Mora

[AStone]

I came here to confess.

Several THR members - among them, Arfin and Hso - have recommended Moras for years.

I looked, I passed them up for more expensive knives.

Recently, on an excursion to learn more about Scandi grinds
before investing in a Spyderco Bushcraft, I bought a Mora Companion. $21 delivered.

Holy ...

Has already moved into the top two best knives I've owned in 6 decades.

Just something about that Scandi grind that makes for good carving.

Can't wait to get the Spydie.

 

[Mr. Tettnanger]

Moras ROCK!

I have several. I also had a Spyderco Bushcraft and foolishly sold it off. I am in the process of acquiring a new one!

 

[AStone]

Tett, I saw the SBC just weeks ago in a link.
When I saw the image and read the description,
I knew right then and there that it was my knife,
the one I've been looking for ... 5 decades.

I'm negotiating it right now.

In the mean time, this Mora rocks.

I've also discovered strops.

Well, I'll put it this way. I knew of them as a kid,
I bought this one months ago, but only tonight,
on the cusp of a new year, when others are out partying,
I'm stroping an Izula, an ESEE 3 and a Mora and understanding
the process both rationally and intuitively for the first time.

Sharp.

 

[Isaac's Grandpa]

I have a couple that came over from Sweden with my great-grandfather. I have one I bought about 20 years ago also if I can remember where I put it.

 

[BLB68]

Love my Mora. I wish there was a local dealer nearby so I could get mora them. (Because the wife always notices when I order a new knife online and I get the "not another knife" biz.)

 

[hso]

Can't wait to get the Spydie.

Try the Morakniv Bushcraft first.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Mora are a best buy IMO!

 

[Kjay]

IMHO, Mora knives are possibly the best bang-for-the-buck items in the knife world. I bought my first in 1998, a Mora 2000, and was shocked at the quality of the blade and the cutting ability. I've had expensive custom knives that were inferior cutters to the Mora. Sold them and bought more Mora's. When you can but this kind of working performance for $10-$30 why spend big bucks on more expensive and over-hyped knives? No they aren't prybars or fierce "tactical" blades. But they do what a knife is supposed to do - superb cutting. I've heavily used that Mora 2000 and it shows but she sharpens up easily and keeps on cutting all kinds of things. Carbon of stainless - take your choice they're all good.

 

[AStone]

^ Yup. Well said. That's what I'm finding. Just shocked at the carving ability.

I've been away from carving for decades, but am getting back to it now as a large part (main) of my study of bushcraft. The Mora is making carving fun again (after decades of being slowed by different knife designs, most of which were ridiculously wrong for carving).

Try the Morakniv Bushcraft first.

Probably too late. I've already pulled the trigger (unless the guy selling it backs out, and I have no reason to think he will).

But I've looked at that Mora and know it's a good one. I'll probably add it.

"Hello, my name is Nem, and I'm a Moraddict."

"Hello, Nem."

 

[AStone]

Hso, is this the one you like?

There are at least a couple of options.

I've got a fire steel, so don't really need the integrated one.

 

[hso]

Hope you got a killer deal on the Spydie.

You got more "addictions" than most.

 

[AStone]

Hope you got a killer deal on the Spydie.

If it goes through, trust me on this: killer deal.

He wants a knife I no longer want, and has one I want to try.
No $ other than shipping. I call that 'killer'.

You got more "addictions" than most.

Laughs.

And fortunately, my addictions are all about learning as much as I can about a tool before I buy it, making sure that it will contribute in a positive way to my survival in wild, unforgiving conditions, like those just outside tonight, where temps are in the teens F, going lower before dawn, and there's a foot of snow on the ground.

 

[AStone]

Next question.

What combination of stones and strops are best
for sharpening Moras in 1) home and 2) camp?

 

[hso]

I call that 'killer'.

I'd agree!

