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What can a Mora do that a SAK can't?
- Thread starter k-spar
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Agree and disagree. A SAK IMO is just fine for hiking. A SAK also works just fine with a fire steel. I use my awl, and it throws sparks you can weld with.
If we were talking about FLINT and STEEL, then yes, the stainless blades will not work.
Remember folks, stainless steel works just fine on ferrocium fire strikers, it's the natural flint rock that requires carbon steel.
Eddited to add:
Just saw this was already pointed out.
BTW this is a pretty telling statment for the use of folders.
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How many of them can be had for ten bucks?
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I can't argue that point but it's sad if that's the only thing in their favour !
I'm sure that there are other scandi grind knives out there for not too much more, I've seen some on the makers section for around $50 before !
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A well appointed SAK can do quite a few tasks. If I didn't already carry a multi-tool, then I'd go back to carrying the Super Tinker. Something with a wood saw if afield.
That said, there's no reason not to carry a fixed blade, be it mora or something better.
And the first guy that says, "I don't want the extra weight" better step on the scale first to honestly assess the extra pounds before complaining that a couple ounces being "too heavy."
That said, there's no reason not to carry a fixed blade, be it mora or something better.
And the first guy that says, "I don't want the extra weight" better step on the scale first to honestly assess the extra pounds before complaining that a couple ounces being "too heavy."
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I have mixed feelings on what knife/knives to carry while backpacking. On the one hand you basically have shelter, food, clothes etc. right on your back, so you won't need, say to chop down an emergency shelter. And you will be covering lots of miles, not woodcrafting. The sak will open all your packages, prep food, do repairs etc. while being light.
On the other hand, I am a fixed blade guy. I like the strength and safety of them, and it's also easier to grab and replace right from your belt. Not being the super UL type, I'd carry a fixed blade and a sak. (I also don't cover hundreds of miles though, so I may be full of hot air) I'd rather save weight in other areas and have the peace of mind of the cutlery I am comfortable with though.
On the other hand, I am a fixed blade guy. I like the strength and safety of them, and it's also easier to grab and replace right from your belt. Not being the super UL type, I'd carry a fixed blade and a sak. (I also don't cover hundreds of miles though, so I may be full of hot air
) I'd rather save weight in other areas and have the peace of mind of the cutlery I am comfortable with though.
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Well, Pitdog, I would guess that if you read this forum often you would know that most guys find them to work very well!
I still have never gotten the story on how yours failed? What were you doing when you found you exceeded its abilities to such an extreme degree?
I still have never gotten the story on how yours failed? What were you doing when you found you exceeded its abilities to such an extreme degree?
Currently the LT and most of VT/NH is under a Red fire condisition, when are you planning on heading up this way? A small folding woodstove should be fine, I didnt use a stove at all when i did the LT. Of course that was back before the Glaciers retreated..
haha
I'm gonna probably be leaving within the next week. Can you use a wood stove when under a "red fire" code? I'm living in VT, but am not native and don't know about the fire code restrictions except what i've read in the long trail guide.I've beaten mora's around pretty hard, and while they've "failed" on me, they've always been functional no matter what. I'm not worried about it.
It ain't the grind, it's the fact that it's a solid, good knife, with good steel, which is light, and which doesn't look like a tacticLOL "operator" knife, and only costs 9 bucks.
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tacticLOL...that's hilarious
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I'm sorry, is this a valid point? There is "performance to the dollar" ratio, but there is also the "performance, period" perspective.
Mora's are great for the money, but they are considered by many to be the Bic of fixed blades. (ie; disposable)
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my point is that you can have equivalent cutting performance to many more expensive knives...for ten bucks. I think that's pretty valid.
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Mine has never failed me bro because all I use it for is cutting up fish and stuff. I have always said that Mora's are good value for the money but is that such a great honour when they only cost $10 ?
They are great for throwing in the bug out bag, car dashboard, fishing kit etc but as a main fixed blade, well they would never be my 1st choice !
And regarding breaking them I have seen many on the knife forums that have broke performing tasks that I would certainly call upon my knives to do !
Please don't think I am trying to start a flame war here for it's only my opinion and based on my needs, they may be great for everyone else !:thumbup:
The buck knives in that price category are all stainless steel, I'd rather have carbon. and i've only had one cold-steel product (bushmen) and was not impressed.
Feeling substantial is pretty much in the hand of the be-holder (ooh.. bad pun) and really mora's have been pretty substantial for me.
I was once "drilling" a whole with the reamer of an OHT (don't ask me why because I don't quite remember) and it closed on my finger, but it wasn't bad at all. I can't imagine it being a problem even if you do cut yourself I wouldn't think one can do major damage with it. Just my opinion.
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For real? I always thought you must have had one fail on you, since you are always warning us about how they will fail and how other knives will outperform them! How do you know if you've never tried?
Why not give it a try? They might surprise you.
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Because if it does break my kid will never forgive me, we share it and he loves it !!!
Not to nit pick but are you sure I have warned that they will fail or have I just said that I would not trust them as my only knife ? I kinda think the second statement is most likely and I could list off hundreds of other knives that I would not trust as my only knife as well !!!
Like I keep saying you have to pick a knife according to your own needs, a man who needs one for filleting fish ain't gonna have much luck with a Busse Battle mistress no matter how great the knife is and someone who needs to skin out a bull Elk is gonna find the going tough with a Bark River Mikro....so you tailor the knife to your needs, the Mora doesn't suit mine !
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Don't worry, not a flame war, just different opinions about stuff
Do you have any recommendations from buck or cold steel which would be better for a reasonable price? i'm always looking for better stuff
It's not the scales per se. Plastic "Cellidor" as a material isn't horrible, although Alox definitely isn't warm or pleasant to touch. The problem is the shape of the "handle" - it's a deformed squarish thing, with varying squarish pieces of metal sticking out of it from random points, creating a very uneven surface to hold on to. Those would be the tools that you're not using and are waiting "inside" the handle. I say "inside", because they're not fully in there, and will mess with the ergonomics a lot. If that isn't uncomfortable to you, then you're a lucky man, or just don't care about ergonomics. It's not something you will miss too much in two seconds of use, but try working with the knife for thirty minutes or so, and the poor ergonomics will start to get to you, unless you just don't care about that kind of thing. Some people don't - but some do.
Yeah, by many - including the people that actually manufacture them, that is to say, Mora of Sweden. They sell Moras literally by the bucketful - and that is to say 'physically piled in great number inside plastic buckets' - for a reason...
hey k-spar,
It was ages ago that I was last on the LT (like mid-to-late '90s), so I can't speak about current fire regulations. I can say that you can expect that in the most popular areas the forest will be pretty well picked over for burnable forest litter. You could make a point of picking up some handy sticks you see lying around elsewhere on the trail, well before you hit the camps, and stick it in the compression-straps I assume your pack has.
That being said, some camps are close to roads, and some other people may likely even pack in some of their own wood or fuel-source camp stoves: you may be able to bum some scraps, and/or share their fire source. I recall everyone I met being really friendly and community minded.
It was ages ago that I was last on the LT (like mid-to-late '90s), so I can't speak about current fire regulations. I can say that you can expect that in the most popular areas the forest will be pretty well picked over for burnable forest litter. You could make a point of picking up some handy sticks you see lying around elsewhere on the trail, well before you hit the camps, and stick it in the compression-straps I assume your pack has.
That being said, some camps are close to roads, and some other people may likely even pack in some of their own wood or fuel-source camp stoves: you may be able to bum some scraps, and/or share their fire source. I recall everyone I met being really friendly and community minded.