Is this really a $12 knife?!

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Another, perhaps more modern, version of the Scandi. This one wasn't $12.00 but with shipping ran me about $19.00. It is from Marttiini of Finland and is really a nice piece of gear. With a semi-soft checkered rubber handle it is very grippy even wet, the guard is nice should your hand slip and the thumb grooves help as well. Blade is mirror polished and after a few hits on the strop it is razor sharp. Still has the classic Scandi grind. Black leather sheath.

finn1.jpg

finn2.jpg
 
Hey, is that $12 knife actually MADE in Sweden? Or China? Sounds like a Chinese price. If it's made in sweden, I'll but several. Try to steel clear of Chinese products in general.
 
Yep, they're made in Sweden, really nicely finished, great heat treat, good steel. The only drawback is that the sheaths are somewhat cheap thermoplastic.
 
I like the cheap thermoplastic sheaths. They seem to hold the knife firmly with friction so there is no pesky strap to deal with and they easily rinse clean. One thing I hate about nylon and leather sheaths is that you cant really wash them out well so you end up setting the knife down when it gets gross from guts and fish slime. I find this is an easy way to loose a knife or just plainly forget it somewhere.

Them Swedes even thought of putting a drain hole in the tip so it wont fill up with water when you are in the rain or wade in too deep.
 
I'm buying at least a couple. Thanks for the heads up on this product.
 
451 Detonics, where did you get that knife if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks,
mole
 
Marttiini

I have several of that Marttiini series (puukko, skinner, clip, "bowie") and some older ones with wooden handles, as well as some Normark knives that were made with Marttiini blades and hard plastic (phenolic?) handles.

Good stuff. Marttiini tends to polish the spine of their working knives, whereas most of my less expensive Mora knives have unfinished (rough) spines.

I am of the unapologetic opinion that one simply cannot have too many Scandinavian knives.

 
Sportsman's Guide was selling two Swedish Military Moras for $24.00, [in it's ''HQ'' catalog] so I bought my brother one for his birthday, and one for myself as a reward for being such a good brother.....
 
Good thing these are cheap. I've had my first Mora for several years now...and can't sing it's praises loud enough.

My second Mora came in today, just a plain jane #1. Only difference is that the one that came today has a red handle, nice change.

Such a wonderful knife. At this price you can afford to stock up on them for whatever use you may need.

JLaw


PS - Also in the goodie bag was an Opinel #10. Sure hoping this one has better edge retention than the last, I really want to love the Opi...
 
I love/hate these threads. They make me spend money I had other plans for.....
 
Frozen North said:
I like the cheap thermoplastic sheaths. They seem to hold the knife firmly with friction so there is no pesky strap to deal with and they easily rinse clean. One thing I hate about nylon and leather sheaths is that you cant really wash them out well so you end up setting the knife down when it gets gross from guts and fish slime. I find this is an easy way to loose a knife or just plainly forget it somewhere.

Them Swedes even thought of putting a drain hole in the tip so it wont fill up with water when you are in the rain or wade in too deep.
Click to expand...
I like the sheath for the same reason, but I've now broken two at the same point on the belt hanger. That's my only complaint. ;)
 
Do any of you know how Cold Steel compares to these Scandinavian knives? I have a couple and have been happy with them though not used much. Their tests and claims are impressive and they have knives in this same price range.
 
Cold Steel knives are generally made in China/Taiwan, use completely different steel, are priced much higher, and are made for different purposes.

I own precisely two CS products, only one of which is a knife. I own a few dozen Mora products, all of which are knives. You decide what that means.


For what it's worth, my opinion is that for the money, Mora is a FAR better product. CS is a lot of so-so steel, so-so designs, and a pile of marketing. Very few of their products are worth the price.
 
CS claims and tests are usually more impressive than their product. For the same price get the real thing.
 
451 Detonics: I just bought that exact same Marttiini knife. $25 in the backpacking section of a great little downtown department store here in Knoxville that also stocks Opinels.

Sharp out of the box. I've been using it in the kitchen and on a belt when grilling. Handle is non-traditional, but plenty big, comfy, and grippy. Really like it so far. Seems shockingly good for the money.

Once it dulls I'll hit YouTube and learn how to sharpen a Scandinavian grind knife.
 
I have read so many glowing reports about Mora knives that I have two on order. I am trying to resist an Opinel.
I got one Mora to get my wife to try in the kitchen. If it can be easily dulled she will do it.

Regards,
Jerry
 
I'm not trying to bust anyone's balls...

But I simply can NOT fathom why anyone would pay $5 additional for a Mora CLONE that:
* Isn't laminated steel
* Isn't scandi ground
* Isn't made in scandinavia

I wish we had a 'scratching head' smiley.

I am trying to resist an Opinel.
Click to expand...

Don't resist. They ROCK. I carried their largest model (huge!) for a while, and It was a great knife. It will hold a good edge with its carbon steel blade whether you are making delicate slices or troweling caulk.

I liked it so much, I had to order the folding saw they build on the same frame. These days, both knives live in my camping bag, where they perform admirably.
 
Moras are great, especially old ones. Marttiinis... and I mean contemporary designs - not so great. It would be much more accurate if Marttiinis label said "Marttiini, China".

And 451 Detonics. Regrettably, it is most definitely not a "classic scandi-grind" :)
 
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