I think it was the Bushlore, Moab. I haven't really looked much at Condor's stuff in the past couple years, but I also haven't really bought that many knives lately.

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on May 07, 2022, 07:38:52 PMI think it was the Bushlore, Moab. I haven't really looked much at Condor's stuff in the past couple years, but I also haven't really bought that many knives lately.

That guy gideonstactical has so many reviews of great knives around $50-$75. I just don't see the use for a knife anymore expensive than that. I subscribe to all the major knife retailers email subscriptions. So I see every manner of knife come thru. And it amazes me the sheer amount and cost of so many knives. 

I can see buying something as a collectors item. But for me knives are a utilitarian tool. There's nothing a $550 knife can do - that a $50 one can't. 

Unless it's a full on custom or a historical blade, I don't foresee myself spending a ton of money on a knife or sword.

I remember when Boker did their run of folders using steel taken from the German battleship Bismarck and I was interested in getting one, but then I saw the price.

No way in hell am I dropping 5 grand pocket knife, which is what the Boker Bismarck folders went for.

Quote from: Moab on May 07, 2022, 06:09:59 PMIf they spent the extra pennies to make the standard mora fulltang. And charge another two dollars. It would be the best knife in America. Or at least one of the top 5. Thats the only fear that a vast majority of folks have. That keeps them from buying mora's. Is that its not fulltang.

Sure, and if $100 got me from a unibody to a body on frame car I'd pay that as well; but things seldom cost what we want them to, and certainly more than the raw materials cost. 

The price difference between a classic and a garberg is probably 5% the price of the steel and 90% the cost of handle construction; I think rat tail knives are just much cheaper to produce handle wise which is a disproportionate percentage of the knife price. 

Green river knives are the closest thing I've found to a USA made full tang mora replacement; and its $20 without a sheath. Nice thin blade (like a mora) and a little extra length; I have one as my camp kitchen knife and its pretty promising as a general purpose woods knife; but the lack of aftermarket kydex sheaths is a downer. If you are inclined toward DIY leather its probably a great option. 

Correct, going to something beyond a rat tail jammed into a molded plastic handle adds significant cost.

It's not the materials, it's the additional number of operations required in production.

I've made exactly one knife sheath in my life and I really don't trust it to securely carry a knife.

That's mostly because of the thread I used and my lack of skills.

I also ran out of suitable leather (I used an old military ammo pouch and there wasn't a lot of useable material) and just never got around to buying any more.

I think I lost a post. So here goes a second attempt.

There's a guy on etsy called Nay Leather out of UT. I've used him to make several sheaths. And he charges very little. I had him make two knife sheaths. One for an esee 5 and one for a helle. Both were $30 each. And a pistol holster with mag pouch for $45. And he does excellent work. I've never found anyone cheaper or with as good a quality. I sent him my knives and a dummy of my pistol. And a pic of similar sheaths and holsters that I wanted.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Nayscustomleather

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On Mora's:

I'm no knife maker. But I don't see what a huge deal it would be to cut out an extra 1-2 inch end on the blade blanks. And mold around it as I assume they do. Injection mold around the tang I mean.

Its so close as it is. Even if it was 5 more dollars. (Which is what 50% of the knifes current price? So realistically it might be $2.50 or $3 more?) I think their knives would be the go to knife by most in the outdoor world.

As anything thicker is almost overkill. So you've got one of the most lightweight knives. I love this knife for hiking and backpacking. Because of how lightweight they are. And the quality of their steel seems more than enough. Not to mention, I think the full rubber grips are the best. The standard mora with the indents on the side are ok. But my military version is a full roundish rubber handle. (Like the 3rd one down in the pic below.) That gives me more grip than any other knife I own.

And again, I "don't" think the short tang takes anything away from the knife. I don't baton with a knife. Nor do I think its necessary.

*But I think the perception in most peoples minds is that the Mora is a "backup" knife or a hunting or fishing knife. But because of its short tang. Takes it out of the running as a primary survival knife.

So I still don't understand why they cut out half of their market over 1-2 inches of steel?

