the mora of folders?

[baldtaco-II]

The Big Swede is an excellent choice. Had one for ages and despite the discipline haven't managed to bin it off yet. Giant slayer of knife. It's one of those ones that makes me think "what the fek was going on in my head when I bought a 110".

 

[MBTull]

The Big Swede is an excellent choice. Had one for ages and despite the discipline haven't managed to bin it off yet. Giant slayer of knife. It's one of those ones that makes me think "what the fek was going on in my head when I bought a 110".

Everyone should own a Buck 110. If I understand correctly, they are still made in America. They lock up tight and take a good edge. While they are a bit hefty for an urban EDC, they make a decent woods knife, especially in well-traveled areas where one must be Sheeple cognizant. The point is a bit on the delicate side, I would not try to dig an arrow out of a stump or carve a hole for a fire drill, but for the price, you could justify re-profiling the point into a chisel. I also would not try to baton or chop with it. Instead carry a Fiskars or small GB or small Wetterlings or maybe a 'hawk.

For 27.00 at Wally World, you get the knife that started the locking hunter style and, for good or bad, gave birth to the tactical folders that are so popular now. You also get the nylon (Codura?) case with the horizontal carry option.

Of course, my fixed blade is a Mitsuboshi Ozark Trail (10.00 at Wally World), so what do I know?

 

[j williams]

Soddies, opinels, Okapis, and SAKs fit the bill....:thumbup:

Oh, and the 110!! Its a great time tested blade on the cheap!

 

[desmobob]

what would be considered the mora of folders?? obviously Opinel comes to mind.. any others?

#1 -- EKA (around $10 and up)
#2 -- Opinel (around $10 and up)
#3 -- various brands of Sodbuster style knives (around $10 and up)


Stay sharp,
desmobob

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Opinel, EKA, Douk Douk (or it's mutant cousin the CS Pocket Bushman), Sodbuster, Vic Soldier, Vic One-handed Trekker.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I'm another Douk Douk fan. amzingly light, thin, useful, and easy to re-sharpen. The squared off spine can throw off a helluva spark when in the woods too.

I've also got a Mercator/K-55/ Black Cat. It's similar to the Douk Douk. Quite possibly better. Holds an edge much better, and has a sturdy little lock on it, but somehow I just can't garner the love for it that I feel for my Douk Douk.

I had a Bali-Puukko. I'd used it hard for about a year, and then decided to do destructive testing with it one day at work. It was simply AMAZING how tough that cheap plasticy little knife was. I locked the blade in a vise, and bent it until it snapped at about 45 degrees. The handles deformed, but were still usable. I'd pried it over with a piece of steel pipe stuffed halfway onto the handle. I'd have plenty of confidence in one, knowing what I know now about them.

(FWIW, I was not pleased with the knife for oilfield work, and bored. A bad combo for me)

And of course there's the SAK. My favorite is still my Adventurer I've had since 1993.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

The Sodbusters and Opinels are probably the closest designs to the Mora, if you're thinking of a folder you could substitute functionally for the fixed blade. I would be more likely to carry a big locking SAK like my One-hand Trekker.

 

[baldtaco-II]

Everyone should own a Buck 110. If I understand correctly, they are still made in America. They lock up tight and take a good edge. While they are a bit hefty for an urban EDC, they make a decent woods knife, especially in well-traveled areas where one must be Sheeple cognizant. The point is a bit on the delicate side, I would not try to dig an arrow out of a stump or carve a hole for a fire drill, but for the price, you could justify re-profiling the point into a chisel. I also would not try to baton or chop with it. Instead carry a Fiskars or small GB or small Wetterlings or maybe a 'hawk.

For 27.00 at Wally World, you get the knife that started the locking hunter style and, for good or bad, gave birth to the tactical folders that are so popular now. You also get the nylon (Codura?) case with the horizontal carry option.

Of course, my fixed blade is a Mitsuboshi Ozark Trail (10.00 at Wally World), so what do I know?

I agree with some of what you are saying. I won't go as far as to say everyone should own one but there is a gaping hole in your knowledge if you aren't at least a little familiar with the 110 as a design classic.

As far as I know Bucks are made in the US and China, not that I pay much attention to that any more. I happen regard Japan as at the top of the factory made knives food chain. I wish I didn't have to but facts, like the demise of the cutlery industry here in England, don't always do what I want them to.

I've got no qualms about the 110 being a budget knife [yeah I know there are better variants, but in vanilla], to me those EKAs are. In fact, I find my Big Swede to be grotesquely ugly and cheap. The handle of mine is a polymer from the ark, and it looks it. And the wooden ones are about as visually pleasing as a broom. 12C27 is the same budget conscious steel as a Mora is made from too. To completely the grim ensemble it is held together with brass flat head screws. Shocker!

The 110 never came anywhere close to it in performance though. Not picking on Buck here, but as we said, the 110 is a design classic so it makes for a good benchmark by which to judge others. I had a couple of Bokers that were similar to the 110, the Big Swede slaughtered them too so they went. There's just something about that Big Swede that yells let me at 'em in a way that something along the lines of the 110 doesn't have. I think the best way I can describe it is that it is like having a really big craft knife in your hand. While the 110 makes an interesting hunting folder / belt knife, the EKA is more a head first into cutting up carpet and building site type stuff, and also does a sterling job of utility in the woods. It's much more the all rounder. I'm as happy cutting up stuff in the woods with one of them than I am elsewhere using a Spyderco.

I think price can be a vague kind of indicator at best. I'm sure we've all seen people led around by the nose in that department whether we recognize it or not. And while cheap can often indicate nasty, it aint necessarily so. I saw a somewhere doing Spyderco Bugs the other day for £6.95. The warning lights came on but I'll bet it's still probably pretty good. As a couple of people have said before, 50 usually gets you a decent user. Go much more than that and you either work it a lot or you're just buying bragging rites. ;-)

Anyway, it's the Big Swede for me.

 

[Shore08]

I love my Case Sodbuster, they are around Mora's in price range.

I also like these: http://www.ebladestore.com/knives/KC-35.html Still the sodbuster design, but with a wooden handle.

 

[desmobob]

...the 110 is a design classic...

I never could really fathom how it became such a classic. I always disliked the weight, blade shape, fragile tip and blade steel.

But I suppose millions of buyers can't be wrong. We all have different tastes, and that's why we have such a great selection of knives to choose from. :thumbup:

Anyway, I figured it was too nice/costly to be considered as a contender for "Mora of folders."

Stay sharp,
desmobob

 

[pvicenzi]

The Scandinavians don't seem to like folders. Kellam knives had to turn to Italian makers when they wanted to add a puukko like folder to their lineup. I have one and it has a convex grind, not a scandi. They are a bit expensive to be considered the Mora of folders though.
http://www.kellamknives.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_34_96&products_id=299

 

[RescueRiley]

just ordered a svor peasant folder.. at 25.00 it's a bot more than the average mora but they can be had with plastic handles for 15.00 I'll give it a spin and see if I like it.