Sleeper Knife Bargain

[UKChris1]

Giving advice on knife choice is akin to advising on a favourite beer or whisky, but sometimes these things are easy.

The Finn Bear is a no-brainer - great knife at a good price - no more to say, but... on knife sites, Cold Steel has come in for some criticism for customer service since the old boss had gone and the company had new owners, but I make no comment on that. I have a couple of Cold Steel knives from the early 1980s and certainly they are excellent.

The Mora - well, there are many, many variations in style, design, price etc. but they are all good too. A look through the Mora catalogue (https://morakniv.se/en/products/knives/) is well worthwhile. Some are much more expensive than others and whether you think the extra performance or design is worth the extra cost is a personal thing. The ash-handled ones do seem overpriced to my mind but the less expensive Mora blades are excellent value.

I have a couple of the Mora Companion heavy duty which are great value, even here in the UK where stuff generally seems to cost more! Mine are non-stainless but this model is also available in stainless steel now which I prefer.

[boon]

Fred, how do these compare with the moraknivs?

The Mora Clipper (840?) is the same knife as the Bahco 2444 which I enormously recommend

[Ron Jones]

My name is Ron, and I am a knifeaholic (Hi Ron.)

Literally, when I was 13 some idiot was trying to convince my best friend that he (the idiot) had beaten me up and Kevin's response was "I don't see any cuts on you, Ronnie doesn't go anywhere without a knife and I've watched him clean fish, he'd filet someone like you like a large mouth bass!" I can neither confirm nor deny that I've ever fileted someone like a large mouth bass (which I NEVER filet,) but that story kept me out of several fights in high school.

German 4116 isn't usually German. There are several stories about it, the most likely is that it is a licensed formulation from a company in Krupp that is manufactured in China. It is just like the "alphabet steels" (7/8cr13/17Mov maybe,) which are all competing against good ol' 440A. That is good for fishermen because the high chromium you find in these usually fights rust even from salt water. With 4116, they lowered the carbon a bit so that you can actually put an edge on it which many people can't do with 440A because it is super hard for its rough grain structure. This means it will probably need to be sharpened a bit more often depending on the heat treatment.

I own/ed 3 knives of this alloy, a no name bait knife thing, a SOG Field Pup, and a Cold Steel Roach Belly which is very similar to this in pecking order but is patterned more like a Canadian sheath knife. The SOG and Cold Steel both have on point heat treatment. The edge doesn't chip like hard 440A, and it doesn't tend to roll like any of the alphabet steels that are heat treated to soft. Cold Steel does a better job of avoiding grind hardening, but some of their knives suffer from it. At 15 bucks, I think it's worth the risk.

Comparing this to Moras is interesting. This has what I call a "red neck scandi grind," which means it is ground higher up the blade because Americans think sliciness comes from thin profiles but want to convince themselves that they can still procreate by striking a cero rod on the spine. I really don't like the scandi grind and prefer this much more, although I wish they just ran it all the way up to a true flat grind (more money to keep the grind even.)
The Mora alloy and heat treatment is WORLDS better than anything made out of 4116. It is harder AND can be sharpened easier because of the grain structure. I have one Mora, and it is great steel, but I hate the scandi grind.

I'd say if you had a $20.00 bill and wanted one of these two, I'd get the Cold Steel if you actually thought you were going to cut something and get the Mora if you want to feel like a MAN by bushcrafting.

Just my $0.02 (anyone who knows me knows my $0.02 lasts longer than everyone else's New York minute )

The Man

[Brewcrafter]

I was taught the same as Fred! Probably because of Boy Scouts as well

I learned there as well (I had my Totem Chip!) and then later as a leader tried to impart those same skills.  As an instructor I found myself spending far more time on safety than on usage and sharpening.  I must have had some impact because here 8 years later my Son can actually open and use my lockblade when he asks; but then he will turn right around and attempt to use it as a pry bar/screwdriver....but he is VERY GOOD with kitchen knives, so I will call it a win... - john

[jgp12000]

Said it before, if you haven't been to SMKW in Pigeon Forge as a knife guy it's the holy grail.3 floors of knives,swords,ammo,& even kitchen stuff. You can stay there 2 hours & not see it all.Bud's Gun Shop & Lodge cast iron are next door,day trip easy !

Most likely you will leave with a knife & more

https://smkw.com/

https://www.budsgunshop.com/

https://www.lodgecastiron.com/locations/pigeon-forge-tn

[Ron Jones]

Said it before, if you haven't been to SMKW in Pigeon Forge as a knife guy it's the holy grail.3 floors of knives,swords,ammo,& even kitchen stuff. You can stay there 2 hours & not see it all.Bud's Gun Shop & Lodge cast iron are next door,day trip easy !

Most likely you will leave with a knife & more

https://smkw.com/

https://www.budsgunshop.com/

https://www.lodgecastiron.com/locations/pigeon-forge-tn

No fair! I click on the first link and see that CRKT has a Nessmuk knock off in D2! I have their minimalist bowie, and the two would make quite a pair. I don't care for the deep finger grooves, but maybe as a BBQ set.

Now I'm thinking...

[jgp12000]

Oh yeah,Bass pro is 4.5 miles away as well.

[foakes]

SMKW is the real deal. 

We passed by their store on our way back to California from Colonial Williamsburg about 8 months ago.

If I was alone, I would have stopped in.  But with the wife it wouldn't be too wise.  I might have been born yesterday —- but it was early in the morning!

They have a great online presence and easy ordering though.

Best, Fred

[thorhammer]

Said it before, if you haven't been to SMKW in Pigeon Forge as a knife guy it's the holy grail.3 floors of knives,swords,ammo,& even kitchen stuff. You can stay there 2 hours & not see it all.Bud's Gun Shop & Lodge cast iron are next door,day trip easy !

Most likely you will leave with a knife & more

https://smkw.com/

https://www.budsgunshop.com/

https://www.lodgecastiron.com/locations/pigeon-forge-tn

What you doin up here in my neck of the woods??

[thorhammer]

SMKW is the real deal. 

We passed by their store on our way back to California from Colonial Williamsburg about 8 months ago.

If I was alone, I would have stopped in.  But with the wife it wouldn't be too wise.  I might have been born yesterday —- but it was early in the morning!

They have a great online presence and easy ordering though.

Best, Fred

Just moved to Richmond this week...

[jgp12000]

We went there on our honeymoon 40 years ago,the Holiday Inn was new &  All that was There as you came from Gatlinburg.We have been back a few times over the years, alot has changed.