Mora w coat of arm of Finland (?)

[baxtrom]

Hi fellow enthusiasts,
As a kid back in the 80s I got this simple plastic handled Mora knife in a leather sheath with an imprinted coat of arms, looking very much like Finland’s national coat of arms, a lion with a sword. Does anyone else recognise this particular Mora and perhaps could share some background?
Kitos in advance

I used to have photobucket but that doesn’t seem to work anymore so I’ll post a link to google photos instead:

Mora knife pic

 

[OrangeBlueOrangeBlue]

Hi fellow enthusiasts,
As a kid back in the 80s I got this simple plastic handled Mora knife in a leather sheath with an imprinted coat of arms, looking very much like Finland’s national coat of arms, a lion with a sword. Does anyone else recognise this particular Mora and perhaps could share some background?
Kitos in advance

I used to have photobucket but that doesn’t seem to work anymore so I’ll post a link to google photos instead:

Mora knife pic

Per 1985 catalog, it's a Sportkniv Nr 430 (p. 7)

K-J-ERIKSSONS-1985.pdf

drive.google.com

Not sure what the story is with the Coat of Arms, most Mora sheaths have something that looks more like the Swedish Coat of Arms.

 

[baxtrom]

Per 1985 catalog, it's a Sportkniv Nr 430 (p. 7)

K-J-ERIKSSONS-1985.pdf

drive.google.com

Not sure what the story is with the Coat of Arms, most Mora sheaths have something that looks more like the Swedish Coat of Arms.

Thanks, there it is in your catalogue, no 430! Alas no background to the sheath imprint!

 

[Tapio]

I've never seen that Finnish coat of arms on any Mora and I've seen plenty of Moras in Finland. Why a Swedish company used the Finnish coat of arms? There has to be an explanation for that.

 

[OrangeBlueOrangeBlue]

Thanks, there it is in your catalogue, no 430! Alas no background to the sheath imprint!

I've never seen that Finnish coat of arms on any Mora and I've seen plenty of Moras in Finland. Why a Swedish company used the Finnish coat of arms? There has to be an explanation for that.

KJ Eriksson "Jägaren" the Hunter N. 1701

KJE Jägaren the Hunter N 1701, Morakniv, K J Eriksson, Knive, Morakniv

oldmora.blogspot.com

According to this, the lion was inspired by a magazine ad for Koskenkorva, a Finnish vodka brand.

 

[baxtrom]

KJ Eriksson "Jägaren" the Hunter N. 1701

KJE Jägaren the Hunter N 1701, Morakniv, K J Eriksson, Knive, Morakniv

oldmora.blogspot.com

According to this, the lion was inspired by a magazine ad for Koskenkorva, a Finnish vodka brand.

Haha thanks, i was hoping for a more classy background story than a vodka ad in a flight magazine! Lucky they didn’t try and make an absolut knife, they would have had their pants sued off

 

[baxtrom]

I've never seen that Finnish coat of arms on any Mora and I've seen plenty of Moras in Finland. Why a Swedish company used the Finnish coat of arms? There has to be an explanation for that.

Terve!
I was hoping for some more diplomatic background to the logo, some Finnish/Swedish anniversary perhaps or a design for the Finnish police or army or similar. Turns out it was likely inspired by a vodka ad from Koskenkorva

Cheers /baxtrom

 

[baxtrom]

want to try and see I do this image hosting service works:

 

[Rich S]

Just a lion rampant - used by many firms, not a country signature.

 

[baxtrom]

Just a lion rampant - used by many firms, not a country signature.

Yes, but there are additional details: sword, tongue, tail curled et c that matches Finland’s coat of arms. Or, as it seems in this case - Finnish vodka brand Koskenkorva.

 

[Tapio]

Terve!
I was hoping for some more diplomatic background to the logo, some Finnish/Swedish anniversary perhaps or a design for the Finnish police or army or similar. Turns out it was likely inspired by a vodka ad from Koskenkorva

Cheers /baxtrom

Probably the ad was not the only source of inspiration. I can imagine how the actual product (Koskenkorva) was also a very important factor.

 

[A.L.]

Yes, but there are additional details: sword, tongue, tail curled et c that matches Finland’s coat of arms. Or, as it seems in this case - Finnish vodka brand Koskenkorva.

Koskenkorva doesn't have Lion of Finland - but Leijona does (literally means Lion). Don't ask why I know.

 

[baxtrom]

Koskenkorva doesn't have Lion of Finland - but Leijona does (literally means Lion). Don't ask why I know.

Yes I noted the same when I was looking around on google, but in the blog post linked above there are some old koskenkorva labels including the Finnish lion.

 

[A.L.]

Yes I noted the same when I was looking around on google, but in the blog post linked above there are some old koskenkorva labels including the Finnish lion.

Oh, I see!

 

[Shrub]

Well, I know almost nothing about this one, so just brainstorming and following for the sake of interest...
I do wonder if there is a chance that the sheath got swapped out or replaced with one from another knife? Perhaps the standard sheath got damaged or lost? Only other thing that comes to question in my mind is maybe some custom mod to the sheath by someone interested in leather work? I don't know. I hope you find your answers!

 

[baxtrom]

Well, I know almost nothing about this one, so just brainstorming and following for the sake of interest...
I do wonder if there is a chance that the sheath got swapped out or replaced with one from another knife? Perhaps the standard sheath got damaged or lost? Only other thing that comes to question in my mind is maybe some custom mod to the sheath by someone interested in leather work? I don't know. I hope you find your answers!

Thanks Shrub, yes I already believe I have the answer, a few posts up. First, it is the original sheath, it is one of the knives available in the 1985 catalogue. Second, it seems the Lion of Finland imprint was inspired by a vodka ad in an airline magazine

 

[DocT]

After a few glasses of vodka a person will feel very inspired.