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Quote from: Moab on May 10, 2022, 06:41:34 PMI think I lost a post. So here goes a second attempt.

There's a guy on etsy called Nay Leather out of UT. I've used him to make several sheaths. And he charges very little. I had him make two knife sheaths. One for an esee 5 and one for a helle. Both were $30 each. And a pistol holster with mag pouch for $45. And he does excellent work. I've never found anyone cheaper or with as good a quality. I sent him my knives and a dummy of my pistol. And a pic of similar sheaths and holsters that I wanted.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Nayscustomleather

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On Mora's:

I'm no knife maker. But I don't see what a huge deal it would be to cut out an extra 1-2 inch end on the blade blanks. And mold around it as I assume they do. Injection mold around the tang I mean.

Its so close as it is. Even if it was 5 more dollars. (Which is what 50% of the knifes current price? So realistically it might be $2.50 or $3 more?) I think their knives would be the go to knife by most in the outdoor world.

As anything thicker is almost overkill. So you've got one of the most lightweight knives. I love this knife for hiking and backpacking. Because of how lightweight they are. And the quality of their steel seems more than enough. Not to mention, I think the full rubber grips are the best. The standard mora with the indents on the side are ok. But my military version is a full roundish rubber handle. (Like the 3rd one down in the pic below.) That gives me more grip than any other knife I own.

And again, I "don't" think the short tang takes anything away from the knife. I don't baton with a knife. Nor do I think its necessary.

*But I think the perception in most peoples minds is that the Mora is a "backup" knife or a hunting or fishing knife. But because of its short tang. Takes it out of the running as a primary survival knife.

So I still don't understand why they cut out half of their market over 1-2 inches of steel?

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I'm a pretty shitty knifemaker, but I'm like 95% sure you'd start seeing broken handles on Bushcraft Instagram. People do baton Moras.

I think people will baton with Moras more because they're so cheap that they really don't care if the blade breaks. It breaks, you buy a new one and continue whacking the crap out of it. That's part of the allure of a Mora.

It's almost like people are more likely to  beat the crap out of a cheaper knife than they will a more expensive one.

I bought three (I think) 'Schrade SCHF10 Drop-Point Full Tang Fixed Blade Knifes' because it's the best feeling full tang knife I've ever handled. $30. And I love the micarta handle.



No idea if there's a newer style or if it's no longer a thing, but I have one in my bag, another in another bag, and I think a third is hanging in my camping gear.

Quote from: Lodewijk on May 10, 2022, 07:35:54 PM

Quote from: Moab on May 10, 2022, 06:41:34 PMI think I lost a post. So here goes a second attempt.

There's a guy on etsy called Nay Leather out of UT. I've used him to make several sheaths. And he charges very little. I had him make two knife sheaths. One for an esee 5 and one for a helle. Both were $30 each. And a pistol holster with mag pouch for $45. And he does excellent work. I've never found anyone cheaper or with as good a quality. I sent him my knives and a dummy of my pistol. And a pic of similar sheaths and holsters that I wanted.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Nayscustomleather

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On Mora's:

I'm no knife maker. But I don't see what a huge deal it would be to cut out an extra 1-2 inch end on the blade blanks. And mold around it as I assume they do. Injection mold around the tang I mean.

Its so close as it is. Even if it was 5 more dollars. (Which is what 50% of the knifes current price? So realistically it might be $2.50 or $3 more?) I think their knives would be the go to knife by most in the outdoor world.

As anything thicker is almost overkill. So you've got one of the most lightweight knives. I love this knife for hiking and backpacking. Because of how lightweight they are. And the quality of their steel seems more than enough. Not to mention, I think the full rubber grips are the best. The standard mora with the indents on the side are ok. But my military version is a full roundish rubber handle. (Like the 3rd one down in the pic below.) That gives me more grip than any other knife I own.

And again, I "don't" think the short tang takes anything away from the knife. I don't baton with a knife. Nor do I think its necessary.

*But I think the perception in most peoples minds is that the Mora is a "backup" knife or a hunting or fishing knife. But because of its short tang. Takes it out of the running as a primary survival knife.

