more 511s just to stash in places where a knife might come in handy.

I am not a hunter and i don't go play surviorman fantasy. I do go out into the wilds in my my jeep and a few times I've found myself separated from a group away from cell phone range, never been a problem so far but definitely want be well prepared out there.

I often keep a glock etool and fm78 stashed away but i think a Mora would make a cood companion, to the FM

The Kansbol and basic buscraft both cost about 35$
whats the differences
Which one is the best general purpose knife?

53$ gets me the bushcraft knife in a sheath that includes a sharpener and ferro rod, 26$ gets me the "spark" which apparently is a companion with a built in ferro Rod.

just trying to decide on the best knife for a worst case situation that is unlikely to ever happen ( but something good for regular cutting task to justify the expense to my self )

One more thing, i notice that morakniv makes a camp ax/hatchet that seems a bit seems a bit pricey for what it is, does anyone here use one of those?

Thx & stay sharp!
 
Mostly the difference is in your needs and application. That said over time I got a bunch and each has a place in my lifestyle.
 
KodeFore said:
One more thing, i notice that morakniv makes a camp ax/hatchet that seems a bit seems a bit pricey for what it is, does anyone here use one of those?
Click to expand...

I have this one... Is it the one youre referring to?



morakniv-fixed-outdoor-camp-axe-12-5in-olive-sheath-large.jpg
 

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I got it about 5 yrs ago and wrote about it here along with a few others hand hatchets.

I got it to go with a Mora 2000 and Mora Light My Fire which has a spark stick in the handle. Kind of a Mora theme thing.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/hand-ax-hatchet-reviews.805365/#post-10283111

There's some specs in that thread.


I like it. Has a nice swing to it. Its really light weight and what I would consider more of a back packing hatchet (note, I don't back pack). In very simple terms, it's basically a 1/4" peice of plate steel that's sharpened & molded into a thermoplastic handle. I toss it in a book bag type backpack when ever I go to an outdoorsy place and think I might want something, just because, but don't want anything heavy as I know I won't need anything heavy. It's simplicity of using plate steel is like utilitarian elegant like most Moras are.

I've never used it hard. It's sharp. The metal does stick out of the backside of the handle but it's only a 1/4" thick plate so you really can't use it as a hammer or anything like that - whack a skull? Sure! But it wouldn't be good for driving a tent stake or similar.

5 Yrs later, I'm still fond of it. It's well made from what I can tell and its still sharp. I said back then it seemed pricy for what you get and I still say it now but that may not be fair of me to say because again, I've never used it hard. Maybe it can take a lot more heavy use than Ive given it and still hold up... I dont know. If it did, with its light weight, I'd say it's a bargain but still lacks a way to drive tent stakes etc.

Thinking of other things I wrote about in the above thread here (the links in the thread are dead from age now)....

Depending on your intended use....& IF you're not set on a Mora theme like I was at the time and IF you aren't looking for something really light.... Id take a look at these 2, too. I'd say that overall, these are more versatile because you can hammer with them too.

(2nd note, I'm not a Schrade fan... I'm just a bang for your buck fan). These links below are just the easiest links I found.


This Schrade is noticeably larger but still a hand hatchet/axe. About the same price. You'd get a much more leveraged swing with the larger handle for thicker branches. Pretty good delicate control if you choked up on the handle for shaving sticks but not as good as the Mora. Heavier than the Mora but still light with a thermoplastic handle molded around the steel. This has a nice area on the back side to hammer with.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Schrade-Extreme-Axe-16-5-In-Overall-Length-Rubber-Handle/38146281?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101071630&adid=22222222223000000000&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=s&wl2=m&wl3=10352200394&wl4=pla-1103028060075&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=&wl10=Walmart&wl11=Online&wl12=38146281_10001091001&wl14=Schrade Extreme Survival Hatchet.&veh=sem&msclkid=605778abe5e014f5fd65184e1bdaf421&gclid=605778abe5e014f5fd65184e1bdaf421&gclsrc=3p.ds


This is also a Schrade but very different. It's smaller... more similar to the Mora in size but a lot heavier than the Mora. It's solid steel. Very similar to a smaller scale Eastwing (that I also wrote about in the above thread). It also has a hammer surface on the backside but smaller than the above Schrade. The solid steel handle being thinner, if you want to choke up on the handle for finer work, you need to choke all the up to more than half grabbing the axe head too to get a good grip. Nothing wrong with that, I guess, but just saying.

