I paid $5 for the Mora Classic over a decade ago. Back then it was stained red, but after years and years of hard use, it’s lost its color. It was the first knife I bought for myself, and was a companion to me throughout my trecks over the years, and still continues to be to this very day. This first purchase was the beginning of my love affair with the outdoors, and this one blade defined my interest in edged tools and their applications.
Mora Classic 1 Carbon Steel Knife – Amazon / Blade HQ
The “Mora” knife is a ubiquitous knife design attributed to manufacturers in the Swedish town of Mora. The Mora knife pattern (called Morakniv in Swedish) was at one point utilized and produced by many manufacturers, including FMM Mattsson, Erik Frost, Bröderna Jönsson, Krång Johan Eriksson (KJ Eriksson), and Bud Carl Andersson. All of these patterns are based on the original, created by Erik Frost. They shared not only design, but tooling and parts as well, to create essentially the same knife under different names. Today, only Eriksson and Frost still produce Mora knives, after having merged their brands together to make Mora of Sweden in 2005.
The Mora I own is by E. Jonsson, but for all intents and purposes, it would be pretty much identical to a Frost branded Mora.
One of the advantages of the stick tang is that the balance is perfect on the hilt. The handles on the Mora Classic 1 are lathed out of one solid piece: no liners here, which is advantageous in cold weather as skin + cold metal just don’t mix.
The sheath is the standard Mora sheath, very inexpensive but sturdy with an all plastic construction.
Retention of the sheath is mediocre. It is friction fit, but I wouldn’t carry this paratrooper style.
The Mora sheath has a drainage hole for excess water. Though I can’t say I approve of having the drainage hole this far up the sheath, since I have never had rust on this knife (after 13 years of use), I couldn’t say it hasn’t done its job.
Because the sheath would only really fit onto short belts as is, I added a fabric throng to it so that it can fit through my wider belts.
After years of use, the blade on my Mora Classic No. 1 has developed a slight recurve at the edge. The blade + sheath combo is basically weightless. On Dual Survival, Cody Lundin carries one around his neck pretty much constantly!
The Mora Classic 1 has great blade stock: a true outdoors blade tried and tested since 1890 in the Scandinavian forests. Tough enough for absolutely any bushcraft tasks.
That being said, the thin blade stock on the Mora Classic does make it slightly uncomfortable to press down on too hard with one’s thumb.
But it has superb neutral ergonomics. I’ve never met anyone who said a Mora Classic was uncomfortable.
The handles have a palm swell and taper towards the top, which allows the wielder to use the standard pinch grip. Useful when hunting for taking off backstrap.
One of the few negatives of the Mora Classic #1 is that the edge goes ALL the way down and stops at an abrupt angle, leaving a slight protrusion that extends past the handle. It would be nearly impossible to avoid cutting yourself if you choked up on the Mora Classic, so I’d recommend being conscious of that and staying away from choking up completely.
The thin stock combined with a great Scandinavian edge makes short work of any whittling.
The tip on the Mora Classic No. 1 is much thinner than the rest of the blade, making precision cuts also a breeze.
The neutral handle design allows the Mora Classic to be held in most positions very comfortably.
Making clean notches for trapping with this knife is a dream.
While it’s not my first choice for batoning, the Mora Classic 1 does baton reasonably well taking into account its size and thickness.
Overall, the Classic Mora knife exemplifies my personal survival ethos.
If I could only have one knife it would have to be this one, which is a sentiment it seems I share with many well-known names in the survival industry: amongst those, Cody Lundin, Ray Mears and Mors Kochanski.
For me, this knife would win out amongst all my others not because it’s the toughest or has the best steel, but because after over a decade of use, even after the handles are no longer dyed red, after the edge has a slight recurve, and although it may not be as tactical or aesthetically appealing as many of my other knifes, when I hold it I feel the past 13 years of my life, the cumulation of all my outdoor experience with this tool.
Experience is the most valuable tool and for that reminder, I wouldn’t exchange this knife for any other in the world.
Perfect review of a perfect knife. Thank you for sharing.
Cheers Jack.
Hi,
Do you know, how long the blade of your E. Jönsson knife is?
Best regards
Julius
Hi Julius, its literally exactly the same as a Mora Classic 1! No difference in length what so ever.
