I worked with Hank at Green Earth Survival School over the weekend, along with Amanda from the Oxbow Eco Center, and also had my young friend Zach helping out. This was the basic wilderness survival class directed towards Scouting groups.
At one point, I was trying to film Hank as he explained how to fletch arrows and darts with primitive materials, he reached for his knife, and pulled out his Mora Companion. As he started using it, he commented that I had exposed him to them as a low-cost knife that provides excellent service.
I chuckled, since I, too, was wearing a Mora Companion in stainless steel.
And Zach, wearing his Clipper 840MG
The irony is that we all have more expensive options, with more bells and whistles some even with us. For example, I also had my Randall #5-6 Camp & Trail knife with me, something that is worth more than what I paid for my first car. (BTW, Randall’s wait time for a knife ordered today is currently listed at FOUR YEARS!). We HAD options. But we all opted for the Moras.
Just why would we opt for knife that costs under $20? Balance. Heft. Edge holding ability. Comfort. Cost. These reasons and more make it the perfect go-to knife.
Balance
The knife fits securely in your hands, with the blade extending at just the right angle for comfortable use. And the things just SCREAMS to be thrown at a target! It was the first comment I received from RidgeRunner when he got his. And Zach had to be asked to stop throwing his, at least until the crowds left. Then we spent 45 minutes practicing our knife throwing with them 🙂
Heft
Light enough to use for extended periods, yet heavy enough to use on most knife skills requiring a heavy knife. I’d hate to try to chop a tree down with it, but batoning firewood or light chopping duties are just fine.
Edge holding ability
Sharpen them, and they just hold an edge. A few weeks ago, RidgeRunner used his to dress and skin a deer he shot with his muzzleloader, and his comment to me was “I didn’t have to sharpen it once as I used my Mora to field dressed the deer, skinned it, then quarter, cut up and package the meat. Amazing!”
Comfort
As far as the Companion model goes, the handle isn’t wood, stag horn, or even micarta (its a rubber and plastic composite), it does offer a decent non-slip surface, and the shape fits into my hand nicely.
(Mora does offer several models with wood handles.)
Cost
On top of everything else, if you pay more that $20 or one, you were robbed. They can be found all over the web for $15-$20. For the cost of a McDonald’s stop (you really aren’t still eating that garbage, are you?), you could purchase a knife that would provide a lifetime of quality service. And if it didn’t last a lifetime or you lost it somehow, you wouldn’t cry the blues about your out-of-pocket expense.
I’ll close with this. If you have a friend, loved one, family member, or complete stranger that enjoys the outdoors, get them a Mora for Christmas. They may raise an eyebrow at you for a moment, but let them handle the knife for a few minutes, and they WILL be sold on it. Trust me.
Peace,
db
Previous posts regarding Mora knives:
Mora of Sweden’s model 11863 Companion MG (My first review!)
Review: MORA OF SWEDEN 11824 COMPANION STAINLESS STEEL KNIFE
Mora of Sweden’s model 11863 Companion MG Guest Update
Great write up! Moras were my first knives and I still love them. Also oddly enough my Buck Hoodlum cost more than at least one car i owned and drove for 4 years!
Thank you, Kind Sir! Your post today was mighty fine too….
To be honest, my Randall cost more than at least 6 different cars I’ve owned over the years….and I can lump three of them into one total, and still not have cost as much 😛
(I have been known to drive some REAL beater cars)
You can’t go wrong with a knife that has all that to offer – especially one that costs so little. Another little plus – they make very descent throwing knives. That’s not something most people recommend doing with the majority of knives out there, especially the more costly ones, but I’ve yet to damage or break my Mora. When I master that no-spin throwing technique I’ll really be able to impress the kiddies.
They really DO beg to be thrown, don’t they? I’ve not even come close on that no spin throwing style though….
As someone just starting to build a bug out bag, I’ve been doing a lot of research on the basic tools I’ll need. Mora is a name that keeps coming up when it comes to knives, so I appreciate a good write up on them. Thanks!
Buy a Mora, put it in your bag. Then go out, find “what you want” in a knife, spend a LOT more for The One…carry it a bit, then go back to the Mora…
I did 😛
In my case, I opted for a $400-ish Randall #5 Camp & Trail….and while I DO use the Randall from time to time…my every day goto is a Mora.
Thanks for the kind words,
db