We have descriptions of Bushcraft Knives, but other than Military Survival knives what is the definition of "The Survival Knife" ?
I think this answer is the dot on "i" in this thread!
My definition of a survival knife is that knife compact and lightweight enough to remain pasted to your body when you are so exhausted that you start dropping off everything you have to run faster for your life. For this reason I don't understand people talking about big bowie knives, machetes, Kukris, and bolos, when it comes to survival.
When we talk about planned camping and expeditions, yes, for sure your primary tool should be something big and sturdy. However,
if things go wrong, that's when we talk about survival. If you get attacked when you've just put your backpack away to go to the "toilet", and you run for your life while your friends get eaten alive screaming behind you, then you have the survival knife with you, being that compact knife that you have never left over from your strap or belt (not even when you sleep; not even when nature calls). Everyone should judge for himself what's the maximum size and weight for a knife to fit that purpose. I think all of the Moras fit in that ecuation. I think the Cold Steel SRK size is the maximum size knife that can fit that purpose (and that may still be a little heavy/large for some people depending on physionomy).
Mora knives (including the standard Companion, Pro-S, Pro-C, Bushcraft, 2000, and Kansbol; and even the basic) have significant advantages that make them preferred by so many people:
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Lightweight like a feather (so light for its size, that you can wear it all the time without feeling an extra-weight).
* Made of materials that are
impervious to the elements and quick/easy to clean (including the sheath). You can hold it for prolonged periods exposed to direct sunlight, different substances, oils, gasoline, alcohol, and drag it through the mud, moisture, keeping it wet forever and will not degrade.
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Rigid sheath that holds it safe, without the risk of piercing through the sheath if you press it tightly in between your gear within a backpack.
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Sharp like a razor and easy to resharpen in the field, with a simple flat stone.
* Scandi grind with a very acute edge angle, which
cuts through wood with less effort than any tactical or bowie knife. As wood is the primary (and sometimes the only) material that you can find in the wilderness to process for tools, shelter, etc., cutting more time with less effort and less wear in the joint and muscles is esential.
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Ergonomic handle which is mold injected and covered with rubberized thermoplastic offers better ergonomy for extended use, especially when force cutting wood. Try cutting hardwood (like beech or oak) for 3 hours in a row with a Mora Bushcraft, then repeat the process with a Cold Steel SRK, or Fallkniven A1, or with any knife that has a micarta handle, without wearing gloves. You will understand what I mean! The Moras reduce by far the fatique and palm skin tear.
* A
very pure alloy stainless steel, which is able to
sustain an extremely thin edge (compared with high alloys and supersteels, which typically need at least 25 degrees per side to hold those carbides in a stable edge). The Mora's thin edge can cut with less effort, especially into wood (saving calories and reducing palm wear is esential in a survival situation).
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Great edge retention. The edge retention of a knife does not depend on the steel only, but also on the edge angle (the more acute, the more it will cut until resharpening is needed). A scandi Mora Companion in the stainless Sandvik 12C27 @57 HRC will do
more cuts into Manila rope than a tactical knife with a 25 degrees edge angle in 1095, AUS8, or SK-5, as well as more cuts than a Fallkniven A1 in VG10 @59 HRC that has a convex edge (source: edge retention tests publicly shared on Youtube by the Cedric & Ada channel).
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Surprisingly tough, impact resistant and abuse resistant (especially for such a thin, high performance, blade). I suggest watching the destruction tests published by Joe-X on Youtube for the Mora Companion Stainless, Mora Companion HD, as well as the same tests he did on other well known tactical and bowie knives that are well known. Not many of them resisted to the same level of abuse as the Mora.
