Morakniv aka Mora Knives

I have several as you can see, starting at the top they are:

• Morakniv HighQ Robust
• Morakniv Companion MG
• Morakniv Craftline Q Allround 510
• Morakniv Craftline Q 511 (older version pictured)
• Morakniv Classic No. 2/0

Both Craftline knives have seen hard work, the black handled 510 sees use in the kitchen and replaced a paring knife. The red handled 511 is my box opener and a fresh spare is in my large medical kit. The classic 2/0 lives in a pencil jar next to pencils, pens, and hobby knives. I use it when the smaller knives are either just not long enough, or too fragile. I have not used either the Companion nor the Robust regularly. I believe the reputation of Morakniv is sufficient that I do not need to test them harshly. They are both destined to go into bug-out kits.

The Companion and Robust scabbards both have a clip on feature where they can be hooked over a belt or pantwaist. The slots on both sides of the button attachment also make a good place to thread a lanyard. I have attached the scabbard of the Companion to the scabbard of the Robust and it locks on very firmly. Most metal blue jean waist buttons also seem to the be same size, so any jacket with the extra buttons around the waist to cinch the bottom tighter can be an attachment point. All of the scabbards except the Classic 2/0's have drain holes in the bottom and a positive feeling click when the knife is inserted fully. The black handled 510 and the Classic 2/0 are ambidextrous. The Classic 2/0 is retained only by friction, and while it has not fallen out, I do not trust it not to without modification. I plan to use a heat gun to soften the plastic scabbard and increase the contact area.

This is a top down, showing how much thicker the blade is on the Robust. The handle is also significantly larger. I can get a much meatier grip on the Robust, my fingertips just touch my palm. With the Companion I have a fully wrapped grip. None of these knives have a sharp edge on the back for use with a firesteel, and in the case of the Robust is actually beveled. All knives were shaving sharp when I received them and resharpen readily. The scandi grind is a time-tested classic and so is the laminated blade construction. Several major high-end manufacturers also use a similar construction.

Like so many other things that come my way and I have the ability to spend a long time working with, Moras are a pleasant blend of old and new technologies that do not break the bank. All of these knives go for less than twenty dollars, and you have a choice of old school wood, impervious utilitarian plastic or rubberized composite handles. There are also stainless versions available now if you'd rather not watch your shiny blade acquire its own unique patina. They are often viewed as starter knives for budding outdoorspersons but they have a long history and there is no reason not to have a knife such as a Mora in your kit if they fit within your plans.

Short test of self sufficiency: Power Outage

Yesterday the electric went out.  It was cool out, enough that heat is nice to have, but no real danger of pipes freezing.  No wind, storm or anything I was aware of that it could be blamed on.  The laptop never even twitched, though I was bummed to be without my constant companion music.  Easily I made an assessment of what supplies I had, how long before I would have to move my refrigerated and frozen goods to other storage, water saving measures I would apply and how I would get my music back on.


First, I put a fresh cylinder of propane on the camp heater and got it going to maintain the warmth in my area.  Next I opened the closet where my encampment was stored.  The miscellaneous locker was the top of the stack, and I took out the camp battery and the 100W inverter.    That got the music going and kept up the charge in the laptop.  A quick search told me the power outage was not on any maps, so it had not been called in yet.  This informed me that the outage must be extremely local, and town should have power, and thus any store I would go to for water or ice.  I had a sink of dishes that needed to be washed, and my reserve of drinking water was insufficient.  My reserve of propane was enough for cooking and heating water, but the camp heater is a fiend when it comes to fuel consumption.  A check of the weather revealed that it was supposed to stay around 40F all day and drop to the mid-20's during the night so ice would not be needed.


Shutting down the laptop to conserve power, and unhooking the camp battery, I took the battery, a multimeter and the charge cable for the powerstation up to Blur and hooked up the battery to charge during the town run.  Voltage checks confirmed it was charging from Blur.  Quick run up to Maul Mart where I grabbed eight gallons of water (enough to fill one empty storage shelf), and two tanks of propane (filled out the row on the shelf where I kept my reserve propane).


Getting home, as I was beginning to set up camp protocol for dish washing, the power came back on.  I was disappointed.  However I still discovered you can get two flushes with one five gallon bucket of used wash water.