Mora 511 Review

R

roundrockoutdoors

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Mar 18, 2013
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Well lets start with the pros and cons.:

Pros: Cheap, Durable, Grippy, Fingergard, Sharp, Tough.

Cons: Rat Tang, Thin, Sheath, Fingergard

So how does this knife compare to other hight dollar knives, it is wonderful that is how it compares. This little knife is a work horse it will do almost anything you want it to. Now will it break if you use it for lots of battoning of wood, probably but its not made for that, this is not a full tang survival knife. What this is, is a great starter and backup knife. I got this knife for 8 dollars with two dollars for shipping, and after taxes it came out to about 10.50 US. Now for the money I don’t think you can beat this knife. It will cut anything and it came sharper than some razors I have had. It sharpens easily and holds and edge for a while. The one I have is carbon steel and I don’t know if this one comes in a stainless model. One minor problem I have is the rounded spine of the knife. It is difficult to strike a flint on it the way it comes from the factory but this is easily remedied with a file just a little elbow work puts a nice 90 degree spine on it that will throw sparks.

For the rest of the review check it out here
 
From what I can tell it seems like an OK knife for $10, but to me a $10 knife is a knife that is good for a tackle box or garage, not to bring in the field. I would rather spend $30-$40 or a little more for a "Cheap" Knife. The handle on this one looks like it is a good shape but it also looks like hard plastic. This will be hard to grip when wet and will probably break over time or with any solid use. The blade looks to thin to me but I guess that it really depends on what you are using it for. I did not read the rest of your review other then what was on this site but personally I would choose a different knife. Cheap plastic knives with weak tang are dangerous for many reasons.
 
It's a Mora! These knives have seen the test of time, are widely used, and respected. Yes, it an inexpensive knife but not "cheap." Yes, the blade is thin, the handle plastic, and the sheath is not the greatest. But... the knife will cut like mad. The steel is 1095 (also comes in stainless), well heat treated, and easy to keep sharpened. It's not a pry-bar or chopper but is a great woods/wilderness/utility user knife.
 
They are great working knives. The cons you are listing, and they exist. For sure.

These knives are in Sweden even sold as some kind of disposal knives. When it´s dull - get a new one...

Mora is one of my faves on the building lot. Nothing to worry about and keep the edge long. It´s no full tang and the F&F is some kind of rough. But you can´t compare a 10 $ dollar knife to a high-end-full-tang-knife in a price range of another dimension.

But you got it in the right way. It is what it is... a working knives under nicely made condition.

Thanks for your review of this long existing working horse which is nothing more than a working horse.

I really love Mora Knives! :)
 
I've always seen that some people don't like the plastic sheaths moras come with, why is that?
 
Ok, first the sheath question, its not the plastic i dont like its the very very tine belt loop. It wont fit on my standard belt but it does hold the knife well and protects the blade. The price is the great factor here. I have had several of these and have given them away to people who are interested in starting bushcraft it lets you be helpful without breaking the bank. Also price can be a factor to may people, my son who is 8 is saving up for his first bushcraft kit. And i know i could go out and buy it all for him but what does that teach him. So if price is an issue and i am trying to make my money stretch as far as it can this would be a great first knife, to be moved to a backup blade later when I can afford a more robust knife. As far as the handle goes it is textured and i can tell you it is not slippery when wet, i have personally field dressed, skinned and butchered a white tail buck with this knife and even with blood all over my hands and the handle it did not get slippery.
 
Great review. As far as I'm concerned It's a knife, that is designed, for being used as a cutting/slicing implement. It's not a pry bar or a wedge. It sports great steel that will take and hold a downright scary edge, and is quite easy to sharpen in the field, with it's scandi grind. For the money, I have a real hard time trying to nitpick at it. I really doubt you're going to break that thing, doing task that are required of a small, belt knife, with a thinner blade grind. I hate the belt loop on some Mora Sheaths though. I much prefer the other style, with the clip. These "cheap plastic knives" will work great if you use them for their intended purpose. I like my Moras a great deal, and paired with a good folding saw or axe, would feel very prepared in the woods. It's a knife that is best used as a part of a kit IMHO.
 
I would not list a rat tang as a con for an inexpensive knife. Most have a partial tang.

I would also not list a finger guard as a con either, since Mora makes similar knives w/o the guard. So if you pick this knife, you kind of want the guard.

Finally, I'd say that being thin is a plus, since it slices well and is easy to sharpen.
 
I get amused when people say Mora knives are thin. How thick would you want a knife with a Scandi grind? And really, why would you want a thicker blade at all?

Those rattail tang Moras, classic and 5xx series, are not only very good knives for the price, they're very good knives, period.
 
That's what I got my son for his first fixed blade knife. I did have a really decent kydex sheath made for it with a tec lok on the back. It's been with him on numerous boy scout outings and about a dozen backpack camping trips with the two of us. I don't think he wants for anything else as far as performance goes. It's been great for him. He even has a fiddleback forge bushfinger that he also loves, but he's always got the mora on his belt for fear of loosing the fiddleback. lol.
 
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