Morakniv has introduced a new Survival Kit add-on for the sheaths of two of their most popular knives – the Garberg and Kansbol. The kit simply snaps onto the polymer sheath and provides an integral diamond sharpener along with a docking point for an included firesteel. The Survival Kit will be packaged with knives or available on its own. Hopefully, these will be available in the US soon.
Morakniv has offered a special edition colorway in their popular, excellent, and affordable Basic 511 (carbon steel) and Basic 546 (stainless steel) every year for the last several years. These special colors can be a great way to pick up a Mora that stands out from all the others.
2021’s limited editions feature muted grey and green colors that look great. While both the 511 and 546 feature the same colors, their positions on the handle are swapped between the models so that they can be identified at a glance.
Apart from the limited edition colors, these are the same proven 511 and 546 that you have come to know and love. Learn more at the Morakniv webite: Morakniv.se
Morakniv’s newest addition is the Eldris LightDuty. This new version of the popular Eldris is dimensionally the same but removes a couple of features. It also has a lower price tag to match.
From Morakniv:
Here is a reliable knife for your everyday situations, a small but sharp helper to a wide range of tasks. Even though the blade is only 59 mm long and has a 2 mm thick blade, you can use Eldris LightDuty (S) in the garden, in your workshop, or even in the kitchen. Over and over again. Even though the blade is only 59 mm long and has a 2 mm thick blade, you can use Eldris LightDuty (S) in the garden, in your workshop, or even in the kitchen.
The blade is polished and made of high-quality Swedish stainless steel, and the barrel-shaped handle in polymer provides a secure and stable grip in each cut. Thanks to the material and geometry of the handle, optimal friction is created, which means that the knife always feels right in your hands. The stainless steel blade keeps sharp for a long time and is not affected by moisture or oxides making it perfect for both outdoor or indoor work. The knife can advantageously be supplemented with a belt loop. Eldris LightDuty (S) is a knife to count on, a tool for everyone. Eldris LightDuty (S) is a knife to count on, a tool for everyone.
New Eldris LightDuty (S) is available in the colours Mint Green, Dusty Blue & Dark Grey.
The marketing copy doesn’t really get into how the Eldris LightDuty differs from the original Eldris. There is one cosmetic difference in the available colors but there are two functional differences. The first functional difference is that the LightDuty has a standard Scandi grind, lacking the compound grind of the original Eldris. The second functional difference is that the LightDuty’s spine is not ground sharp for striking a fire steel.
The compound grind is hardly necessary and user’s have been grinding/filing their own sharp spines on Mora knives for years so I imagine this model will be quite popular with users who like the Eldris form but would like to save some cash.
Mora knives are no secret. Many knife users in the USA are well aware of the excellent quality and value that they offer. However, many knife users in the USA are also still hesitant about carrying them as their only knife in situations where an only knife can be very important (like backcountry travel) due to the perceived weakness of the light weight, partial tang, molded plastic handle design. This is in spite of the fact that Morakniv has moved production toward longer and wider tangs across basically all of the current Mora knives.
I feel that those fears are mostly misplaced or misinformed but I am also sympathetic to those who just want to have a bomb-proof tool they can count on. If that is you, I have good news. You don’t have to spend a lot cash to get a durable knife. You don’t have to carry 8-10 ounces of pack weight. You don’t even have to look outside of the Mora line.
Let’s take a look at why the Mora Robust and Mora Heavy Duty Companion might offer the best value in the entire Mora line.
The Robust is basically just a beefed up version the the Mora Craftsman line with its hand filling grip, ample guard, and taller, more drop point blade. The Heavy Duty Companion is a beefed up version of the Companion series. Both of these knives have very similar dimensions to the other knives in their respective lines with one key difference… They have thicker, 1/8″ carbon steel blade stock. This stock is considerably thicker than most other Mora knives in their price range but still thin enough to cut very well.
These knives are more durable than other similar knives in their lines but they are still very affordable. The Robust sells for $10-15 and the Heavy Duty Companion with its longer blade and finished spine sells for $17-25. Morakniv offers other 1/8″ thick models but they all cost $40 or more. The Mora Bushcraft Black is often touted as the best value in the Mora line but these two knives together cost less than half of a Bushcraft Black while offering most of the functionality, all of the durability, and less weight.
If you like the typical drop point blade shape (a very common blade shape in the US), the Mora Robust might be more your speed. It has a taller blade with a deeper belly than those we are used to seeing from Mora which will likely appeal to those of us in the US who are very used to this shape.
It weighs just 135 grams or 4.76 ounces (including the sheath and the “ranger band” I use for secondary retention) with a 3.6″ blade. Don’t let the light weight trick you into believing this knife isn’t “Robust”. The tang is very wide and extends almost the full length of the handle. There are very, very impressive torture test videos online for this knife and I am confident in saying that it is a tool you can trust.