So I still don't understand why they cut out half of their market over 1-2 inches of steel?

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I'm a pretty shitty knifemaker, but I'm like 95% sure you'd start seeing broken handles on Bushcraft Instagram. People do baton Moras.

So you think you'd see more Mora's broken with fulltangs? Rather than how they are made now?

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on May 10, 2022, 07:58:33 PMI think people will baton with Moras more because they're so cheap that they really don't care if the blade breaks. It breaks, you buy a new one and continue whacking the crap out of it. That's part of the allure of a Mora.

It's almost like people are more likely to  beat the crap out of a cheaper knife than they will a more expensive one.

Oh. I'm not saying people won't beat the shit out if moras. I think they will regardless if they are fulltang or not. I just don't treat my knives that way. 

I'm just saying they'd be even more popular than they are already are - if they had a fulltang. I think people would trust them more as a main survival knife. I don't often see them used as a principle survival knife. Unless its the fulltang garberg. Or whatever its called.

Mora's are so damn nice. I really like everything about them. Except that last inch or two of missing steel. I think that makes a big difference in alot of peoples minds. Whether it actually changes hiw much you can beat one up or not. I don't know. I just think that missing inch of steel leaves to many people windering whether it would or not. Its like the one complaint you always hear about them. But seems so easy to change.

I wonder if that is just a Scandinavian thing? Leaving steel out if the end of a knife i mean. 

Quote from: Moab on May 10, 2022, 10:54:26 PM

Quote from: Lodewijk on May 10, 2022, 07:35:54 PM

Quote from: Moab on May 10, 2022, 06:41:34 PMI think I lost a post. So here goes a second attempt.

There's a guy on etsy called Nay Leather out of UT. I've used him to make several sheaths. And he charges very little. I had him make two knife sheaths. One for an esee 5 and one for a helle. Both were $30 each. And a pistol holster with mag pouch for $45. And he does excellent work. I've never found anyone cheaper or with as good a quality. I sent him my knives and a dummy of my pistol. And a pic of similar sheaths and holsters that I wanted.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Nayscustomleather

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On Mora's:

I'm no knife maker. But I don't see what a huge deal it would be to cut out an extra 1-2 inch end on the blade blanks. And mold around it as I assume they do. Injection mold around the tang I mean.

Its so close as it is. Even if it was 5 more dollars. (Which is what 50% of the knifes current price? So realistically it might be $2.50 or $3 more?) I think their knives would be the go to knife by most in the outdoor world.

As anything thicker is almost overkill. So you've got one of the most lightweight knives. I love this knife for hiking and backpacking. Because of how lightweight they are. And the quality of their steel seems more than enough. Not to mention, I think the full rubber grips are the best. The standard mora with the indents on the side are ok. But my military version is a full roundish rubber handle. (Like the 3rd one down in the pic below.) That gives me more grip than any other knife I own.

And again, I "don't" think the short tang takes anything away from the knife. I don't baton with a knife. Nor do I think its necessary.

*But I think the perception in most peoples minds is that the Mora is a "backup" knife or a hunting or fishing knife. But because of its short tang. Takes it out of the running as a primary survival knife.

So I still don't understand why they cut out half of their market over 1-2 inches of steel?

You cannot view this attachment.

I'm a pretty shitty knifemaker, but I'm like 95% sure you'd start seeing broken handles on Bushcraft Instagram. People do baton Moras.

So you think you'd see more Mora's broken with fulltangs? Rather than how they are made now?

lmao what? no. If they cut the tang a bunch of inches shorter you'd see people abuse them and pop the blade out of the handle somehow.

Then they'd post MORA MYTH SHATTERED FAITH IN GOD LOST or some equally stupid shit to the grams for internet points

Or do you mean leave the tang full when you say "cut out an extra 1-2 inches" on the blanks?

Quote from: Beowolf on May 10, 2022, 10:32:55 PMI bought three (I think) 'Schrade SCHF10 Drop-Point Full Tang Fixed Blade Knifes' because it's the best feeling full tang knife I've ever handled. $30. And I love the micarta handle.



