Beat up Mora 311

[Thestripper]

Hi. This is my first post here. Not sure the pictures work. If not then I'll try to edit the post..



I received a duffel bag full of stuff from a friend who was cleaning out his house and there were some goodies in that thing. Asides from three vintage Abu Garcia Ambassadeurs in good condition there was this Mora 311. At first I thought it was a piece of junk (and maybe it is) but after cleaning it up a bit and running it over my strop to see the grind better I can't help myself. I like this knife. It's got a great feel in the hand and it's just the right size for some fishing and light bush craft. It's got a brass capped rosewood handle and laminated steel blade stamped with the old swirly Frosts logo (in the close-up picture you can just see the lamination on the grind). Now, I'm not sure if someone went to town on this with an angle grinder once upon a time or if the ruff texture on the blade is actually from the factory in Sweden. I've seen similar ruff grindmarks on old NOS chisels from Sweden. Either way it gives the knife this grimy vibe, like it's seen some heavy use and you don't have to be to careful with no more. It's a knife meant to be used. Unfortunately the brass cap at the end of the handle has cracked and is sometimes cutting my hand and getting snagged on clothes, twigs, grasses and whatnot. That was irritating enough but now this also causes the handle to have some play since it's no longer tightly secured against the tang. I came here hoping someone would have some ideas on how to remove the cap, without destroying the brass washer, and then replace the cap (with something). Lastly I need to get it all back together again. I think if I manage this the knife deserves a new hand sewn leather sheath as well. Anyway, hope to get some good advice.
The beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The feel is in the hand of the holder.

 

[fishface5]

Hmm that buttcap is toasted but I don't know where you would get another so that's the biggest problem. The washer probably can't be saved but finding a replacement shouldn't be too hard. I would:
- Dremel out the center of the tang and grind down the washer.
- use a pliers to squish the tang together so the washer can be removed.
- remove the buttcap and see if you can squeeze the crack back together.
- repair the crack by soldering or JB weld.
- sand the gnarly ding down as much as possible.
- fit the buttcap back on gently to figure out where the wood under it needs to be sanded to make it fit smoothly but not tightly.
- glue the buttcap back in place.
- replace the washer, either by sanding the old washer down smooth and thin or with another thinner washer.
- peen the tang.

Good luck!

 

[Thestripper]

Hmm that buttcap is toasted but I don't know where you would get another so that's the biggest problem. The washer probably can't be saved but finding a replacement shouldn't be too hard. I would:
- Dremel out the center of the tang and grind down the washer.
- use a pliers to squish the tang together so the washer can be removed.
- remove the buttcap and see if you can squeeze the crack back together.
- repair the crack by soldering or JB weld.
- sand the gnarly ding down as much as possible.
- fit the buttcap back on gently to figure out where the wood under it needs to be sanded to make it fit smoothly but not tightly.
- glue the buttcap back in place.
- replace the washer, either by sanding the old washer down smooth and thin or with another thinner washer.
- peen the tang.

Good luck!

Thanks fishface. After posting this I thought of something I hadn't before. Just as you say, the washer can be replaced. So I'm thinking that I might go a totally different route.

- Dremel away the washer (the cap, handle and front cap should be removable then)
- Hammer out the end of the tang.
- Toss the broken end cap.
- Cut off the portion of the wood handle that was inside the cap.
- Take a piece of brass bar, drill hole through it for the tang (and maybe add two tiny dowels that go between the brass and wood)
- Make a new brass washer
- Assemble this and shape the solid brass piece to match the original end cap. Done.

I'm thinking that this handle is locked in place by hammering the end of the tang, making it expand against the washer. Not sure about this though. Is there any other way? I should probably use some epoxy to lock everything in as well right?

 

[fishface5]

Hammering the end of the tang to make it expand and hold everything in place is called "peening ". BUT if you replace the brass endcap with solid brass it will be HEAVY and really change the feel of the knife in hand

 

[Thestripper]

Peening yes. I knew the technique but not the word.
I think reshaping a solid brass end will look great and will also be a lot stronger than the thin end cap. I could probably file the end of the wood handle down to a 11mm round dowel then drill out a 11 mm hole in the brass bar. This will make it lighter. To change both front and back brass caps for solid brass to balance out the handle is an option but I think adding to much weight to the handle will make the blade feel to light and flimsy.

 

[fishface5]

I'm thinking leave as much wood as you can, b/c you can't add it back and weight on the end will really change the balance. Maybe drill two big holes in the brass side by side and grind them into one oval hole? Interesting project - post pics of the results!

 

[Thestripper]

I'm thinking leave as much wood as you can, b/c you can't add it back and weight on the end will really change the balance. Maybe drill two big holes in the brass side by side and grind them into one oval hole? Interesting project - post pics of the results!

Yes something like that would probably work good. I dont have a bench drill or a router or anything like that but I still think I can remove quite a bit of material from inside the brass. It will of course have thicker walls than the original thin end cap but for this knife I think that the small weight increase will not be noticeable, not much at least. If I don't come up with something better I'll give it a go and post once done.

 

[EdgePal]

Suggestion,
Contact Mora of Sweden and send picture of the knife and order a new brass cup.
They bought the company Frost and I Think they have spearparts.

Thomas

 

[Thestripper]

Suggestion,
Contact Mora of Sweden and send picture of the knife and order a new brass cup.
They bought the company Frost and I Think they have spearparts.

Thomas

They did come out with a remake of this knife not too long ago so that might be possible. I'll try.

 

[HeavyHanded]

Can you crimp it back together and repair with a copper wire wrap and silver solder?

 

[Thestripper]

Can you crimp it back together and repair with a copper wire wrap and silver solder?

My first thought was to braze this together. I'm hesitant about the durability in such a thin piece though.
In writing this post I got a mail back from Mora. They just asked me for my adress and said they were sending me a new unfinished back brass cap... I'm pretty impressed to say the least. That took about one hour. I should have thought about contacting Mora as a first thing don't know why I didn't. Probably because of the age of this knife it never occurred to me that Mora might have spares on hand for it. So thanks E EdgePal !

 

[EdgePal]

My first thought was to braze this together. I'm hesitant about the durability in such a thin piece though.
In writing this post I got a mail back from Mora. They just asked me for my adress and said they were sending me a new unfinished back brass cap... I'm pretty impressed to say the least. That took about one hour. I should have thought about contacting Mora as a first thing don't know why I didn't. Probably because of the age of this knife it never occurred to me that Mora might have spares on hand for it. So thanks E EdgePal !

just Swedish quality customer service...

For not so long ago we have a tradition to hold spearparts at least 30 years. Some companys still do it.

 

[Thestripper]

just Swedish quality customer service...

For not so long ago we have a tradition to hold spearparts at least 30 years. Some companys still do it.

Yeah that's pretty fantastic actually. I guess those days are slowly fading, but this time I was lucky. Shout out to Mora