Mora red handle

muzzleup

muzzleup

Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Messages
1,667
I just received 3 of these little knives and I have to say that for the cost we should all have at least 1 in each B.O.B., in the car, in the kitchen, in the back yard for the wife to mess with.
The Frost of Sweden laminated blades (FT1 p/n)came razor sharp and took a polished edge like a mirror. They are like scalpels now...will cut ya just by lookin at em!;)
I have well over 100 knives and its a shame to think that this little red handled cheap-o knife will probably be with me more then any of the others put together(well,maybe not MORE THEN)but I will always have one someplace close at hand.

WHAT A BUY! :rolleyes:
 
I have been waiting to find my Mora before tlaking about it, and guess what....I can't find it anywhere. So this is like a thank you note for your post. How can a human being go through life without a Mora or two and at least several SAK's ? I mean you cannot do it, they are Icon's of "cut." If you remember where you purchased yours, please let me know. Even if I find mine, I'm sure it's time to get some new ones. Thank you, sir.
 
i just got a Mora Frost, the Swedish Army version in all stainless. I love how sharp it is! I used it the other night for the first time to slice up some potatoes for frying, and it went thru them like they weren't there! (And since its all stainless, I could just wash it off under hot water without worrying about rusting.) I look forward to being able to use it in a more rustic environment soon, maybe at the beach next week. I found a catalog with two Mora red handles for $15, that I'll be ordering from when I get paid next.

Matt in Texas
 
FF;
You can have your local knife shop order them from Blue Ridge Knives in Marion VA. The order number is FT1 on the Frosts of Sweden page,217 in the latest catalog. I would order one for you but don't think I am allowed to solicit sales on this forum.:(
good luck! and don't leave home without one.
 
Mora's should be available locally just about anywhere - and cheaper than suggested. I'm paying about $8.00 US for mine. The red plastic handled variety are $5.00 US. 50 kids at camp last month voted this their favorite and whittled LOTS - so it's not junk.
The first suggestion for the wooden handled variety is to burn off the paint and treat with tung oil - much less slippery! The second is to sharpen the knife by using a large sheet of abrasive to straighten the edge - it really speeds things up if you have a whole bunch to sharpen.
Details on a big Mora - a leuko blade made by Eriksson are here:
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/5404/survival/leuko.html
as are details on different types of Moras if you follow the link back to the mainpage.
The big thing about Moras or any other cheap knives is to use a large abrasive surface to sharpen - and it'll still take some time - because the edges are not straight. Once they are, and polished up with buffing compound, the edge will last a long time and will return to high sharpness after only a few minutes on a supported strop with buffing compound. Sharpening with crock sticks and such will not correct the edge.
 
For pure cutting tools the Mora knives by Frosts and Ericksson are hard to beat. I prefer the laminated blades from Frosts, but the carbon steel knives by Ericksson are also great (and a little thicker than the Frosts, I believe). The stainless blades (as noted) are also excellent users: not ATS-34, but they do cut and hold an edge. I have mounted several laminated Frosts blades from Lee Valley tools in moose antler handles for trapper friends, who swear by them.
 
I'm yet another proud and happy Mora owner/user. For the cost, you can't get a much better knife. The only other knife that I can think of that comes close to the cost/usability ratio of the Moras are Old Hickory butcher knives, and you have to make your own sheath for them.

If everyone who owns a boxcar load of expensive, custom knives were exposed to Moras, they would be amazed at how well these "cheap" little knives cut. Sure, they're not macho or "sexy", and you will have to put a little work into the edge, but you will have a cutting machine when it's all said and done, for well under $10.00. That's not too bad. :~}
 
Well, I found a box the Mora was suppose to be in,but it was not. Instead, there was a note to myself that said "...you threw it away after wearing it out. Get yourself another." So I will for sure. I am going to get one carbon steel KJ Eriksson and one stainless steel Frost. Thanks for all the updates on sharpening and locations for purchasing.

Muzzleup,do you have one or more of the French country fruit knives...Opinel's? Now here is another jewel of a low cost knife one can fall in love with instantly. Put a folding Opinel with a Mora and the SAK of your choice into the ruck sak, head on out and the wilderness will Freek-out, Right? Great little folders.
 
Agree about the Opinels. I've got a couple in carbon and stainless.

Nice knives.

Blues
 
Great pictures, Blues. I especially like the P.J. Tomes Scagel. Ohhh, my,my, my...I have to go back and look at it again. One day I am going to get enough money and courage to approach Dr. Luci and ask him to make me one. I have a knife very similar to this made by Mr. Thomes. It has an upswep blade, same handle with Stag ,and he did an absolute perfect, beautiful reproduction!!! A great Craftsman!
 
Thanks, FF. I just got that from PJ a few weeks ago at the Blade Show. I've since spoken with him and am supposed to hook up with him in Orlando at the Guild Show. Now I'm just hoping that work doesn't interfere with my plans.

He does make a wonderful Scagel reproduction and his knives are very reasonably priced for a master smith.

Blues
 
Hey FF, your remark about throwing an Opinel and a SAK in your ruck, reminded me of something from scouts. After a bad Spring Break canoe trip (white water and green scouts do not mix!) one of the troop elders presented everyone on that trip with an Opinel knife. I was jealous of everybody else (getting a knife) then, because before that I was relieved that I didn't get dunked in an ice-cold Arkansas river, as I didn't go, for some reason that I can't remember right now. I guess Mr Boer knew I had a good knife already, a BSA Deluxe model (in carbon steel), that I carried on all the campouts. I hope my new Mora Frost army model serves me as well.

Matt in Texas
 
Frosts of Sweden Mora knives and Opinels are the best. Probably the most functional and overlooked knives out there. They don't look cool or fancy, but as straight up user knives, I have not found better. Proof that good stuff can come cheap.
 
The standard puukko from Marttiini (Finland) is also as good as a red-handled Mora, only it looks better with its birch handle and nice sheath.
 
FF;
I do not have an Opinel yet. I have 2 of the CS Twist Locks but am not at all happy with them. I do have on my "to buy" list one or more of the Opinel knives...probably one carbon steel and 1 stainless model.

Costas;
Yes the puukko's are just as good, however, they are a lot more expensive then the Frosts of Sweden Mora knives. I do have a M95 Ranger puukko and one that I made myself from parts bought from Finland. I also have one of the Fallkniven H1's which is of the puukko style.

I think that all we are trying to say is that FOR THE MONEY, it is hard to beat the little red handled devils from Frosts of Sweden.:p ;)
 
Yeah i've got a few Mora knives use'em for skinning deer to splitting kindling to paddle making they do it all- , the Russel 1095 knives are good too though they seem to rust a bit easier.

Muzzleup- I was thinking about trying out a CS Twistmaster but your comments give me pause, can you explain why you don't care for them?

over at ragweedforge.com there are some Okapi knives in 1055 steel anybody try them? I'm a $20.00 and under knife man .... that way I can buy more.
 
I have a Mora with red handle that I want to use, but it has a sentimental attachment to it; James Mattis sent it to me along with a knife I'd ordered. He'd mis-placed my order and when he shipped it, the Mora was aN "apology" !
So, now it sits on my desk, everytime I see it, I remember the great human that was James.
It is a sharp as hell knife, James would probably be vexed at me for not using it, but it's my little remembrance of the man.
 
Pentlatch;

The main reason I do not like the CS Twistmaster is the twist lock. It is very stiff and takes both hands to activate and both hands and a pair of pliers to unlock.
The Opinels lock is much smoother.:barf:
 
someone mentioned something about using the mora with a baton for chopping since the knife is small, do you mean tying it to a stick?
 
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