Hi,
Did you know that E. Jonsson Mora knives still produces knives? I like the look of it more, than of the Morakniv ones, but I watched a video, where the E. Jonsson knife didn’t look like I’d be good quality. Would you mind to have a look at the video and tell me if the knife shown is the same as you have?
The video also explains the history of the E. Jonsson knives, because they are the only small knife maker left next to Morakniv.
https://www.google.de/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DwJy6X8fRMZo&ved=2ahUKEwj-tL3IiJfeAhXE2ywKHftcDGcQwqsBMAJ6BAgJEAo&usg=AOvVaw3ydLcWwE_QEGyUPZ2uCrs7
Best regards
Hi Julius, just fast forwarded through the video and noticed 3 points of contention-
1) the paint on the E.Jonsson is thinner possibly- personally I remove the paint as I prefer natural handles so I can’t comment on that.
2) The stamping error on the blade- I never saw any defects with either of the E.Jonsson Mora’s I own. That said, its a valid point and I suggest you either chose your Mora in person or accept a potential slight issue and grind off the defects.
3) The sheath quality- I am inclined to agree that the E-Jonsson sheath is cheaper, however both are cheap and perfectly functional so I can’t bring myself to care that much.
As for them still producing knives- frankly, I have owned my examples for nearly 2 decades- I don’t even remember where I got them in the first place! I suggest hunting eBay or possibly finding a Swedish knifestore to make enquiries on your behalf.
Hope that helps mate.
Hi,
Thank you very much for the fast and detailed answer. It helped me a lot. I actually found a few websites, which sell E. Jönsson Moras.
Best regards
You are most welcome Julius.
Cool do u recommend the companion as a knife
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with *any* Mora. Fantastic blades with incredible toughness and cutting power for the money.
Let me know what you think of it!
Geart blade plz reveiw the mora companion thx
http://morethanjustsurviving.com/mora-2010-bushcraft-knife-review/ is basically the same knife in terms of ergonomics (as far as I know).
Thanks for dropping by Cole
There are people out there that make nice leather sheaths.
Why would you stay with that plastic one?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DYWGZZK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00
I tend to review knives as “stock”, I don’t think its fair to use third party modifications or sheaths when reviewing an easily available tool. I don’t want to be accused of leading people on! ;)
With that said, thats a nice sheath.
Tom,
I don’t believe the knife in your photos is a #1 …….
Howdy, I already clarified in the first paragraph what my knife is ;)
“The Mora I own is by E. Jonsson, but for all intents and purposes, it would be pretty much identical to a Frost branded Mora.”
Many manufacturers (back then), now Frost controls the industry but a Mora is a style of knife from the town of Mora,, not a brand. They do however all share the same characteristics such as the barrel handle, stick tang & scandi grind. Variations are at most 1 cm in terms of length variance based on what I have seen.
Its a shame that so much of the brands have either been bought out or gone under, on the flip side it does make my more old school Mora far more unique.
Thanks for dropping by!
Great review Tom! I love Mora! However, I just really try to avoid batoning with them now since I’ve broken 2 Moras (Classic #2 & 511) a while back. Still fantastic knives, just don’t baton with rat tail tang knives. Lol. Nothing feathers sticks better than a Mora in my opinion though. Great knives!
Its interesting as I have batonned literally hundreds of times with this Mora (in subzero temperatures) without issue and yet other people have had problems. I really wonder why that is, possibly a heat treat issue with some examples?
I think it’s because of the method you use for batoning wood. I too baton with it and nothing never happend. I gues it must be something in the way we do it ;)
Must be!
When it comes utility and survival knife, then choose scandinavian knife.
Least one scandinavian.
Scandi grind blades or some of my favourite for wilderness survival, great toughness and wood working ability.
Great Choice! When I needed to decide for a knife, I had this in my hands too. But after all I choosed a Helle Jegermester, what is also a good fellow. And you’re totally right with your last paragraph: Wether the steel is the best or anything else is high-end, with the time a good knife gets a thing you never want to miss. And that is what counts.
Good cut!
the kibonaut
That Helle is really gorgeous, I gotta get my hand on one of them to review, Thanks for commenting!