What started as a timber sledge factory has transformed into one of the most reputable knife brands in the world. Mora is a small village in Sweden that has strong roots in production and, eventually, knifemaking. Morakniv is a combination of the two factories of two master knifemakers from this small village in Sweden.
The long history, feuds, and eventual mergers all play a part in giving us some of the best bushcraft knives. The only tricky part is deciding the best Morakniv for bushcraft. They are all so well-made that you could probably get away with taking any of them. Regardless, we’ve tried them all to determine the best of the best.
Best Morakniv Knives for Bushcraft
While Morakniv puts a lot of work into every knife they produce, there are some essential differences to note with each knife. Some are better than others for specific tasks, so we’ll cover multiple knives to help you narrow down your choice.
The biggest thing these all have in common?
High-quality craftsmanship at an affordable price.
Morakniv Garberg – Best Morakniv for Survival
- Blade Material: Sandvik 14C28N Stainless Steel
- Blade Length: 4.3 inches
- Weight: 0.6 lb
- Handle Material: Polymer with rubber insert
- Grind: Scandi
The Morakniv Garberg is our top pick to be the best Morakniv for survival. It’s a full-tang stainless steel blade that will stay by your side through any tough and demanding tasks. It’s the kind of blade you want out there with you when everything is hitting the fan. You end up paying a bit more, but what you get for the price is unmatched.
The blade is stainless steel, also available in high carbon steel, with a full tang that pokes out slightly from the pommel. The blade is 3.2 mm thick, which adds up to being a workhorse that you can use as a baton and to chop wood.
The stainless steel prevents corrosion while you’re in a wet environment for weeks on end. It also means great edge retention, so you won’t need to worry about sharpening it often. The blade stays true through rough use, which is important in a survival scenario. The last thing you want is a blade that chips, bends, or dulls after just a few days out there.
The spine of the blade is square-ground, just like most Moraknivs. This is great for when you need a strong striker to start fires.
The handle of the Garberg is a rubber polymer that’s a bit harder than previous Mora designs. This lets you use the handle more confidently as a hammer when you need it. There’s still an excellent grip, but watch out for your fingers because the finger choil barely exists.
I love the MOLLE compatible sheath that comes along with this knife. It’s part of what makes it the best Morakniv for survival. It can be accessed anywhere you want it when you pair it with a MOLLE pack.
PROS
- MOLLE compatible sheath
- Square-ground spine
- Stainless prevents corrosion and holds an edge
CONS
- Inadequate finger protection on the handle
Morakniv Bushcraft Black – Best Morakniv for Bushcraft
- Blade Material: Carbon Steel
- Blade Length: 4.3 inches
- Weight: 0.3 lbs
- Handle Material: TPE Rubber
- Grind: Scandi
Morakniv designed this knife specifically to be the best Morakniv for bushcraft. I think it’s the best, but it’s also important to remember that it’s not the only. Let’s look at exactly what features they put in this knife to make it specifically for bushcraft. We’ve already gone into great depth with this knife, which is worth checking out if you’re interested.
The handle on the Bushcraft Black is made for comfort and utility. Some may call it ergonomic. I stick to just calling it perfection. It’s shaped to be used for hours on end without forming cramps. There’s excellent finger protection, so you can whittle away without worries of whittling your finger. The TPE rubber is comfortable and warm in hand. You won’t want to put it down.
The blade on this matches the handle. It’s perfect. The carbon steel allows you to keep an edge while beating away at this knife. It has a Diamond-like-carbon (DLC) coating on the blade that boosts durability as well as corrosion-resistance.
The Scandi grind that Mora chooses to use on most of their blades is easy to sharpen while out in the woods. It’s further proof that Morakniv is making these knives for those of us that prefer to live outdoors. When you’re in a pinch, the sheath has a sharpener built-in, as well as a fire starter.
The only slight complaint I have about this knife is the ¾ tang. I much prefer a full tang blade just for the confidence it gives me when batoning wood. In reality, this blade isn’t big enough to desperately need the full tang, but I would still like to see it made with one in the future.
PROS
- Built-in sharpener and fire-starting rod
- Most comfortable handle available
- Carbon steel with DLC coating is highly durable
CONS
- ¾ tang doesn’t give as much durability as it could
Morakniv Kansbol – Best Morakniv for Camping
- Blade Material: Swedish 12C27 Stainless Steel
- Blade Length: 4.3 inches
- Weight: 0.35 pounds
- Handle Material: Polyamide
- Grind: Scandi
People have a lot of differing opinions about the Morakniv Kansbol. A lot of people don’t love the different blade design that is used in this knife. The 12C27 stainless steel is incredibly tough against use as well as the elements. The thickness of the steel blade doesn’t make for a blade that holds its edge well. It’ll need some caring for in the field.
