The Mora Knife of Sweden

The region aroung Mora, Sweden, has been known for centuries as a source of quality steel articles, including knives. About 110 years ago Erik Frost began making knives and developed a style that became popular.  This general style of knife is called a Mora knife  and is still made by two companies in Mora that trace their anscestry from Erik Frost.  The companies are Frost Knivfabric and Eriksson Knives.  Mora knives have become a favorite for all outdoor activities, including Scandinavian construction workers, foresters, and is a real favorite of survival and bushcraft folks.



Mora knives come in several variations, with plastic handles, in a version with a laminated steel blade, and in the traditional wooden handle handle shown above.   I learned about Mora knives from my friend Bryan, who told me and my backpacking class about the reputation of Mora knives being used to cut down trees by pounding the full tang knife into the tree, then pounding it back and forth to cut wood fibers.  It is also reputed to be able to be driven into a tree, then support a man's weight on it.  That seems like a stretch to me, but you'll find reference to people testing that claim. 

On a hike the fall of '06 we found a tree that had a cut off branch wound that had become fat wood, from saturated and dried sap.  We used a rock to pound Bryan's Mora knife into the hard wood to chip out lengths of fat wood.  Not many knives would take that kind of abuse.

The more inportant thing is that the knife comes wicked sharp out of the box, holds an edge, is easy to sharpen, and is tough and durable.  My Mora knife has a snug fitting plastic sheath, and can be worn on the belt or hanging around the user's neck. It has laminated steel, with the center steel being harder, sandwiched between two layers of softer steel.  The combination results in a knife that holds an edge, and is very tough.  The knife has the traditional Scandinavian bevel on the edge, rather than being hollow ground like a lot of knives.  To sharpen it, you put all the metal of the bevel portion on the stone, and remove metal from the entire bevel.  That means removing a little more metal, but it also means that the angle set at the factory remains constant after many sharpenings. 

Being a backpacker, I'm more used to Swiss Army knives and folders than fixed blade knives, but having a razor sharp fixed blade knife makes some camp chores go well, like cleaning fish and fire building.  Its very light, and now I wouldn't think of hiking without it.  The big surprise is.... it sells for less than $20, and often closer to $10.  You'll see Mora knives on ebay, and knife sellers on the web.  Get a Frost or Eriksson Mora knive and let me know how you like it.

Comments

[Artorios]

A single-edge knife that can cut through trees? Incredible!

The price is quite reasonable.

[Scott B.]

Knifeys call the grind a "Scandi grind." By far the best information page masquerading as a shop for these knives is Ragnar's Ragweed Forge. I love the fact that such a serious and iconic knife is made of common materials, by the many thousands, and sells for $15 or less.

[Debby E Fitzgerald]

i'm 55 years old and have had hundreds of knives over the years.the moras have become my handsdown favorites in less that two weeks use!

[Natural-Outlaw]

At age 52, I have had many knives with most being made by well known manufacturers. Yet, over the last 13-years, I use Mora knives exclusively for hunting and camping as well as in the kitchen. I have found nothing else performs as well as the Scandi grind, along with the excellent and well tempered steel. These knives are the finest regardless of price. The price only enhances their value. Most knives today are manufactured to appeal to our testosterone levels rather than function. These Scandinavian knives, including most of the Finnish knives, put function ahead of form. They are made to be used and used hard.

[Jay]

I just purchased four Mora knives from the guy at ragweedforge. Two 860's with stainless blades, a 740 and a number 1 both with carbon steel blades. The transaction was first-class. I got the shipment in two business days priority mail. Natural-Outlaw nails it in the above comment regarding the quality here. Don't let the price fool you. This is a serious value. Three of these knives will be gifts and I'm already reccommending them to every guy I know who works or plays outdoors. Cheers.

[Cor Viljoen]

I have a Erik Frost rostfri knive. Model # 2615. Can you tell me what its worth?

[mlapasaran]

I have a Mora Classic #1 and Mora 711. The #1 has a wooden handle and the #711 has a rubbery/plastic handle. Both knives are made of carbon steel, holds an edge and easy to sharpen. I use both knives in backpacking, out of town trip with family and in the kitchen. Great knives at a price of less than US$15 each. I own a machete and several multi tool (Victorinox and Leatherman) but I prefer my Mora on our of town trips and excursion.

[ReginaPhalange]

I recently got a Mora 860--green plastic handle and sheath with a thin layer of textured rubber bonded to the grip portion of the handle. Made a couple of improvements to the sheath--one, having to do with the way it's carried and the other, adding a piece of cord to keep the knife more secure in the sheath. Just today I drilled a hole in the handle for a wrist lanyard.

I first sharpened it to get rid of those ugly factory grind marks and I maintain the edge by stropping on a leather strop with honing compound.

It's become my favorite knife for yard work and practicing bushcraft skills I may never need to use. :)