Morakniv New Ash Wood Outdoor Collection

I'd been anticipating this drop for a bit because Mora has been dangling hints on social media for a couple weeks leading up to it. When I saw the prices though, I would have spit out a drink if I was drinking one. They jumped the shark in a big way with this campaign. Mora has become an industry standard for cheap, affordable, good quality fixed blades. If they wanted to edge into an already very competitive market at that price point (mid size knife is ~$275 US), they could have done so slowly by offering premium options for their tried and true designs. They could have released a Kansbol with micarta or g10 scales and 14c or a Garberg with micarta removable scales for a $75-$100 price bump and they would have had a hit. Instead they put out a few generic designs with no name "recycled stainless steel", wedged between two slabs of baseball bat wood, and priced it on par with some customs and higher end production blades. That's an easy pass right there.

IMO When your entire brand is known for a specific thing, don't abandon that to compete price wise with some of the best fixed blade makers in the world unless you have an outstanding offering.
 
I've left a comment on their page it seems many like the knives (including me) but are complaining about the price. Mora are replying that they value feedback etc... so it will be interesting to see if they respond.

I really think they've missed an opportunity as they are also not giving out specifics on the steel although at a guess it will either be 1 of 2 sandvik steels. I'd happily pay the money for one if it was Aeb-L at 62-63 hrc with a great HT but I'm guessing it will be 12c or 14c at 58-60 hrc.

They're coming out at circa £165 UK lower that by £35-40 and I'd definitely try one.
 
dogstar said:
I, for one, support the Swedes, and their consideration for future generations. If you ever have a chance to visit Sweden, take it.
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I’d agree with both points. Sweden is a gorgeous place in just about every way. Worked on a farm there for a couple weeks, and it was paradise for me. I’m also a proponent of sustainability, and limiting waste when and where possible. I just can’t help but feel like they’re using that as a marketing gimmick here. How in the world would recycled steel warrant a higher price tag instead of a lower one? The Kansbol also uses “recycled stainless steel”, so this is presumably the same steel at 8x the price. Granted this is marketed as more handmade, but then they’re just treading into waters with a lot of heavy hitters who charge less, or similar with higher quality materials.
 
RousingRabbles said:
I’d agree with both points. Sweden is a gorgeous place in just about every way. Worked on a farm there for a couple weeks, and it was paradise for me. I’m also a proponent of sustainability, and limiting waste when and where possible. I just can’t help but feel like they’re using that as a marketing gimmick here. How in the world would recycled steel warrant a higher price tag instead of a lower one? The Kansbol also uses “recycled stainless steel”, so this is presumably the same steel at 8x the price. Granted this is marketed as more handmade, but then they’re just treading into waters with a lot of heavy hitters who charge less, or similar with higher quality materials.
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Otherwise “fossil fuel-free steel” is currently a hot topic in the Swedish industrial community. Also sometimes erroneously referred to as “carbon free steel” ☺️
 
RousingRabbles said:
I’d agree with both points. Sweden is a gorgeous place in just about every way. Worked on a farm there for a couple weeks, and it was paradise for me. I’m also a proponent of sustainability, and limiting waste when and where possible. I just can’t help but feel like they’re using that as a marketing gimmick here. How in the world would recycled steel warrant a higher price tag instead of a lower one? The Kansbol also uses “recycled stainless steel”, so this is presumably the same steel at 8x the price. Granted this is marketed as more handmade, but then they’re just treading into waters with a lot of heavy hitters who charge less, or similar with higher quality materials.
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I think we are speculating on price but let's wait and see.
In Sweden, workers and people in the service industry are paid a living wage, so hand made stuff probably comes at a premium.
AFAIC, the market will dictate if this initiative succeeds. I'm just glad to see Mora trying to diversify their offerings.
 
I am not impressed with these new models.
I think birch is a better wood for knife handles than ash. Walnut would have been a much better choice if they wanted to offer upscale models.
Recycled steel should not be so much more expensive either. The design is mediocre at best. I the case of the mini cleaver it os very poor. Mini cleaver could be good for batoning or splitting bones, but for that you need a straight blade spine, not this extremely sloping one. I wonder if the people who designed these have actually used knives for more than opening a package or slicing cheese.
Edit: I just read their website, and that is supposed to be an “ outdoors cooking knife”. It doesn’t have length to be an efficient slicer or vegetable chopper. Probably OK for some mushrooms or for a sandwich, but too short to be considered a “Swedish santoku” or “Swedish Serbian” knife.

You can buy some custom made nordic knives in that price range.
If most of the price is to pay the actual workers, that at least would be honorable and laudable.
I’ll just stick with the basic Mora models.
 
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I like the Ash scales different from all the similar Scandanavian makers who usually use birch. Ash is harder, stronger and more elastic than birch so aesthetics aside (I actually prefer it to birch) makes for much tougher scales. I've 100 year old wood working chisels with Ash handles and a rub down and they are like new.
 
Dav1 said:
I like the Ash scales different from all the similar Scandanavian makers who usually use birch. Ash is harder, stronger and more elastic than birch so aesthetics aside (I actually prefer it to birch) makes for much tougher scales. I've 100 year old wood working chisels with Ash handles and a rub down and they are like new.
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Yeah, and if Ash is strong enough for baseball bats it should hold up pretty well for a knife handle. Unfortunately here in Pa we are loosing all are ash trees to the emerald ash bore, an uninvited visitor from Asia.
 
Dav1 said:
I like the Ash scales different from all the similar Scandanavian makers who usually use birch. Ash is harder, stronger and more elastic than birch so aesthetics aside (I actually prefer it to birch) makes for much tougher scales. I've 100 year old wood working chisels with Ash handles and a rub down and they are like new.
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Ash is an excellent choice when elasticity is required: baseball bats, walking sticks, sparring sticks, or axe handles. For knife handles that is not important.
Chisels are rarely used in the forest or wet environment. I know, wood can be sealed, but the finish layer can be broken.
Also, I prefer the tactile feeling of birch vs. ash (because of the uniform distribution of pores and softer surface), but that is subjective. I also prefer the softer walnut wood to the harder hickory for knife handle material. The better dimensional stability is an added bonus.
YMMV.
 
littleknife said:
Ash is an excellent choice when elasticity is required: baseball bats, walking sticks, sparring sticks, or axe handles. For knife handles that is not important.
Chisels are rarely used in the forest or wet environment. I know, wood can be sealed, but the finish layer can be broken.
Also, I prefer the tactile feeling of birch vs. ash (because of the uniform distribution of pores and softer surface), but that is subjective. I also prefer the softer walnut wood to the harder hickory for knife handle material. The better dimensional stability is an added bonus.
YMMV.
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Interesting, but aren’t walking sticks and axe handles used in “the forest or wet environments”?
 
littleknife said:
Ash is an excellent choice when elasticity is required: baseball bats, walking sticks, sparring sticks, or axe handles. For knife handles that is not important.
Chisels are rarely used in the forest or wet environment. I know, wood can be sealed, but the finish layer can be broken.
Also, I prefer the tactile feeling of birch vs. ash (because of the uniform distribution of pores and softer surface), but that is subjective. I also prefer the softer walnut wood to the harder hickory for knife handle material. The better dimensional stability is an added bonus.
YMMV.
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I'm a carpenter worked with wood for decades, although not so decorative Ash is a better choice.

I used my chisel handles as a relevant example, they've been left in rain on many occasions (when I'm working outside), used daily for decades etc... There's a reason you don't see work tools use birch handles etc... numerous other woods that may look "nicer".
 
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