Morakniv Carbon Steel Fixed-Blade Bushcraft Survival Knife with Sheath and Fire Starter Black 4 3 Inch

I had two Mora knives: a Companion, and a larger General Purpose knife. When I go small game hunting, my to Mora knives always go with me into the field. The General Purpose knife I use for all my "butchering," and the companion I use for field dressing, and whatever else I need a knife for. The Mora Companion is the most well used knife in my small collection, and was the "go-to" knife for all my cutting needs. But, I was always a little hesitant to use either knife for heavier-duty work. The blades are strong, but a little thin should I feel the need to "baton" thru something, do any serious prying, or chopping. So I watched a few reviews for the Mora Bushcraft Black. When I found one on Amazon for 50 bucks (?!?!?!), I figured I'd give it a try. The first thing I noticed when I took it out of the package was the weight. This knife is significantly and noticeably heavier than the Companion, and that extra weight is biased towards the blade, which is where I want it! The blade is thicker, wider, and a tiny bit longer than the Companion as well. It also has a flat grind on the spine of the blade, which I'm told is needed for effective striking on a fire steel. The handle fills and fits my hand perfectly (I typically wear a large glove), and while plush, does not feel overly soft or sloppy (like it may someday slip-off the inner plastic core). Overall, the knife is very comfortable and solidly built. I bought the Bushcraft Combo, which came with a fire steel (that mounts pretty securely on the sheath) and a diamond sharpener, which looks glued to the sheath. The fire steel seems like a decent size, and should last a long time, as long as I don't break it off. It is held in place by a series of "fingers" and a small bump in the sheath, just above the "handle" of the fire steel. It overall seems like a fairly sturdy setup, though time will tell the truth of it. The diamond sharpener, while a nice touch, is a bit too course for my taste. I won't be using it to sharpen my Moras, though it may be ok for an axe or machete, in a pinch. It is also a bit too bright/reflective for such a "tactical" knife. Also of some (small) concern is the blade finish. Once sharpened a few times, I'm sure the black finish will get ruined, but being carbon steel, I may be able to use bluing paste or vinegar patina to repair the finish...we'll see. If I had to complain about something, it would definitely be the diamond sharpener, and possibly the sheath. The diamond sharpener seems too course for a fine edge on a Scandi-grind knife. Perhaps time will change my mind, but I doubt it. Also, it is very bright, almost reflective. Everything else is black/satin. Also I guess Scandinavians like to carry their knives very low. My Companion rides a bit low, this knife rides a bit lower. The knife comes with two belt slides: one that is an easy-on/off clip (for everyday narrower belts) and one for wider, tactical belts (no clip, must be threaded through). Both clips seem to make the knife ride a bit lower than I'd like, and having the clips on a pivot means that eventually the sheath/knife are going to start "swinging" back and forth with movement, which I am not a fan of. Lastly, make sure you push the little retaining tab on the sheath back out (away from the knife) when you install whichever belt clip you decided on, or that little tab will mar the finish of the handle when you sheath the knife. That all said, the sheath has a fairly positive lock on the knife when sheathed. Mora really does a nice job of "minimalist retention." No snaps, no Velcro, no elastic or nylon straps, just a nice "grip" on the handle, which you can feel and hear every time you sheath the knife. If I could buy it again, I might save a little coin and forgo the sharpener and fire steel combo. Bottom line: this is a solid, functional knife for the masses. Do you camp? Do you hunt? Do you fancy a little light bushcraft? Do you like spending small money for big returns? If you do, this is the knife for you! I won't replace my Companion on hunting trips with this knife, I'll just be carrying TWO fine Mora knives on my belt;) Read more

If you take nothing else from this review, let it be this: This is a fantastic knife. Period. The fit and finish are immaculate, the black coating on the blade has not blemished yet, the knife stays sharp, I just love this knife. Have no real need for the magnesium fire starter that I'm aware of, but it's there and the spine of the blade is ground sharp enough to make sparks without worrying about dulling the other business end of the blade. Have had no need for the diamond sharpener yet, the knife arrived very sharp from the factory, but it's nice to know it's there. I've been eating with it as my go-to knife for a couple weeks now. It will cut through a bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin by lightly pushing down on it, there is absolutely no sawing motion needed - this baby comes pretty doggone sharp! Never mind the cheap paper plate in my pictures, I just hate doing dishes. I'll skimp on my plates, but not on my knives! And you do need to be careful with a paper plate when using this knife - it will chop through it like it were butter. It appears that the tang extends up to about an inch away from the end of the handle, as evidenced by a neodymium magnet test. Certainly is well-made, not full-tang, but I doubt that it will ever fail you with normal or extreme use. (Better get a lawyer for that last comment) Sheath is pretty nice, it's a hard plastic, has a provision for the magnesium fire starter, which fits in snugly, and the diamond sharpener seems to be fixed securely in place. Comes with two belt attachments, one for a regular-sized belt, and another that looks to be made for the wider police/law enforcement-sized belts. I buy a lot of knives. Many of them are one-of-a-kind customs built to my specs, and cost many times what this knife is offered for. For me to get this excited about a factory-made production knife is kind of a big thing for me. It's stout, yet elegant. It's sleek, yet robust. It's relatively inexpensive, yet not cheap. You will love this knife. Trust me. If you don't like eating steaks, I'd probably trust this blade to be a real contender as a melee weapon for a zombie apocalypse. Read more

So I am getting around to reviewing this knife. I have had it two of these over the years. To preface this: I do not use the Mora for exceptionally heavy tasks- this knife is primarily for general utility if I am camping and is a light life for day hikes. That being said, I think the knife performs very well for the price. It has a sharp spine which is really useful to strike a rod and the sheath is great- weather resistant. I love the feel of the knife in the hand- makes a good knife for small wood work. While I use my larger camp knives ie Bark River or Tops Kukri for hardier work, this little guy gets the job done. Is it the best hunting knife? No. Is it a woods chopper or heavy mover? No. But it IS perfect for general use and I haven't managed to break it yet Edge- edge is sharp out of box- I like the grid and the knife takes an edge pretty well. Grip- No real hot spots, feels kind of like some knives I have for fishing purposes. Testing- Whittling, striking rods, digging and processing small kindling. General camp use and food prep. Performed as expected to me. I would say 5 stars - while the knife would benefit from being a touch thicker, I haven't bent it so I am generally satisfied. For the price, you cannot get a better blade. Lot's of pics up for this knife so I'll spare you! Read more