Which Mora Knife Do I Buy?

[Phydeaux642]

I've decided to pick up a Mora (or two) for general use and there are a bunch to choose from on the Ragweed Forge website. I've done some searching here and Mora knive's seem to be generally well regarded, but I would like some specific models that you guys like and why you like them. They are cheap enough that I will probably buy several. Thanks.

 

[bikerdoc]

I have the 840 and I like it!!!!

 

[Searcher1970]

I think the Mora 2000 is a great little knife.

 

[John G]

They're all great, and I use one every day. Lately, it's been the short-bladed ones with plain wood handles, no guard. These are excellent for wood carving. My girlfriend has claimed one for the kitchen( w/hard red plastic handle and finger guard), and my chef buddy is permanently borrowing my clipper with the nice grippy rubber handle. He uses it mainly for a boning knife.

Just pick a blade length, handle style, and try it out. That's how I started, and now I have six.

 

[CWL]

Gotta have a #1, a classic in carbon steel & red wood and still one of my favorites. I once actually stropped mine to the point where I shaved with it. Used shaving cream and it was scary, but it worked! I keep this in the utility drawer.

I also like the #780 triflex with differentially heated carbon blade. This resides in my emergency kit.

#711 is another carbon steel classic that has a rubberized grip if you want a more modern design.

 

[Carl Levitian]

I stick with the plain wood handle number 1. I'm old fashioned, and I like the idea of a through tang. I saw some X-ray photos on the web of some of the other models, and was a little hincky on how short the stubby tang is on a few of the models. I know, the plastic is tough, and it's molded on, but I just like the tang all the way through the handle.

 

[Phydeaux642]

Well, I ordered a #1 and a #711. Now, I wait 'til they arrive.

 

[Dirty Bob]

My favorite "traditional" is the Eriksson #2. In plastic, I like the Swedish Army Knife and the triflex Tradesman. The latter makes a great pocket fixed blade. All you have to do is cut off the belt loop of the sheath.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Thanks for the FYI!

 

[dairycreek]

Gotta have a #1, a classic in carbon steel & red wood and still one of my favorites.

 

[JLaw]

Good thread, inspired me to order a Mora #1 from Ben's Backwoods. Looking forward to it!

JLaw

 

[SpikeBayonet]

I have a #711 in olive-drab I use constantly - and another 711 (in black) I had to buy my wife when she saw just how sharp mine is. I also have a #780 Tri-Flex as my main "field knife" - everything came from Ben's Backwoods and I can't say enough good things about the knives or the dealer!

 

[Aka Zero]

I own the olive green one, a triflex, and either are good.

But check out Marttiini knives, few bucks more, and the sheath makes up for it. I have a small skinner, and the hunter. but are great knives. paid $14 for the big one $12 fore the little one. Like a mora, scandinavian grind, good steel, super sharp. Just a better sheath. And imo a nicer handle

http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/product.jsp?Mode=Brand&Brand=230&SKU=MT184015& the hunter

 

[JLaw]

+1 for Ben's Backwoods, they are good to deal with. That's who I ordered my Mora from.

http://www.bensbackwoods.com/servlet/StoreFront

JLaw

 

[Dirty Bob]

Ragweed Forge is also first-rate to deal with. Ragnar is good people.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

 

[John G]

Ragnar is great. He's been extremely quick to reply to my questions, and also very fast with shipping.

 

[Phydeaux642]

Well, I received my knives today from Ragweed Forge. They look like a lot of knife for the money and shipping the was lightning fast.

 

[JimJD]

I've always been interested in these knives, I think it's finally time to get one. Or two. Or three.

So far I found these pages on the web:

http://www.scandia-international.com/

http://www.frosts-scandia.com/

Would anyone have web links on their history, construction (other than stated by the company), information, etc.?


Edit: Wow, I just watched some videos of Mora's in action. I'm impressed.

 

[Kingcreek]

+++ ragnar at ragweed forge is great to deal with.
I like the 510 and the little 106 is a great whittler and a superfantastic garden knife. the classics with laminated carbon blades are nice too.

 

[JimJD]

After doing some reading, and watching some videos (knifetests.com / noss4 on YouTube). I ordered a Mora 840 (carbon blade) last night. Can't wait to get it.

 

[rcmodel]

I'd sure like them a lot better if they had some semblance of a guard.

I cut two fingers to the bone with one once when I was a teenager, cleaning rabbits in sub-zero weather.

My numb bloody hand let the slick wood handle slip right through my fingers as I started to rip a belly open.

Still have one finger that doesn't work quite right 50 years later.

Never liked them much since.

rc

 

[JimJD]

I'm sorry to hear that rcmodel.
I too, had a hand injury. It was due to being cut by someone with a box cutter about sixteen years ago. Lots of stitches, some nerve damage, nothing too severe though. Like you, my hand has not been the same since then. Considering where the cut was and the depth, I am very, very lucky.

That's one of the reasons I went with the Mora 840, it appears to have some "grip" and a contoured handle. True, it doesn't have a full or partial guard. But for my uses, it should suffice.

 

[HoosierQ]

I have the Swedish Army knife (green plastic handle) and it is, without a doubt, the sharpest knife I have ever seen. It has a decent guard.

I read that the reason the scandinavian knives lack guards is that as an adaptation to sub-zero conditions, folks up there are much more conditioned to doing things on a pull stroke with cold-numbed fingers. That's why the traditional Mora and the Puukos all lack guards...I guess.

For the price, I am not sure you can beat the more modern ones... with "American" style molded plastic handles. I am going to get several more.

The sheaths they come with are un-usable. I have taken them all and built leather sheaths around the plastic ones they come with and that works pretty well.

Ragweed Forge has them listed under the "Craftsmen Series". They have a solid plastic handle and come in a variety of steels.

 

[bikerdoc]

The sheaths really are inferior. On my 840 I lined the insde with cardboard for a tighter fit but the clip is just plain unreliable

 

[HoosierQ]

I think they come in those silly plastic jobs because making yourself a sheath is part of the tradition or something. I made leather sheaths for all mine and kept the plastic on the inside. I made one that is inspired by the Air Force Survival Knife sheath except I used a Sam Browne button instead of a snap.

The knives are no-nonsense tools. The original Mora that RCModel decribes is a little scary. It is neat looking but that oval handle has absolutely nothing between you and that razor sharp blade...and the sharp edge comes all the way to the handle...not even a gap. That one...the Model 1...will be a "safe queen" I think.

The others have, like I said, modern molded handles and should be pretty good. The orginal wooden ones have models that come with guards but they look kind of wedged on...in the pics anyway.

The Mora is a knife to ride hard, put away wet, sharpen easily with that scandinavian grind, and move on if you mess it up. I am going to make 2 or 3 interchangeable sheaths and as I mess up the knives...if that really happens...I will reuse the sheath. That is the plan anyway.

Thanks RC for the warning...that sharp edge right there next to your finger is very disconcerting and I am sorry your accident is a lesson for the rest of us.