Wilderness Knife

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kayak-am

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Jul 5, 2010
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Hi everybody,

This is my first post, so if its in the wrong area, sorry about that. Also, if this has already been covered, again, sorry.

I'm planning on taking the 28 day field course at the Boulder Outdoor Survival School, and I need to find a good knife. They recommend the Mora Bushcraft Triflex. It seems like a decent tool, and it is what they recommend but, after reading about them, I feel like they are not as strong as some of the other knives on the market. I have yet to read anything bad about a Fallkniven F1, and I am seriously considering getting one. It looks like a much tougher knife, even though it costs about 4 times as much.

I also like the Becker Companion, and its about middle in terms of price. I can barely find anything on it (I probably haven't been looking in the right places).

Can anyone point me to some literature on how the three knives compare to each other, or perhaps (I feel like I'm opening a can of worms,) suggest another knife that would work better for an extended, primitive skills expedition, that will continue to be a good knife for many years and adventures?

Thanks
 
I have and use an F1 regularly, and find it to be a great choice. I feel the Companion, while a good knife, is a little too large for what you will be doing. Nothing wrong with the mora, it is inexpensive, and will get the job done. I also have a brkt aurora and northstar as well as a Koster Bushcraft (several). Of all these knives, the one I use the most tends to be the Koster. If you are in the Denver area, I would be happy to have you come by and compare, hold, and use any of the above.... I have three moras as well.
 
since you are going in a group with instructors the robustness of your blade is'nt paramount. if you do break your blade i imagine another will be available from another student or instructor. many of our bushbeaters do just fine with the mora.
 
I have never owned a Mora, but in my experience if an instructor recommends an item for their course then I get it / carry it. If you want to take a second knife and it is allowed, fine. As to the two knives you mentioned to take instead, the F1 appears to be similiar to the Mora, the Becker is not.

Remember, the instructors know what you will actually be using the knife for, so if they recommend a Mora size knife........

Just my 2 cents,
 
the Mora is an inexpensive (not cheap) knife that is very well up to survival scenarios- it's a scandi grind so there are certain things it really excels at- feather sticks for one

on the other hand the F1 is a more robust knife w/ a convex grind- while it doesn't make feather sticks nearly as easily as a Mora, it does split wood better and the edge stays longer

you won't regret either knife, I prefer the F1 as it is pretty much bomb proof (that does come as a weight penalty over the more svelte Mora though)
 
Well, you can go wrong with any of the 3 knives you mention. Ive owned the Mora and currently own both the F1 and the BK2.

Ive only used the Mora at work where we used them for all sorts of stuff, cutting scraping, prying etc. They got pretty abused and the edge would wear down real fast. Ive never used it for bushcraft so i cant comment on its abilities, but alot of people vouch for it.

It sounds like youve read up on the F1...and its all true! Its a magnificent knife for outdoor use. Good ergonomics, tough blade-construction and a decent slim zytel sheath. Edge-retention is pretty good and its stainless too. I like it alot.

The BK2 is also great but overbuilt for my needs. The thickness of the blade adds some noticeable weight, but it still handles every task ive thrown at it well.

Id go with the F1.
 
Welcome to the forums!

The B.O.S.S school from what I have read will test your stamina in the high desert. You will be doing alot of walking and learning to survive with minimal gear. The BK-2 is a big heavy knife and I wouldn't consider it for this course. The Mora or F1 will be all you need. Mora knives are great cutting tools and have with stood the test of time. However, I don't like the sheaths they come with. I feel the F1 is a much safer and secure way to go. That said, they both use different grinds. Do you know how to sharpen a scandi or convex ground knife?

If money is no object, I would get both and practice, practice, practice.. You can then choose to bring the one you prefer after putting each through their own paces.

Best of luck, and it would be nice if you stopped by after the course and told us how you felt about it.

Best regards,

Tony
 
Go with the Mora. You've taking their course, so listen to their recommendations.

I used only Moras for 30+ (?) years and they did everything I ever asked of them. Now I own several different makes and models (BRKT, ESEE, Beckers [including BK-2] and some customs) but would still not feel shortchanged if all I had was a Mora. (Never owned a Fallkniven but by all reports, a great knife).

Defiinitely don't take a BK-2 for this trip. They're great knives, but way overkill for this application. BTW, there is a Becker sub-forum in BladeForums -click on Community at the top of the page then scroll down to Becker.

Have fun, learn lots, report back, and welcome to BladeForums.

Doc
 
Contact John of JK Knives or Mark Wohlwend or any of the other great makers we have on this forum. Tell them you want a knife very similar to a Mora but full tang ,tell them what your budget is and see what they can do for ya !
 
Welcome to the forums!


tonym said:
...I would get both and practice, practice, practice...