If I was looking for solidly built bargain hand axe the same size of the Mora and didn't mind, or maybe even wanted, the extra weight of solid steel, and want a hammer on the backside, I'd seriously consider this. I paid about the same, maybe a couple bucks more but I did not get the free machete... & can't comment about the machete. Really my only complaint would be the handle is on the thinner side. I never added a wrap as when I do use it I don't do it long enough for me to feel the real need to add a wrap... and I'm lazy lol.


https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/1018982616?pid=822819&utm_medium=shopping&utm_source=bing&utm_campaign=Knives+&+Tools+-+Axes+&+Tomahawks&utm_content=822819&cm_mmc=pf_ci_bing-_-Knives+&+Tools+-+Axes+&+Tomahawks-_-Schrade-_-822819&msclkid=b17f58f39e6519f4385a381583c502a3&utm_term=1101100736046

But again, neither of those are Moras and neither are no where close to being as light as a Mora if you're looking for something light weight. However, both I'd consider to be a bit more versatile with the hammer.
 
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Regarding my long reply above....

I dont want to give the impression that I feel the Mora axe is weak or inferior because I dont. In fact, I like it quite a bit.

I believe it built with the same philosophy and quality as other Mora knives. If you like Mora knives, you'll likely like the Mora axe. I do.
 
I'm not a backpacker but i camp and love explore in my my jeep. Currently i use a simple ax, harbor freight i think. I use my little ax for pounding tent takes a lot so that wouldn't work for me. I was impressed with a fiskars one I saw at home depot. Also saw one at walmart with a saw blade built in, forget the brand i need to check it out again
 
went with the bushcraft survival package in stainless with a sharpen and fire starter. That knife feels very solid. For 75$ I got 3 razor sharp knives that i think would be very fitted at thrusting and slashing for defense as well as camping and emergency survival in a pinch 20210709_110206.jpg
 

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An axe is always good to have on board.
Mora is an excellent knife---legendary, in fact. You can't go wrong for the price!

FWIW my favorite pocket knife when I was on a SAR team was the Spyderco Rescue.
 
The traditional Mora has a rat tail tang and minimalist Birch handle. All the money is in the blade which is why they are so well regarded----the carbon steel sharpens easily and stays sharp for a long time. It's a knife made for cutting and Moras have cut just about everything that can be cut
but they aren't pry bars.
Keep her sharp and use your Mora for cutting and you won't be disappointed.

For axes, I like them with polls---I find they take more aggressive bites and a poll employed as a mallet certainly comes in handy.
An alternative for a poll-less axe could be a machete since it would be pretty much limited to chopping
Just a thought.
 
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FWIW, Frost (Mora steel) knives made most of the Farrier's knives for over the past 100 years and counting.
These are specialized designs used for paring flat horses hooves.
Think about that for a sec---horse's hooves---thick, hard, dry horn. Four hooves per horse.
I could work on five or six head of stock before pausing to re-sharpen using only a mill bastard file.

That's a heck of an endorsement for Mora steel!
 
I have a couple of Moraknivs, and they're great. Sturdy, high quality and an excellent value. But dang it, I hate sharpening a Scandi grind! Full disclosure, I can't freehand sharpen well, so I'm a Lansky guy. The 17° on the Lansky still can't get to the angle grind properly. :mad:
 
People often give accolades to Mora’s but usually accompany it with “for the price”.

In my opinion you’d be hard put to find a better knife, period. Fancier, sure. More visually appealing, yes.

But for what you actually use a knife for, they’re hard to beat at any price. Whatever steel they use may not be the latest designer steel of the week, but for working knives it definitely holds up.

I’ve mentioned before that I have a Mora fishing knife with a wood grip that had been left on a boat in a salt water environment for years at a time and yet stayed sharp and not a drop of rust. The knife is now 50 years old. I paid the equivalent of US $7 for it back then in Sweden. I’m sure it will outlive me and continue to give good service to whomever gets it next.
 
sparkyv said:
I have a couple of Moraknivs, and they're great. Sturdy, high quality and an excellent value. But dang it, I hate sharpening a Scandi grind! Full disclosure, I can't freehand sharpen well, so I'm a Lansky guy. The 17° on the Lansky still can't get to the angle grind properly. :mad:
Click to expand...
I have an old Rappala filet knife which, IIRC, is Mora steel about the same age. Still an excellent knife.
 
Mora, Marttiini and Helle are classic counterpoints to the bowies and choppers favored in the US. They specialize in light, handy knives that are easily carried and made of good steel. The puukko is their indigenous knife, and many sported laminated steel with hard cores supported by tough outer layers.
 
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