We name this the best Morakniv for camping because of its versatility and ergonomic handle. The handle is the classic polyamide rubber that Morakniv loves to use on their knives. It gives you a comfortable feel with a little bit of give in the grip.
What makes this knife different from all others is the unique blade design. The Scandi grind starts at the base, and as it moves closer to the tip, they move towards a full flat grind. It makes the tip of the blade thinner for better use in food prep at camp. The base of the blade can be used more effectively for woodworking.
If you want to get even further into the specifics, check out the full review we have done with the Kansbol.
If you’re looking for a knife that can do all the basics, the Kansbol could be a good choice. It isn’t made for anything heavy-duty but performs simple tasks with ease. I wouldn’t recommend hammering away at anything with this one because of the thinner blade and ¾ tang. Otherwise, just like all Morakniv products, I recommend it.
PROS
- Great versatility with two blade styles in one
- Comfortable grip
- Strong and corrosion-resistant steel
CONS
- The thin blade and ¾ tang don’t make the knife very durable overall
Morakniv Companion Heavy Duty – Best Budget Morakniv
- Blade Material: Carbon Steel
- Blade Length: 4.1 inches
- Weight: 0.3 lb
- Handle Material: Polyamide
- Grind: Scandi
While most Morakniv products can be considered to be budget-friendly, the Morakniv Companion Heavy Duty is the best budget Morakniv out of all of them. It’s a knife that’s built to stand up against a seriously tough task and live to tell the tale.
The blade is Sandvik Carbon Steel that’s used in plenty of other Morakniv blades. It’s high-quality steel that’s 3.2 mm thick. That means you can throw this blade through the wringer, and it’ll be your companion for the long haul. The only possible signs of use are corrosion and bits of blade chipping away over a long time.
The Companion Heavy Duty handle is the classic rubber that provides a great grip with a warm feel. It almost molds to your hands and feels at home there. The sheath is a hard plastic that provides a secure hold and great protection for the blade.
Everything in this knife is the baseline for Morakniv. As I’ve mentioned before, they don’t cheap out on anything. Even the basics are better than most knife brands out there today. This knife is made to take a beating, and you’ll love having it by your side through all your expeditions in the bush.
PROS
- Affordable
- Thick blade with strong steel for heavy-duty use
- Hard plastic sheath and rubber handle
CONS
- Knife blade can chip away overtime after a lot of hard use
Morakniv Eldris – Best Mora Neck Knife
- Blade Material: 12C27 Stainless Steel
- Blade Length: 2.3 inches
- Weight: 0.17 lb
- Handle Material: TPE Rubber
- Grind: Scandi
This next knife is easy to overlook due to its size. This one is made to be the best Mora Neck Knife for when you want to have a blade on hand at all times. It is connected to paracord easily and worn around your neck comfortably. The size doesn’t matter when it comes to the effective use of the blade because it’s still made better than other knives twice its size.
Even though it’s a lot smaller, the handle still provides ample space to get a good grip on it. It’s easy to use and a versatile knife. It isn’t made to be used for batoning or any rough bushcraft purposes.
It’s a knife to have with you when you need it, but you won’t notice it’s there when you don’t. I love the accessibility of a neck knife this size. It doesn’t get in the way, and it’s always easy to grab in all situations. I like having this with me just for a little extra blade in addition to my main go-to.
PROS
- Great to have on hand, or neck, at all times
- Tiny size but strong steel
- Comfortable and surprisingly-large handle
CONS
- Not built for heavy-duty tasks because of size
Morakniv Companion Fishing Fillet – Best Morakniv for Fishing
- Blade Material: 12C27 Stainless Steel
- Blade Length: 3.5 or 6.1 inches
- Weight: 0.2 or 0.3 lb
- Handle Material: Polyamide
- Grind: Scandi
When you head out into the bush or on a simple camping trip, I hope you’re getting to enjoy the peace that fishing brings. If you do, you’ll need the proper knife to help you gut and clean the fish you bring back to camp. Morakniv has given anglers the Morakniv Companion Fishing Fillet.
This Morakniv comes in two different blade sizes. You can choose between a 3.5-inch blade and a 6.1-inch blade. It lets you choose what’s best for you and what you’re fishing. Check out your state’s carry laws because you may need to buy the 3.5-inch blade to meet those regulations.
The handle is a friction-grip rubber handle that helps you maintain a secure grip even in the dampest environments. Even if you’re out ice fishing, you can manipulate this knife easily because the rubber will still feel warm in your hand.
The stainless steel is going to hold up against all of the water it will be cutting through. It’s even dishwasher safe, so you can throw it in and get it perfectly clean after a long trip of cutting up fish.
