Mora Knives Revisited: What do you like about them and what do you not like?

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Let's discuss Mora knives, everyone. By Mora Knives I include mainly the actual Swedish-made knives such as the Mora classic fixed blades as well as the more modernized ones they produce with polymer handles and sheaths and stainless steel blades.

If you want you can include Finnish Puukkos and Norwegien knives such as the Helle fixed blades in this discussion.

And so: What are some of what you personally consider to be their strong issues and what do you consider to be their weak issues that can be improved?

To my surprise I heard a man who is into knives actually put down Mora knives, claiming they have a bad fit and finish in comparison to other factory-produced knives from Europe and America and Asia.

But they seem to have been very well-used by the Scandinavian peoples!

I personally love Mora knives as well as other Scandinavian knives. I love the Swedish laminated steel, too.

[bearfacedkiller]

I use a Mora Companion a lot. I have way too many outdoor fixed blades including some rather expensive ones. I still grab that humble $15 knife as much or more than all the others. It is the best value I have found in the knife world.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I use a Mora Companion a lot. I have way too many outdoor fixed blades including some rather expensive ones. I still grab that humble $15 knife as much or more than all the others. It is the best value I have found in the knife world.

Great point. I have another question for you on this, since you are one of our resident Scandinavian knife experts: Is it my imagination or is there truth to this? I noticed that there seemed to be a "peak period" when Finnish puukko knife makers really were very much into using quality plastics/polymers for their knife handles, back in the 1980s to early 2000s period, and then that began to decline, and they went back to using more natural materials such as wood and bone and birch wood and things like that. Is this true or not? It kind of bums me out because while I do like well-fashioned natural materials, I am a lover of plastics and polymers and synthetics and they are lighter and more durable. If this decline in plastic handles is true, what caused it? Lack of market interest because most of those into Scandi knives want the natural materials?

[MichaelScott]

I love Helle knives. Functionally they may not be significantly better than cheap Mora knives, but knowing they are hand made buy actual people makes a big difference to me.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I love Helle knives. Functionally they may not be significantly better than cheap Mora knives, but knowing they are hand made buy actual people makes a big difference to me.

Michael, Helle knives are excellent. Helle said they do not plan on adding knives with synthetic handle materials such as plastics or G10. As a satisfied Helle customer do you accept that or do you wish they would add FRN and G10 handles to their knives?

[MichaelScott]

I love Helle knives. Functionally they may not be significantly better than cheap Mora knives, but knowing they are hand made buy actual people makes a big difference to me.

Michael, Helle knives are excellent. Helle said they do not plan on adding knives with synthetic handle materials such as plastics or G10. As a satisfied Helle customer do you accept that or do you wish they would add FRN and G10 handles to their knives?

I would be saddened if they gave up wood and traditional materials like brass and leather. I mean, I like G-10 and FRN in Spyderco knives, but makers like Helle and Great Eastern Cutlery that use traditional materials (yes, along with micarta and acrylic) with predominantly hand work and assembly get my attention more than injection plastic handles and robot assembly striving for low cost and high volume.

[cycleguy]

Hi,

I have a Mora Kansbol stainless. Honestly, something I would never have purchased on my own, but, it was a freebee included with a tool purchase I made.

I've recently started to use it with fire making tasks here at the house... so, wood starter shavings, fire sticks, and will soon try splitting small logs with it. Just something I can't bring myself around to doing with a more expensive and more attractive fixed blade.

So to answer your question... PRICE! And I also like that it doesn't come from China. I'm going to use and abuse this one. If it breaks or gets ruined it won't bother me at all. So far I like the Scandi grind and the grip is comfortable in hand when applying a lot of force to it

I wouldn't know what they could do to improve the knife and keep the price the same or less.

I'll likely be purchasing a Mora carbon model of thicker blade stock in the near future to mess around with too, it retails less than a $20.

CG

[Halfneck]

I've got several Moras and have used them as beater knives on camping & hiking trips. For the money they are an excellent knife. And because they are so cheap you have no misgiving about using them hard.

[Mom3ntuM]

I'm a little ashamed that as a Norwegian didn't own a mora or a helle knife, and i never have.
So today when i was out shopping ballistol i bought a Helle.
I really like the use of traditional materials. Leather and wood.
Fit and finish are ok, but different sized scales and lopsided grinds adds to the handmade feeling :)

[Woodpuppy]

I’d be sorely tempted to take the grind all the way back on that blade.

[Doc Dan]

Mora = inexpensive and dependable.

These are a pragmatist’s knives.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Doc, do you think Mora would ever consider adding a line of folding lock blades, with the basic Mora design features, like Helle of Norway and some of the Finnish companies, like Marttiini, did, that would be inexpensive but durable folders, or, not likely? And if not, why would they likely not do that?

Can you imagine a folding lockblade Mora with both natural and also synthetic materials for handles, but with the good Sandvik and carbon steel and also Scandi ground blades? Man that would be very neat.

[Doc Dan]

Doc, do you think Mora would ever consider adding a line of folding lock blades, with the basic Mora design features, like Helle of Norway and some of the Finnish companies, like Marttiini, did, that would be inexpensive but durable folders, or, not likely? And if not, why would they likely not do that?

Can you imagine a folding lockblade Mora with both natural and also synthetic materials for handles, but with the good Sandvik and carbon steel and also Scandi ground blades? Man that would be very neat.

They probably will now that Helle and Enzo have done it.

[Doc Dan]

I am interested in Helle’s new pocket knife. It is a small mid back lock wi.th a 55mm./2.16” blade. It’s called the Kletten or something like that. It has triple laminated steel and curly birch.