No idea if there's a newer style or if it's no longer a thing, but I have one in my bag, another in another bag, and I think a third is hanging in my camping gear.

Thats a really nice looking knife. Seems like it might compete really well with other 5 inch(?) blades. And for a fraction of the cost.

I keep coming back to this new philosophy of "sometimes enough is enough". Meaning sometimes you don't need to "buy once, cry once". You just need a tool thats "good" enough.

Good enough to get the job done. And then spend that extra money you would have blown on something else you need - worse than the nicest highend knife around. Or whatever thing your looking at buying.

I really feel this way with knives lately. Some of them are so ridiculously expensive. For basically the same thing. A sharpened piece of "good" steel. Do I really need a $300 knife? I don't want a $10 knife. Its probably a POS. Made out of sheet metal. But damn. For $50 (or even $30.) you can get a pretty good knife. And for $75 your at like 95% of the quality of the most expensive. Anyway. I'll "try" to stop ranting. Lol.

My thing about batoning wood is. Why aren't you just picking up smaller sticks?! Are you in some wasteland where every small stick in all the trees were burned off? And all you've got left are arm size pieces? Lol.

I've never had the need to baton a piece of wood. I've needed an axe or hatchet before to get to dryer wood inside a large piece. But besides building shelter. I don't see the need to use a knife like an axe or hatchet. And just about every bushcraft or knife review video shows someone batoning wood. I honestly don't get it. I really don't need my knife to double as a hatchet. Anyway.

I've never tried to sharpen a blade like that one above. How does it work sharpening that with a flat stone?

Quote from: Moab on May 10, 2022, 11:20:07 PM

Quote from: Beowolf on May 10, 2022, 10:32:55 PMI bought three (I think) 'Schrade SCHF10 Drop-Point Full Tang Fixed Blade Knifes' because it's the best feeling full tang knife I've ever handled. $30. And I love the micarta handle.



No idea if there's a newer style or if it's no longer a thing, but I have one in my bag, another in another bag, and I think a third is hanging in my camping gear.

Thats a really nice looking knife. Seems like it might compete really well with other 5 inch(?) blades. And for a fraction of the cost.

I keep coming back to this new philosophy of "sometimes enough is enough". Meaning sometimes you don't need to "buy once, cry once". You just need a tool thats "good" enough.

Good enough to get the job done. And then spend that extra money you would have blown on something else you need - worse than the nicest highend knife around. Or whatever thing your looking at buying.

I really feel this way with knives lately. Some of them are so ridiculously expensive. For basically the same thing. A sharpened piece of "good" steel. Do I really need a $300 knife? I don't want a $10 knife. Its probably a POS. Made out of sheet metal. But damn. For $50 (or even $30.) you can get a pretty good knife. And for $75 your at like 95% of the quality of the most expensive. Anyway. I'll "try" to stop ranting. Lol.

My thing about batoning wood is. Why aren't you just picking up smaller sticks?! Are you in some wasteland where every small stick in all the trees were burned off? And all you've got left are arm size pieces? Lol.

I've never had the need to baton a piece of wood. I've needed an axe or hatchet before to get to dryer wood inside a large piece. But besides building shelter. I don't see the need to use a knife like an axe or hatchet. And just about every bushcraft or knife review video shows someone batoning wood. I honestly don't get it. I really don't need my knife to double as a hatchet. Anyway.

I've never tried to sharpen a blade like that one above. How does it work sharpening that with a flat stone?

The blade is 5 3/8" measured from the top of the handle to the tip. It's hard to get the curve near the top of the handle, but with some angling, it can get sorta done. To get the rest, it's just a lot of wrist action following the curve of the blade on the stone.

Not only does this one feel good, it's a full length tang. I *have* batoned with it, just to see what goes on (had never done that before), and it worked really well. I think it's 1/4" thick, so it's hefty. I had previously purchased the SCHF9 and hated it. This one was so good, as mentioned, I bought more.