PROS
- Stainless steel doesn’t corrode in a wet environment
- Dishwasher safe
- The rubber handle provides excellent grip even when wet
CONS
- You may not be able to carry the 6.1-inch blade depending on state laws
How to Choose a Knife
Typically, narrowing it down to the brand is the hardest part. You’ve already decided that you’re going with a Morakniv, but now you need to sift through each of these knives and find out which one best suits your needs.
The problem with Morakniv is, most of the time, they all suit your needs. These are knives made for versatile use in every day and expedition-based environments. I love them for bushcraft because I know that I can trust them. I’ve never had a Morakniv blade fail me.
Expected Tasks
When on the hunt for a new knife, the first step should be to analyze what tasks you’ll be performing with the knife.
Will you be batoning wood? Preparing food at camp? These kinds of questions will allow you to determine which features will allow you to perform these tasks with the best end results.
Blade Material
Choosing between the different steels used in knives can be tricky unless you’ve studied metals for a long time. There are a lot of numbers and letters that come before the familiar “steel.” These can be important when you know a lot, but for the most part, it’s important to differentiate between high carbon and stainless steel.
Morakniv uses Sandvik steels that are either high carbon or stainless steel. There are a few different variations on those, but we’ll talk about high carbon and stainless for the sake of simplicity. All steel has carbon in it. There are some benefits to adding more or to changing the different metal compositions.
High carbon knives are favored because they are incredibly strong. You’re unlikely to warp the blade when working with high carbon steel. The downsides are that you will lose your edge quicker, and you’re more prone to rust and chipping. High carbon steel needs more love and affection than its stainless counterparts.
Stainless steel still has carbon, but a lot less of it. The key with stainless is the addition of chromium into the mixture. It boosts its resistance to the elements, thus earning the name of stainless. The addition of chromium also makes stainless steel springier than other steels. That means it is more prone to deformation. It is much harder to sharpen but won’t rust on you.
Blade Design
Most of the Morakniv blades have similar designs, save the Kansbol and the fishing fillet. They all utilize a Scandi grind to make them easy to sharpen on the go. If you look at the dimensions, most blades hover around 4.3 inches. It’s a great length that lets you use it for tough tasks but isn’t too much to carry around.
The Kansbol and the fishing fillet are much different in the blade designs. The fishing fillet utilizes a different shaped blade to clean a fish. The Kansbol has the base and the tip of the blade that differ. This is to add versatility to the knife with a thinner tip but a more brute base. Some people like it, some don’t.
I’m a fan of the traditional Morakniv blade design. It’s simple, straightforward, easy to sharpen, and easy to wield. I prefer a full tang, but you’ll find that even the ¾ tang knives on this list are still impressively strong.
Handle
I’m not a huge fan of hard handles on my knives. They can form cramps and blisters if I haven’t been using the knife long enough to become fully accustomed to it. It’s why I love the Morakniv handles. Most of them use a soft rubber that is highly durable but comfortable to hold.
These handles have a phenomenal amount of grip, even when conditions get wet. The rubber doesn’t transfer cold temperatures, so you’re never getting cold hands using the knife.
What I look for in a handle is comfort. That means physical and mental comfort. If my grip doesn’t feel secure, I won’t be comfortable swinging the knife around as much. I also like a good amount of finger protection when I choke up on the knife to carve different tools in the field.
Morakniv produces some of the most comfortable and ergonomic handles out there. If I had to pick a favorite handle out of all the Morakniv knives on our list, the bushcraft fits perfectly in my hand.
Sheath
You get a good number of choices with sheaths and Morakniv products. The most common is a hard plastic sheath that does an excellent job of grabbing onto the knife and keeping it securely in place. There are other options, though.
My favorite is the MOLLE compatible sheath. It can get strapped on anywhere. You can have it in your boot, vest, belt, or on your pack. Whatever your preference is for attaching your knife to your body, the MOLLE sheath is most likely to get you what you want.
Price
When it comes to price, Morakniv pretty much takes the cake. You can find more expensive ones, but even the most expensive knife on our list doesn’t come close to some of the “cheap” models that other brands put out.
I know that a low price tag often points to low quality and poor craftsmanship. But, Morakniv puts out top-quality products that are backed by hundreds of years of experience. Their price tag is not a reflection of their products—just a highlight of them.
So, don’t take price too much into consideration when looking for the best Morakniv for bushcraft. Chances are, they’ll all be in your price range. If you want to look for a more expensive one, you can always choose the Garberg.
Final Thoughts
Looking for the best knife for bushcraft can simultaneously mean looking for the best Morakniv for bushcraft. These knives are affordable and designed to withstand some difficult tasks that the backcountry often demands you perform. No matter what you need to do, a Morakniv is built for every job you can imagine and will stay in great shape while doing it.
I hope this has driven you closer to your first or seventh Morakniv purchase. With any of these knives as your companion, the bush is ready and waiting to test you. Head out with some comfort and confidence by strapping on a Morakniv.
