Opinions of the Finn Bear?

afishhunter

afishhunter

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Oct 21, 2014
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I've narrowed my choice to a Mora #1 or a CS Finn Bear.

Which of these two would you buy and why?

Use will be general camping, hunting, and bushcraft.
I have an axe and saw for firewood.
I do not batton my knives -- ever.
 
afishhunter said:
I've narrowed my choice to a Mora #1 or a CS Finn Bear.

Which of these two would you buy and why?

Use will be general camping, hunting, and bushcraft.
I have an axe and saw for firewood.
I do not batton my knives -- ever.
Click to expand...
I have a Finn Bear. I like the handle very much. It is comfortable and feels good in the hand (for a right hander), it's very much like a Japanese styled handle. The sheath was adequate, but I built a leather one and promptly lost the original. I cleaned a deer with it, including splitting the rib cage. The edge ended up with a sizable chip. I concluded I didn't like the 4116 used to make it and, after repairing it, threw it in the bottom of my hunting footlocker as a 'just in case I forget my other knives' knife.
 
Mora, for the steel. I have used both and own a Cold Steel folder with the Krupp and don't like it as much as any Mora steel I've owned.

Good luck!

Zieg
 
I had a CS Finn Bear. Design and feel is good but the blade edge chipped and CS sent me a replacement. That also chipped. My conclusion is that the 4116 blade is not good. Maybe poor HT don't know cause I've never managed to chip any of my 4116 variant German cooking knives.
 
FYI, I was wrong about the handle shape being more Japanese styled. I dug out my knife and noticed that the handle is more tear drop shaped, with the skinny end of the tear drop on the bottom of the handle. I find it very comfortable and easy to index.
 
NapalmCheese said:
FYI, I was wrong about the handle shape being more Japanese styled. I dug out my knife and noticed that the handle is more tear drop shaped, with the skinny end of the tear drop on the bottom of the handle. I find it very comfortable and easy to index.
Click to expand...

I was wondering what you meant by "Japanese styled". I assumed you were refering to the wood handles found on traditional Japanese cooking knives?
 
KenHash said:
I was wondering what you meant by "Japanese styled". I assumed you were refering to the wood handles found on traditional Japanese cooking knives?
Click to expand...
Yes, I was referring to the handles found on traditional Japanese cooking/sushi knives (Wa handles I think they are called); but I was mistaken. I'm very fond of Wa handles because I like the way the rise on the dominant side fits my hand. I remember thinking that the Finn Bear felt similar, but it is because the handle is tear drop shaped and the skinny portion of the tear drop (facing down/towards the edge) functions similar to Japanese style handles while still being ambidextrous.
 
OK, I was right. Yes they are Wa handles, as opposed to Yo handles with full tang and scales. And as you say they rise to the outside of your user hand.
 
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