What can a Mora do that a SAK can't?

[mystical woodsman]

You only need a SAK, as you won't (ie: shouldn't) do any primitive-living anywhere on it, with the exception of the most extremely unlikely survival scenario.

Why would you recommend for anyone not to use the trail as a primitive-living region? I am curious is all.

 

[k-spar]

When's your trip!? I'm leaving August 1, 2008! I'm lightening down my pack in all ways except my knife. No good reasoning behind it, but a knife is just one thing that I'm not willing to trade ounces with.

Hey CanDo, I'll be leaving in about a week, and will hope to be back in time for the 4th. I'll post some of my experiences, maybe they'll be useful. Hope you have a good trip!

i would say that if you are going to be on a trail, with food and water for at least a couple of days in your pack, you should be fine with the SAK.

i personally like to sit and whittle from time to time when i am resting or at night before going to sleep, so i would bring a fixed blade (probably my trusty mora). the mora only adds a couple of ounces, so it would be worth it to me.

if you are trimming weight, and you are on a trail where there are plenty of other hikers and you won't be skinning deer and you won't be building shelter, and you won't be making fig fours...etc...then you can probably leave the mora at home safely. the SAK should do just fine, including that saw which will be handy just in case something bad actually does manage to happen (or to cut a stick to size for a hiking staff, or to make an emergency crutch, etc)

in my opinion, you are safe with the SAK

This is pretty much exactly my line of thinking now too. I'd be fine with just the SAK, but the mora will be more fun and comfortable for whittling, as well as easier for making small fuel for the wood stove.

I know that you are gonna think I'm trying to be a jerk..but I really mean this in the nicest way..if you cant carry the "extra" weight of a Mora, than hang up your boots bro. Seriously...I dont see how that could mean any extra wear or tear on your feet or knees...you would add about 3000% more weight on your legs by simply running naked.
The knife will fit almost anywhere..its light, and it will be fun around the camp. BRING IT!

I realize the mora is quite light, but this is more an issue of simplification and paring my gear down to the bare essentials.

maybe you're asking the question backwards - what can a SAK do (that absolutely has to be done) that a Mora can't? just a thought....

Interesting thought, and good point. I think though that the scissors, saw, can-opener, and tweezers are all very useful tools which the mora can't really replicate that well.

In the end though: i'm gonna bring my mora, for comfortable whittling and the ability to split easily to fuel my wood stove. Sometimes comfort and ease are worth the extra ounce

Now the question is: Mora #1 or Mora 510??

 

[siguy]

"Now the question is: Mora #1 or Mora 510?? "

haha i love my trusty #1, i have the frosts stamp with the full length tang. i think that the other stamp has something like a 3/4 tang like the 510...

 

[k-spar]

Hi Orthoclase! (sorry, just a geology joke. We abbreviate potassium feldspars as K-spar )

Someone else is as much of a nerd as I am!!! yay!!!

I just graduated with a BA in geology, and the long trail is my graduation gift to myself

 

[Grampa]

I disagree, I think {the potential for a SAK folding unexpectedly} really not a big deal as long as you use your knife in a safe way.

Most accidents aren't planned, and tend to happen when you're tired, or cold, or hungry, etc.

I thought I was being safe when a folding knife folded on me.

Accidents are just that. And Murphy is real.


A fixed blade, especially a Mora, can be very lightweight, and if you discipline yourself to always use the fixed blade when you're tired, cold, hungry, etc, you're just that much safer.

 

[Ultraman]

Yeppers, I'm a geologist too. Hard rock geologist (Igneous petrology/Geochemistry), worked as a Volcanologist, became an experimental Geochemist (aqueous geochemistry) for my PhD, then retooled to Hydrogeology when I finally finished grad school and became an adult I guess I'm nerdy AND old

We geologists are a fun group. I'll bet you, like me, enjoy being out in the field, waving your arms and pissing on outcrops (multiple working hypotheses and all that)

You're gonna enjoy your trip more 'cause of your geology background, and you won't take it all for granite ! Have fun!

 

[longbeachguy]

A Mora won't accidentally fold over onto your finger, leaving you with a nasty, soon-to-be infected cut miles by foot from the nearest emergency room.

Thread should have ended here. I love my SAK Tinker that is always with me, but I can't count the number of times I asked too much of it and it closed on my finger, giving me a nasty cut. You at least need a reliable locking folder if you are going to be doing any strenuous tip work. The SAK will fold up on you.

 

[Ultraman]

I think the OP was aware of the lower safety factor of the SAK; and a FB can still cut you as well. Murphy's Law still applies to FB as well. His original question was about functionality.

 

[k-spar]

Yeppers, I'm a geologist too. Hard rock geologist (Igneous petrology/Geochemistry), worked as a Volcanologist, became an experimental Geochemist (aqueous geochemistry) for my PhD, then retooled to Hydrogeology when I finally finished grad school and became an adult I guess I'm nerdy AND old

We geologists are a fun group. I'll bet you, like me, enjoy being out in the field, waving your arms and pissing on outcrops (multiple working hypotheses and all that)

You're gonna enjoy your trip more 'cause of your geology background, and you won't take it all for granite ! Have fun!

