Post by digitalpublius on Sept 26, 2013 11:34:45 GMT -5
The next example of inexpensive but high quality Survival/Bushcraft knives are the storied Swedish Mora knives. This is a Mora Classic 2/0. This is another knife that I bought as a collectable. About three years ago I bought a Mora Clipper for my son and I--My oldest daughter absconded with mine. Unlike the Classic, the Clipper knives feature synthetic handles. The Classics come with a no frills plastic sheath.
The sheath has two drain holes on the back and can be worn on your belt. Famous survival expert Cody Lundin of Discovery Channel’s Dual Survival, uses a Mora classic exclusively and wears one hanging around his neck in a custom sheath. Lundin’s knife is purportedly a very old model that he has used for decades.
The distinction between the Classic #2/0 and the #2 is the #2 features a longer blade and the 2/0 has a rattail tang that runs the full length of the handle, which makes it more than capable of handling some light batoning chores.
This is another knife that is just beautiful in it’s utter simplicity. A simple red birch handle and a laminated carbon steel blade is the thing in a nut shell. Mora knives ARE available in stainless, but not as far as I’m concerned.
When you hear the term Scandi grind, the Mora knife is the epitome. Like the Finnish Puukkos (which I still don’t own but I have a Kellam in my future someday) and just about every other knife made in a Scandinavian country, the Mora has that classic single bevel grind that ends in an edge that is easy to maintain and supernaturally sharp. Trust me when I say, you never want to stab this knife into anything tougher than a marshmallow, you do not want to risk your hand slipping and coming into contact with that blade.
The knife came from the factory sharp enough to shave the fuzz off of a peach. I have tested making basic bushcraft stuff like feather sticks and tent pegs and I have yet to give the blade a touch up, it is still the sharpest knife I have ever owned. The knife stays secure in the sheath by friction.
I ordered a leather sheath from The Pathfinder School and added a paracord lanyard for neck carry. Whether you opt for a synthetic handled model like the Clipper... Or a wood handled Classic, at 12-15 bucks shipped on eBay and the like and the Pathfinder leather sheath just $16. you can't beat the value. I would have no fear taking this and only this knife into the wilderness if I had to. What you get is a knife that has reached an almost mythic status amongst survivalists and bushcrafters, if you keep the Mora oiled it will give you years of consistent service for a nominal amount of money. www.thepathfinderstore.com/