I totally forgot - for $25 you can get a Bundeswehr-issue utility knife. Which is just a large-frame swiss army knife, made by a handful of manufacturers (Victorinox included).

https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/bw-pocket-knife-with-thumb-hole-surplus/26776

I think they've got that wavy serration thing Victorinox does, but still. A regular old Camper is $30 and a One-Hand Trekker or a Forester will run around $55. Pretty cost-efficient.

You lose out on the saw but for a budget knife that shouldn't be a terrible compromise. I like the saws on my SAKs but honestly they're a nice-to-have.

But I am also a SAK nerd and always have one on me. Other people may find less utility.

Quote from: Lodewijk on May 12, 2022, 09:14:53 AMI totally forgot - for $25 you can get a Bundeswehr-issue utility knife. Which is just a large-frame swiss army knife, made by a handful of manufacturers (Victorinox included).

https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/bw-pocket-knife-with-thumb-hole-surplus/26776

I think they've got that wavy serration thing Victorinox does, but still. A regular old Camper is $30 and a One-Hand Trekker or a Forester will run around $55. Pretty cost-efficient.

You lose out on the saw but for a budget knife that shouldn't be a terrible compromise. I like the saws on my SAKs but honestly they're a nice-to-have.

But I am also a SAK nerd and always have one on me. Other people may find less utility.

With a little sleuthing, you can find the version that came before the current issue. It looks way more like a SAK, has a saw blade with a bottle opener and a corkscrew. The saw is surprisingly aggressive. 

The serrations at the top of the blade on the new version would take some getting used to, but it's a cool design.

Figured I'd bump this thread up a little since I started buying more knives since I first started it.

I picked up a pair of Civivi Praxis' from MidwayUSA (one was a Christmas gift and the other was because I wanted another one) recently and I figure Civivi falls into the budget friendly side of the knife world.

I like them (I mean that's pretty obvious considering I bought two of them ) and they get high marks from a lot of knife reviewers on YouTube.

The handle size is just about perfect for me and the overall size of the knife is great. It's a little larger than the Spyderco Tenacious I usually carry, but not by much. Maybe a half inch or so difference.

MidwayUSA has them for $42.50 (which with shipping and tax will be $54.67 total). Knife Center has them (and a bunch more Civivi models. I'm considering picking up one of their Elementum folders and fixed blades as soon as I can) for the same price, but I'm not sure how much the shipping and taxes would be there.

I've never ordered from Knife Center, so I'm not sure how much they charge for that. I just usually order from MidwayUSA.

ETA:  Forgot to mention the blade steel on the Praxis is 9Cr18MoV and the handle scales are G10.

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on February 20, 2023, 03:08:56 PMFigured I'd bump this thread up a little since I started buying more knives since I first started it.

I picked up a pair of Civivi Praxis' from MidwayUSA (one was a Christmas gift and the other was because I wanted another one) recently and I figure Civivi falls into the budget friendly side of the knife world.

I like them (I mean that's pretty obvious considering I bought two of them ) and they get high marks from a lot of knife reviewers on YouTube.

The handle size is just about perfect for me and the overall size of the knife is great. It's a little larger than the Spyderco Tenacious I usually carry, but not by much. Maybe a half inch or so difference.

MidwayUSA has them for $42.50 (which with shipping and tax will be $54.67 total). Knife Center has them (and a bunch more Civivi models. I'm considering picking up one of their Elementum folders and fixed blades as soon as I can) for the same price, but I'm not sure how much the shipping and taxes would be there.

I've never ordered from Knife Center, so I'm not sure how much they charge for that. I just usually order from MidwayUSA.

If this helps:

https://www.civivi.com/collections/flash-sale?page=1

https://www.bladehq.com/item--CIVIVI-Fracture-Slip-Joint-Knife--114174

https://www.bladehq.com/item--CIVIVI-Odium-Liner-Lock-Knife-Gray--107076

https://www.civivi.com/products/civivi-perf-flipper-knife-c20006

Knife Center is also having a sale on certain models of Civivi and WE Knife Co. knives.