You breccia! Geologists are gneiss

 

[soccergod04]

How much does a Mora weigh? 6 oz? I have no idea, but it can't be so significant that I would go on a 200+ mile trek in the woods without a fixed blade. Yeahhhhhh, you could probably get by with the SAK, but two is one and one is none.

Plus batoning with a folder is no bueno.

 

[kgd]

Yeppers, I'm a geologist too. Hard rock geologist (Igneous petrology/Geochemistry), worked as a Volcanologist, became an experimental Geochemist (aqueous geochemistry) for my PhD, then retooled to Hydrogeology when I finally finished grad school and became an adult I guess I'm nerdy AND old

We geologists are a fun group. I'll bet you, like me, enjoy being out in the field, waving your arms and pissing on outcrops (multiple working hypotheses and all that)

You're gonna enjoy your trip more 'cause of your geology background, and you won't take it all for granite ! Have fun!

I think you guys maybe suffering from a few too many fluid inclusions.....

 

[CanDo]

Someone else is as much of a nerd as I am!!! yay!!!

I just graduated with a BA in geology, and the long trail is my graduation gift to myself

Likewise, I hope you have an awesome trip. Kind of funny, the long trail is my graduation gift to myself for completing high school

"if you're going to use your knife to load your wood stove, take the mora. or take your SAK and try to load your wood stove with it and see why you're going to want to use your mora instead."

in my opinion, given the SAK in question has a saw blade, this statement is backwards, or at least invalid. a mora is not the tool to use when loading a woodstove of any type, and though it can be used to cut small trees, the saw on the SAK would be much better suited (faster, cleaner cut with less effort). a mora is just as inadequate, if not more, at building shelter and starting fire as an SAK, depending on the tools in the SAK.

I would disagree. For super-light wood stoves, you're burning very fine wood. You likely would not need to chop anything at all - a brak over the knee would suffice fine. Splitting the wood is the big concern, and the Mora would definitely be better suited.

soccergod04,

I understand your question was somewhat rhetorical, but I'd guess that the mora is under 6 ounces, considering that the BRKT Aurora weighs 6 and it's a longer, thicker knife. By the way, stay tuned for the Aurora review everyone

 

[Runsalone]

How much does a Mora weigh? 6 oz? I have no idea, but it can't be so significant that I would go on a 200+ mile trek in the woods without a fixed blade. Yeahhhhhh, you could probably get by with the SAK, but two is one and one is none.

Plus batoning with a folder is no bueno.

I just finished up 335 miles of trail without a Fixed blade, wasnt a problem at all. hade a leatherman micra in the pack and a spyderco delica in my pocket. Number of knife related usings..........maybe 6. And three of those were trimming nails.

 

[soccergod04]

soccergod04,

I understand your question was somewhat rhetorical, but I'd guess that the mora is under 6 ounces, considering that the BRKT Aurora weighs 6 and it's a longer, thicker knife.

I figured it was less than that, but was trying to exaggerate a bit to make my point.

I just finished up 335 miles of trail without a Fixed blade, wasnt a problem at all.

I didn't say you couldn't do it, I simply made the point that it wasn't a lot of weight, but it is a considerable amount of insurance to have.

 

[coyotebc]

I know that you are gonna think I'm trying to be a jerk..but I really mean this in the nicest way..if you cant carry the "extra" weight of a Mora, than hang up your boots bro. Seriously...I dont see how that could mean any extra wear or tear on your feet or knees...you would add about 3000% more weight on your legs by simply running naked.
The knife will fit almost anywhere..its light, and it will be fun around the camp. BRING IT!

First off I am not up to a hike like this however my thoughts would be the extra weight of thw mora would be compensated after you emptied your first can/pack of food.

However I am not a mora fan so I'd choose something else

 

[Runsalone]

I figured it was less than that, but was trying to exaggerate a bit to make my point.



I didn't say you couldn't do it, I simply made the point that it wasn't a lot of weight, but it is a considerable amount of insurance to have.

Didnt mean to be to contradictory, soccergod! Just sharin. At least on my side of the world, as far as Long distance hiking is concerned, you just dont need much. A camping or primitive skills trip sure, but backpacking is sort of a special creature as you bring what you need on your back Personally I want as little back there as possible!!

 

[studio]

On a long distance hike people often mail a box to themselves at some point along the trail. You can also dump some of the things that just aren't getting used as well.


Not sure the duration of your hike. The longer the time/distance is when all those "extras" add up.

If you have the time I'd love to see your gear list.

Have a great hike!!
J.

 

[Runsalone]

lots of hiking info over here.......obviously http://whiteblaze.com

 

[Nuke_Spook]

I have never owned a Mora but I can honestly say that under no circumstances of my choosing would I go on an extended hike with just 1 knife. I would have to have a backup of some kind and at least one of my blades would have to be easily accessed with 1 hand (in case of injury).

 

[bacman99]

A Mora won't accidentally fold over onto your finger, leaving you with a nasty, soon-to-be infected cut miles by foot from the nearest emergency room.

BINGO!!!!!!


That is exactly why I prefer locking folders and fixed blades.