What combination of stones and strops are best

I thought you already had sharpening gear? You don't need anything special for this, just maintain the bevel.

 

[AStone]

I thought you already had sharpening gear?

For years, I had nothing but sandpaper.

Last month, I finally got a Lansky Turnbox 4. But there are issues with it and Scandi, I read. I want stones. Some of those Japanese water stones. But not yet in the budget. Hopefully soon.

You don't need anything special for this, just maintain the bevel.

Yes, I got the bevel part.

But on what surface? Diamond? Stone? Hone? Strop?

 

[hso]

I hardly ever use my water stones.

Also, abrasive paper on a piece of float glass allows you to have as many fine grades of abrasive as you like without having to pay for stones.

A simple pair of diamond along with a single ceramic rod should do the trick nicely.

 

[AStone]

I look forward to investing in a nice set of medium and fine grit water stones. There are several reasons, one of which has zero to do with sharpening and something of a more ... mythical personal factor having to do with water and stones ... a story for another day.

Also, abrasive paper on a piece of float glass

Typos can be so much fun. Thanks for the smile.

 

[hso]

Nem,

That's not a typo.

 

[Elkins45]

Float glass is flat glass: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Float_glass

BTW I think the Erikkson 511 style is the best bargain of all the Moras. You can find them for <$10 all over the Internet. There's a shop near me that sells the carbon ones for $7 and the stainless ones for $9. The stainless version is the 546 and it has a blue handle. The last one I bought was stamped Mora but the older ones still said KJ Erikkson.

 

[R H Clark]

Water stones are fine if you really like the process of sharpening.They will require at bit of care and prep.

If you just want sharp knives without a lot of fuss get a double sided,large size DMT in medium and fine.Something like what is sold on Bob Dozier's site. Everyone who uses a knife needs to learn how to hand sharpen.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Love my Mora.

 

[Kingcreek]

I have and use several scandi blades including my grandfathers from Sweden. I use an old Buck hard Arkansas set or the spyderco sharp maker ceramic sticks but don't use the preset angles. I strop on the rough side of a peice of leather or the back of a belt. My favorite scandi is probably the roselli carpenters knive, a hand forged Norwegian.

 

[Stainz]

Here is a moose of a Mora - the High Q Robust. I had to pay $18 + $4.99 s/h last June for mine - it's a bit hard to find (Still available at an AMAZing site ON the web.). Here it is with the venerable Buck 119 'Special' - or as I call it, my kitchen knife:



The Robust has a CS blade of .126" (3.2mm), making it a bit thicker than the usual ~.096" Mora blade, although they share the same size/type handles. I am not sure how it differs from the Mora Bushcraft - other than price. The Buck 119 is still a hard act to follow - in the woods or kitchen. It was a $34 item, below dealer cost, at WallyWorld for years - gone from my local stores nowadays. US made, except for the sheath - 420HC, a SS, and a long bevel/hollow-grind. A 'classic' short Bowie-style... a bit larger than the Mora line. Then there is my new favorite - the Condor Bushlore!

Stainz

 

[BullRunBear]

Mora knives are my favorite fixed blade knives. I think they offer the best quality for the money. Most of them cost under 15 bucks. (I like Case CV folders for pocket knives.)

I used oil stones for years. Now I get the best results with DMT diamond hones, the 6" x 2" versions on a steel plate base. I have the coarse, fine and extra fine versions and they cover all my sharpening needs for knives, plane blades, and so on. The strop is an old piece of belt, rough side up, tacked to a piece of scrap pine board and impregnated with White Gold stropping compound.

Don't know about others but I find hand sharpening to be calming and therapeutic.

Jeff

 

[Elkins45]

Don't know about others but I find hand sharpening to be calming and therapeutic.

Jeff

Before I married all my knives were razor sharp because I would sharpen them while watching TV in the evenings. It was very relaxing.

Now my wife says the sound makes her teeth hurt, so I have to sharpen them in the basement.