You can then choose to bring the one you prefer after putting each through their own paces.
Click to expand...



+1 :thumbup: Tony offers up some good advise right there. :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
The Mora Triflex is a very tough knife. If you break it, you were trying to, IMO. I think the only reason I would give the Mora the nod before the F1 is, you will be going ultra light. IIRC the BOSS school only allows a blanket, water bottle and knife. If you have to sharpen your knife in the field, the Mora will be easier to get sharp with natural stones.
The sheath is very secure on the Triflex, as with all thier new line of beefed up blades.
If I was going to BOSS, I would take one of my Puukkos, just for the photo ops, like the Javenpaa Aito or something. Or, I might just bring an old Mora 510. Being that the school is in the desert, I doubt you need anything super heavy duty. Just a wood carver and skinner. you will make a bow, and traps.
By the way..its one of my pipe dreams to attend BOSS, let us all know how it goes, please!
 
You can't go wrong with a Mora.

They are super strong knives for the money and they excel as bushcraft/woods knives.
 
How are you defining "strong"?

Are you unsure about the edge retention? Or that you won't be able to baton and pry with it? Honestly, what will you lose with a Mora over one of the other two?

Personally, I'm guilty of buying things I don't really need all the time. Right now I've got a perfectly serviceable Kelty pack and I've had to stop myself from pulling the trigger on a Mystery Ranch several times. No doubt it's "better" in some ways, but when I really stop to think about it; it's not something I need--at all (I find this fact seriously depressing, but it is what it is...). I still want it, but you may want to stop and re-evaluate what's really important for this class?

If nothing else, call the instructors and ask them their opinion on it. Ask them if any of the skills they teach would be better performed with A over B, or if B is even necessary. More information never hurt anyone.
 
gunknifenut said:
The sheath is very secure on the Triflex, as with all thier new line of beefed up blades.
!
Click to expand...

Thanks for chiming in Gene. It is good to here that Mora is making better sheaths. The ones I have had in the past always scared me... By the way, I am still a Mora hater:p
 
The other knife I'd suggest is the ESEE-3.

It's fairly small and light, but very robust, comes with one of the best, most versatile sheath systems available, comes shaving sharp, and they use 1095, specifically because it's one of the easiest steels to field sharpen with natural stones found in the wild.

Other than that, I'd go with the F1 over the Mora.
 
Welcome to Bladeforums! I moved this to the Wilderness forum. These guys love to sell you on their favorite knives. :D

Since you're going to school, I recommend you follow the first lesson: get the Mora Bushcraft Triflex. It will do just fine. An old, old, ... old ancestor of mine told me a thin sliver of flint worked pretty well, too.

But what did he know? There were no Moras around then for him to compare it to.
 
pitdog said:
Contact John of JK Knives or Mark Wohlwend or any of the other great makers we have on this forum. Tell them you want a knife very similar to a Mora but full tang ,tell them what your budget is and see what they can do for ya !
Click to expand...

I was going to suggest the same thing :thumbup: Bryan Breeden also makes a sweet blade in that size - Handy Little Knife or HLK for short;)
If your wanting production but want to keep you cost down & want full tang take a look at Condor Knife & Tool's Bushcraft series I've got the Nessie & it's a solid knife for $25 !
Welcome to BladeForums W&SS , Read & Learn alot & Share with us :)
 
I own a few Mora's, the Triflex being one of them.
Also have owned an F1. My daughter now uses it for her Guides (she is a Master Guide)
The Triflex is a good knife in my opinion, but I liked the F1 far better. That's why the
daughter got it as she needed a good knife.
Perhaps the recommendation is to have a good but inexpensive knife that you aren't
going to be too concerned about if you break it or lose it.

Enjoy your course!
Let us know how it goes, and above all Take Pictures :D:thumbup:
 
The Mora will suit you fine. If that isn't what you like, there are also Condors which are also very tough. Just remember to practice with whichever knife you choose. Don't let the knife make you think you can do it without the practice ;)
 
I'm personally no fan of Mora's. I find their thin flexible blades all wrong for my personal tastes and uses in the areas I am familiar with. However were I taking a course where the instructors recommended one I would definitely get one and then quietly stick my HEST, RC-4S, or RC-3MIL...(maybe even my Fallkniven A-1 for a heavier knife, though not sure considering the environment)... in my pack or my pocket in case it was needed and only fall back on it if it really were needed. Being prepared is always good..."going against the grain" of things right off the bat is almost always bad.

I do not own an F1 but I plan to get one, from what I can tell they are about the same size as the RC/ESEE-3 with a thicker blade. After using the A1 as much as I have if I owned one it would be in the above list I'm sure.
 
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