Are Moras any good?

[22-rimfire]

Moras are okay knives and quite useful when you consider the sharpness and price. I had never heard of a Mora knife until joining this forum. Took a while and I have a few now (three I believe). I tend to like my BK-15 better, but that is mostly just personal preference as I sometimes slip the thicker One Handed Trekker (SAK) inside the sheath pouch on it for carry in the woods. I think everyone who uses knives should own a few Moras. They are useful.

If I were trying for serious low weight backpacking or even day hikes, the Mora would be a dominant choice for a fixed blade. My deal with Mora's is that generally speaking I can use a folder and get the same results. I will say they work better on peanut butter (reach and spreading) than most folders I have. Also, you can split kindling in a pinch with one if you need to better than a normal folder. So yes, they have earned a place in my accumulation of knives.

 

[pinnah]

If I were trying for serious low weight backpacking or even day hikes, the Mora would be a dominant choice for a fixed blade. My deal with Mora's is that generally speaking I can use a folder and get the same results. I will say they work better on peanut butter (reach and spreading) than most folders I have. Also, you can split kindling in a pinch with one if you need to better than a normal folder. So yes, they have earned a place in my accumulation of knives.

This matches my experience.

I find that 99% of the cases, I just prefer to have a pocket knife than a fixed blade, which is why this is my standard backpacking carry.

Outdoor Carry by Pinnah, on Flickr

 

[ocnLogan]

I'm no backpacking expert, but I tend to prefer fixed blades to folders outside.

While the Mora isn't super beefy, I think its much more robust than any of the folders I have, and weighs about the same. For instance, I have no problem batoning my clipper on small stuff (usually using my hand as the baton, if that helps gauge the size of wood I'm talking about), while I wouldn't want to do that with most folders I own (again, not saying I do it all the time, just that I'm comfortable with it if I need to).

The ease of cleanup really is nice as well. Peanut butter as you say is much easier with a fixed blade (is a giant pain in the butt to clean from a knife with any openings on it anywhere). So for food prep, I prefer a fixed blade.

And the last reason I like a mora for camping is pretty simple, and somewhat personal. I like to whittle/carve. Moras are delightful carvers that work well for when I make hotdog sticks, tent stakes, or just want to practice my try stick again while talking with friends around the fire or just sitting around. I do wish there were more scandi ground folders (I do of course whittle carve with other things, but so far scandi has been the "best" at that for me).

Thats not to say I don't like folders (I love opinels, saks, and svords for outdoor use), or don't carry them. Just saying that Moras and their low weight let me carry it somewhat like a folder, when its not.

Now its time to see if the BK16 I just got will kick the Mora out of rotation .

 

[22-rimfire]

As I recall, you also like the BK-15. The BK-16 is nice and I suspect you may like the slightly beefier design over a Mora. But you'll still include a Mora especially if you're car camping.

Pinnah, I picked up a Leatherman PS5. Now I'm going to pick up the PS4 (Squirt) with the needle nose pliers vs cutting pliers. You pretty much talked me into trying one of these from previous posts.

 

[The Zieg]

Posted this recently in the Maintenance and Tinkering section:

Was a Mora 911 Quicksnap, bought for about $15.00 at a local shop. Dog chewed up the handle. Put on hickory handle cut from a replacement tomahawk handle for my Cold Steel 'hawk. Epoxied in. Sanded to shape. Leather bolster hardened by epoxy. Just need to make a sheath. Will probably use some of the wood leftover from the 'hawk handle and wrap in leather.

Doing this gave me a good idea of what the tang looks like. It's plenty long, is notched towards the end to give epoxy or the injecton-molded plastic of the stock handle something to grab tightly onto. The tang is the same thickness as the back of the blade, so it won't bend any easier than the blade (and I've never bent one). I, too, love Moras and will get another at some point.

Zieg

 

[ocnLogan]

As I recall, you also like the BK-15. The BK-16 is nice and I suspect you may like the slightly beefier design over a Mora. But you'll still include a Mora especially if you're car camping.

Correct sir. I do believe the BK16 will gain more favor than the BK15 (still can't get used to choils :/) in my lineup, but the real question I have is if I'll take the BK16 or the mora when car or short distance camping. In those situations I usually bring a BK9 and my folding saw, so the extra robustness of the BK16 over the mora will still pale in comparison to the BK9, so I might as well leave it at home. It "seems" like the BK16 would be more for when I may not have any other tools with me (maybe stick an alox farmer and a firesteel in the sheath) where the extra strength may be of more use, and more importantly not redundant.

But yes, I do think Moras are good, and can find a place in anyones collection, even though they are not the "best"/"Ultimate" knife, which seems to echo what you're saying .

 

[22-rimfire]

Too many choices..... I think I am just going to crawl in a hole and hibernate for the winter. Yes to the saw.... have the Silky. Like Condor short machetes too.... really like them actually.

 

[lemonslush]

I use my Mora hard and love it it. I have two and dont think you need the thicker bladed one. That said I Use the thicker blade more as its better for batonning. Not that the thinner blade cant handle the abuse. The thicker black splits it better. They also hold a great ednge and are easy to sharpen. Worth every penny and the eargos are great..

 

[cchu518]

I didn't have time to find any lashing to do the Pinnah how to, I was thinking of picking up some of that elastic material from Home Goods or Michaels but didn't get around to it. So in between making some mulligatawny soup for dinner, I was able to finally cut that awful plastic belt clip off the sheath and rig it with a small carabiner.

But it carries a lot better now, clipped to a belt loop or a backpack, it carries horizontally and vertically well and it sits secure for cross draw. I'm going to drill a few holes to allow for a more secure/permanent means of carry on for belts and packs. I had wanted to buy a leather sheath for it, but in keeping with the spirit of mora's I'm going to opt to go budget carry, works just as good!

 

[dogstar]

Posted this recently in the Maintenance and Tinkering section:



Doing this gave me a good idea of what the tang looks like. It's plenty long, is notched towards the end to give epoxy or the injecton-molded plastic of the stock handle something to grab tightly onto. The tang is the same thickness as the back of the blade, so it won't bend any easier than the blade (and I've never bent one). I, too, love Moras and will get another at some point.

Zieg

Zieg, that is a nice mod. I just cut my hawk handle down, so I have a 4" piece of hickory. I was thinking of making a splitting wedge out of it, but maybe I'll save it for a handle! How did you make the hole for the tang? I'm always curious about this because I'm looking for a way that doesn't require a drill press. Thanks!

 

[pinnah]

Works good,huh?

Could you say more about how you get the vertical hang?

 

[cchu518]

It works great! For vertical hang, I clipped it on the belt loop and just pushed the string where I tied carabiner up towards the curve and it reseats itself vertically. I'm thinking of using a lashing that stretches wet and then will dry tight if I don't drill the holes into the sheath.

 

[leghog]

A better knife at less than $20 you'll not find, and you can spend even more for a lesser knife. If you can find one in laminate steel on the used market, jump on it. Regardless, the stainless steel, laminate steel, andcarbon steel are all excellent and represent great value --- MUCH BANG for fewer bucks.

Also look at Hultafor's offerings. Similar knives similarly priced.