Mora Garberg Anyone?

Winch

Winch

Joined
Jan 29, 2018
Messages
186
I’ve been looking at this knife online for a while and I finally pulled the trigger yesterday. I have a couple other Mora’s and they are good value knives IMO. I’m more of a folder guy, but I also have some fixed blades in my stash. I opted for the molle sheath. Not in my hands yet, but wondering if anybody else has one and if so, what are you opinions.
 
I have one and I like it. It’s a durable knife that’s good at many tasks. Blade steel is pretty decent, handle is fairly comfortable in my hands.
I put a scandi vex edge on mine because I prefer it to a scandi. But I do that on most of my scandi edged knives.
I doubt you’ll be disappointed, it’s good quality for the money in my opinion.
 
I bought one a few weeks ago based on my experience with the ruthlessly sharp, easy to maintain Mora Companion. The Garberg came with a very dull edge. It wouldn't even slice paper. Wouldn't strop sharp either so I ended up doing some re-profiling of the blade. That put me off on it as it made a bad first impression. Still, it's a sturdy blade that feels good in my hand. Although I haven't taken it out to test yet, from the video reviews I've seen it's very tough and will perform the tasks for which it was designed. I'd have no concerns throwing it in a backpack for a wilderness outing. If you like Moras then you'll probably like the full tang Garberg although I'm not sold on the blade geometry just yet. I do think it's a little pricy now that I own one.

Before I acquired the Garberg, I was skeptical of buying a bushcraft/survival knife with a 4.3 in. cutting edge that also had a narrow blade depth/belly. In a survival knife, if it has what I consider a narrow-ish belly/depth, I prefer something a bit longer like my Fallkniven A1. My Ontario Rat 7 has a deeper gut which I really love.

After my mild disappointment with the Garberg, I was looking at the Buck Selkirk, but wasn't impressed with the steel or the reviews for the price. Eventually I found a short survival/bushcraft knife (same size as the Garberg but with a deeper belly) whose design really appealed to me: The Ruike Jager 118. Same size, same steel as the Garberg advertised: Sandvik 14C28N. I'd never heard of it before and it's made in China (not worried about that) like the Buck Selkirk. YouTube has about a dozen reviews where they do things like baton, chop (a 4.3 in. blade? Really?), husk coconuts, pry, make fuzz sticks, and whittle spear points then show that there is no chipping or damage of any kind, and it still shaves paper. One of the previous reviewers on these forums, Gary, had his Ruike Jager blade tested for hardness and it measured 59 HRC just as advertised.

I ordered one for $70 and will do a comparison review with the Garberg after it arrives tomorrow. If it performs anything like the reviews show I'll be very happy with it.
 
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I like my Moras, but think the Garberg is too expensive. The Kansbol is a much better value at a third to a half the price. No full tang, but people beat on their Moras harder than I ever will without breaking them. In all other respects the Kansbol performs as well as the Garberg.
 
Loved it enough to buy the stainless and carbon. Also picked up the Kansbol.
I dislike the multi mount sheaths, with the exception of the dangler, and wish I would have purchased with the leather sheath.
Carbon garberg is in my fire prep/starter kit.
Stainless is my camp food prep knife
The tacky grip of the Kansbol feels nice, but the Garberg grip holds up better outdoors.
All 3 can be sharpened to an insane, light saber like level.
Zero real complaints, zero regrets other than the fact that I should have gotten the leather sheath.
 
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Henry Beige said:
I like my Moras, but think the Garberg is too expensive. The Kansbol is a much better value at a third to a half the price. No full tang, but people beat on their Moras harder than I ever will without breaking them. In all other respects the Kansbol performs as well as the Garberg.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. No real fault to the Garberg as a camp knife. Very sturdy and mine came very sharp. Overall a handy size and capable camp knife. But at over $70 it is getting into some tough competition. After getting a Fallkniven S1 (5”) I realized the S1 is my ideal woods/camp/hike knife. That will stand up to a lot of abuse. In the 4” range I want either a nice hunter like the Buck Vanguard, or a light and inexpensive toolbox/camp kitchen knife like the Mora Companion or Craftline S. I think the HD Companion or Kansbol are much better dollar value for a sturdier inexpensive knife. Or even some of the Bucks or Ontario knives instead of the Garberg.

So it is not a bad deal and is competitive at its price point. And certainly a fine knife. But it is not the screaming value of a Companion or Craftline.
 
It's a good knife. You won't be sorry. Don't worry about price as you've bought it and it's yours now. Use it hard like Moras are meant to be used. It'll go from salving your fears to easing your life in the field to maybe even saving your life. Go Garberg!

(Full disclosure: I do not own a Garberg, but I do own other Moras, so I know the Garberg will be terrific.)

Zieg
 
Moras are a relatively new obsession for me, but I've been into sharp stuff for decades.

The Garberg I recently acquired but haven't abused yet looks and feels like it will hold it's own against the Buck Selkirk, the Gerber LMF II and the SOG Seal Pup Elite - all of which have served me very well over the years.

I've only used the Garberg for some whittling/carving and slicing a few lemons as I've been a bit too under-the-weather for my usual outdoor activities, but so far I'm happy with it. Not amazed, but happy. For a point of reference: I was whittling a piece of soft wood with a (also brand new) Mora Craftline 511 and upon attempting to remove a knot the 511's factory edge chipped ever so slightly... So I grabbed the Garberg and made short work of the knot with no trouble and no damage to the edge.

Sure, the Garberg's thicker spine and wider edge geometry make it less of a slicer than thinner knives or knives with a full flat grind. This is the price you pay for the durability offered by the Garberg's stout design.

For what it is it seems sufficient and fairly-priced
 
I really really like Morakniv knives. But the large jump in price has kept me away from this model.

I just don’t see a large enough increase in features in comparison to a companion HD.
 
I considered one but decided if I needed another all-round camp knife (:) har!) I'd go for the pricier Benchmade puukko.
 
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