Is there a better knife?

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RH

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I'm sitting here with my SS Frosts Swedish Army knife, and wondering...for leaving on the workbench or in the shed, tossing in the toolbox or the car trunk, or packing along while camping, hunting or boating...is there anything better for the money than the Frosts Mora's? I mean, for $8-$10, in pure per dollar performance, I don't think anything comes close. The closest competitor might be the CS Mini Bushman, but even that is 50% more - is it 1 1/2 times as good as the Mora?

Of course, the sheaths are abominable. I've never tried, but they probably carry awful, with the funky belt loop. The only good things are the plastic sheath won't rot, and it is very low-profile, not increasing the size of the package when the knife is sheathed. I look at the sheath not as a carrying device, but as protection when I throw the knife in the picnic cooler or wherever.

By the way, for those who have more extensive experience with the Mora's, the edge is very sharp - how does it and the tip hold up for strength and durability? And, does anyone make a better sheath for them?
 
The Swedish Army knife is hard to beat for the $.


I put a split ring and a snap hook on my Swedish Army sheath, much like the set up on the A.G. Russell Deer Hunter sheath, that clips onto a belt loop. Works great!





- Frank
 
They are tough to beat in terms of value -- excellent beaters. They stand up to abuse I wouldn't inflict on my 'better' blades. Great loaners, too.
 
I'd say that Marttiini plastic handled carbonsteel carpenters puukko. It costs here in Finland about 9 euros. Knife center has about the same product but with a slightly different (actually cheaper) handle - FinnM571. Odd that price for M571 is 19$ when black handled version (with rubber inserts) is 9e. I picked this one from hardware store after comparing it to Mora 2000 and to other frosts of sweden knives/puukkos.

I intend to make a comparison between good quality cheap puukkos available in hw stores and medium priced puukkos from camping stores sometime during this winter.
 
Pukkos have always been a little funny looking to me, almost as if the blade is too small for the handle, but I like them. Especially the more traditional looking ones because of the history aspect. I've read stories about how Finnish soldiers would slip through the snow and use them on Russian invaders during the Winter War. I've also read that up until not too long ago, you hardly ever saw a man in Finland without his knife on his belt. Having never been outside the United States, I can't verify this, but it's still interesting.
 
RH :

the edge is very sharp - how does it and the tip hold up for strength and durability?
Click to expand...

The edge angle is ~10 degrees per side, quite acute and this easily damaged on hard contacts, this can be solved by just adding a slightly more obtuse secondary bevel to handle scraping and/or contacts off of harder bone and such.

The tips are generally quite fine and easily snapped on prying. I have broken a couple which should not have happened given the cross section which leads me to believe the heat treating is less than optimal, as those steel should be more ductile than what I have seen in the tips. Of course you have to factor in the price here as well.

The Becker CU/7 and Swamp Rat lines also offer quite outstanding performance for the dollar, both can be readily compared to much higher end customs and come away very positive in the comparison, the Swamp Rat especially I would pick over many customs costing many times more and thus its performance/cost is very high relatively.

Swiss Army knives (the simpler ones) are also a lot of utility for the money.

-Cliff
 
Kellam makes an "S" line that's made to compete for 10 bucks or so..I've never had one, but as soon as I think about it next time, I'll order one.--Joe
 
I've got a bunch of Moras and my freind brought me back a handfull of different plastic handled Puukos from Finland. I use them in the shed/shop yard etc. But I have to say that I think Opinels work better for me. The Moras (sharpened with the single bevel) roll easily. I'm going to start adding a secondary bevel as Cliff mentions. The wood handle of the Opinels always swells, but in the dry climate here, it always comes back, just need pliers to open 'em sometimes.
 
Yes, the NIb edge is quite acute and fairly fragile, it is often burred and burnt as well which can weaken it further. Unless you are buying fairly high end they usually benefit significantly from a decent sharpening.

-Cliff
 
The things I don't liek about Opinel are exactly the things I like about the Mora - plastic handle won't swell or rot, no funky lock to deal with, stainless steel (purely preference).

I have an Opinel, and it will probably not be my last, but I just don't think they are "all that". They have a novelty factor, but I hate the lock and the un-stabilized wood handles.
 
RH :

[opinel]

They have a novelty factor ...
Click to expand...

They are well thought of simply for their cutting ability, though the ergonomics are nice as well for a folder. The handle swell can indeed be a problem though, with high humidity swings I have seen them get so tight they became nonfunctional. You can dry them out of course with some light heat.

-Cliff
 
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