The Robust feels great in the hand. It has a hand filling, rubberized grip and a full guard that ensure the knife stays put in your grip and is comfortable for long periods of work. If you like a pronounced guard or plan to use this for field dressing game, this might be the one for you.
The Companion Heavy Duty has a blade shape more like what is typically seen on Mora knives. It is shorter in height and longer in length than the Robust. The point sits lower in relation to the spine and more in line with the handle which is common among “bushcraft” knives.
The Companion Heavy Duty has a longer 4.1″ blade but weighs only a few grams more than the Robust due to the shorter height of the blade (138 grams or 4.86 ounces including the sheath and the “ranger band” I use for secondary retention). It too has a robust, nearly full length tang.
This knife also has a slightly more hand filling handle than typically found on the Companion series. It will fit the same sheaths in most cases since the guard area is virtually identical but the rubberized portion of the grip is slightly larger in diameter. It is an extremely comfortable knife to use.
I can tell you from my own use that these knives hold up to everything I need them too (then again, so have all the other modern Moras that I have tried). The most important thing I need from a knife is the ability to process wood for a fire and these knives are more than capable of that. The Robust in particular has been batoned through frozen wood on several occasion this year alone.
These knives weigh about half what many similarly dimensioned full tang knives weigh and yet than can take all the same abuse (maybe more in some cases). They also cost significantly less. I mean, if you felt it was necessary, you could buy 3 of them – one to destruction test so you know the knife’s limits and two to carry just in case you still fear you might somehow break one in the field. That would still cost you less in cash and pack weight than many “survival” knives!
If the thin blade stock and perceived fragility of the standard Mora knives is what has been holding you back from trying one, check out the Robust and Companion Heavy Duty. Try to break one doing something close to a realistic knife task. I dare you.
I buy all my Moras on Amazon. Their prices are pretty hard to beat but it always pays the shop around, especially on the auction sites. The links below are affiliate links:
Mora Companion Heavy Duty on Amazon (available in “Military Green” or Orange)
Mora knives are great. I think we all know that by now. Most of them cost between $9 and $15 but they offer performance and quality well beyond their price point. I like them… a lot. I like them enough that, while I own several expensive knives (even customs of my own design), I carry and use Mora knives most of the time. They are so lightweight, so inexpensive, and so capable that it is hard to justify the pack weight of other knives.
But… There is always a catch. The sheaths that come with Mora knives are actually mostly functional but don’t always offer enough retention for use during very vigorous activity or for carrying lose in your pack. This problem can result in a lost knife, ruined gear from a loose knife flopping around in your pack, or even injury. I highly recommend addressing the issue somehow, especially if you are going to carry a knife in your pack. Fortunately, it can be fixed easily and inexpensively.
In my experience, there are two easy ways to fix the retention issue. One is VERY inexpensive and one generally costs more than the Mora itself but still offers a good value. I’ll start with the more expensive way.
The Expensive Way – Replace the Sheath
There are a ton of kydex benders out there who would be more than happy to fold a sheath for you. The benefits of buying a kydex sheath are numerous. The most important benefit is that, if the sheath maker is worth their salt, the retention should be improved enough that you can carry the Mora without fear that it will come out of the sheath on its own. Additionally, you can choose your own belt attachment method (or no belt hardware at all), features, and color.
If you can, consider supporting a kydex bender that is local to you. If not…
You can spend a lot on a sheath but you don’t have to. Armory Plastics makes a great sheath for the Mora Companion (one of my favorite and most common Moras in the line right now) for around $20. It is made in the USA – the great state of Idaho to be specific. It comes with a very stout rotating belt clip that I like a lot, offers great retention, drains well thanks to a molded drain hole, and is available in orange or black (mine is orange): Armory Plastics Mora Companion Sheath on Amazon (affiliate link).
The Cheap Way – Ranger Bands
If you don’t want to drop the coin on an aftermarket sheath, you’re in luck. Most Mora sheaths can be rigged with a ranger band in order to retain the knife. The sheaths with a drop hook belt attachment can generally except a thin band near the top of the belt hook to create a retention strap (see image below). This includes models like the Pro (C, S, Robust), Craftline, and Companion series. You simply pull the band up and over the butt of the knife to release it and the band stays attached to the sheath.
I like to use Gearward Ranger Bands for this because they are the perfect size for this task and are very robust. You can make your own too.
The sheaths with more of a bucket-like design, like the venerable 510, require a wider band. Simply cut a band that is around 1.5 – 2″ wide and fit it around the top of the sheath so that it extends above the top of the opening. It will grip the Mora’s handle and add just a bit more retention. You will eventually cut it when inserting the knife back into the sheath, but it should continue gripping the knife even when cut.
As a bonus, ranger bands make a great firestarter in a pinch. They can be lit with a lighter and will burn long enough to buy you some time to ignite less than ideal tinder. You can probably cut a 2″ wide band into 4 smaller fire starters or just use the whole band to light especially poor tinder.
