The American Made "Mora"?

AdamFuzzyballs

AdamFuzzyballs

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Mar 16, 2015
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Hey all. I discovered Dexter cutlery while on vacation a few years ago in Alaska. It seems that fisherman use them because they are cheap, stainless and good quality! I bought the serrated edge in a fishing store for less than 5 bucks, and then had my dad buy the plain edge at the same store a couple years later:) they are meant for kitchen use, but I propose that they are comparitively the American version of Mora, because they are extremely lightweight, the steel is decent (although it is simply called Dexsteel, it is supposedly a better steel than 420), and it is built such that it could be used for almost limitless tasks; such as a hiking knife, cooking, fishing, really anything! What do you think? And do any of you have experience with this brand? If not, I would endorse you to try em out if you can get em cheap[emoji41]

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Also, I just did an experiment and the blade will spark a ferro rod, so if I'm correct that means it is pretty high carbon? Correct me if I'm wrong
 
Stainless steel will spark a fero rod, just with less sparks. So will a chunk of glass, rocks, anything that is harder than the rod basically.
 
Dexter Russell makes great, no bs commercial kitchen and butcher knives for working people.

Those will make fine sportsman knives.

Not quite like a Mora though.

The Mora is more robust with a thicker spine and a scandi grind that bites in wood deep.

If your using a ferro rod,

The sparks come from the ferro rod not the carbon and iron in the steel.

Anything with a sharp hard corner or edge can make sparks in a ferro rod.

Some brands call them" Flint" rods.

There is no Flint.
 
Eh.

If I have to choose between a repurposed kitchen knife and a Mora, I'll stick with the latter
 
I haven't had any experience with the knives that you posted in the pic, but I use a Dexter filet knife for meat processing and have found that the edge holds up very well even when using the tip to separate joints. Also, while at the Smoky Mtn Knife Works American made/ dealer day the Dexter rep gave me a flier advertising their new outdoor line up...
It may be a better Mora option. I'm not a Mora guy so I can't offer an opinion
 
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What about an old hickory paring or utility knife as an American made alternative to the Mora ?
 
All valid. My main comparison to mora was the price aspect, because for 10 dollars it can handle anything really. Thank you for the education on ferro rods, I admit I didn't know much about them
 
I'd call the R. Murphy sloyd knife the American Mora. :D

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But Dexter Russell's stuff is solid.
 
Dexter are good commercial kitchen knives. I use them for BBQ. They keep a great edge and are pretty bomb proof. I don't think they compare favorably for outdoor use because of the thinner spine and flex in the blades.
 
Adam FB, I think you made a very valid comparison. Dexter is a no nonsense working mans knife that is inexpensive and gets the job done. That is where I think they are similar to Mora. Dexter is designed for the kitchen where Mora is designed for the out doors, that is where they differ. But what is great about these 2 brands is that they easily cross over from kitchen to outdoors and vice versa.

I see a lot of Dexters out in the fishing industry, mainly for filleting fish.
 
Well if we're talking Dexter, let's not forget their Green River line.

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That particular model of Dexter is a "commercial vegetable cannery knife." Also made by Ontario. I've never worked in a vegetable cannery so I have no idea how knives are used in them these days. Like many trade knives, they are used by other professions like commercial fishing for very different tasks.
 
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