Wondering if the Mora Bushcraft is a full tang knife? You’re not alone, it’s not easily findable information.
As an owner of the Mora Bushcraft, I decided it was time to answer this question (and many more regarding the Mora Bushcraft) in today’s article.
When shopping for a good bushcraft knife, you can’t go far without hearing about the Mora lineup of knives.
In fact, a quick YouTube search for “best survival knife” will quickly give you a playlist of outdoorsmen (and outdoors-women?) showcasing the Mora Garberg as their go-to survival or bushcraft knife.
Mora Bushcraft Overview
The Mora Bushcraft is an outdoorsman knife, built well for the outdoors! It fits sturdy in the hand, has a very nice (and hard) stainless steel blade.
The blade edge angle is a Scandi Grind that includes the typical micro bevel of a total edge angle of about 35-45° which is about 0.05 – 0.5 mm high to make the edge less fragile and with better edge retention.
I purchased the Bushcraft Survival series that features a built-in diamond sharpener and fire starter, all built into the sheath, meaning, no taking extra gear out with me when heading to the woods.
The Mora Bushcraft can be purchased in either a stainless steel finish or a carbon steel (black) finish. However, the carbon steel version does not have a sharpener and fire starter.
The price point of the Mora Bushcraft is spot on coming in at around $65 depending on where you buy it from.
Is Mora the same as Morakniv?
First things first, let’s clear up an area of confusion regarding the Mora Knife brand itself. Yes, “Mora” is the same as Morakniv.
I don’t know where “Mora” came from but it’s the preferred way to say the brand in the U.S.
If you go to the Morakniv website, you will not see a mention of the word “Mora” so I don’t believe there is an official reason for the brand itself.
“Mora” is basically just a condensed-down version of the brand name Morakniv, likely because we like keeping things easy here. However, rest assured, if you hear someone mention a Mora knife, they are speaking about a Morakniv Knife.
What Makes a Good Survival Knife?
Wow, that’s a loaded question. So many people have so many different opinions and preferences when it comes to their knives, it’s hard to say.
But, there are a few little details here and there that should be in place when looking for a survival or bushcraft knife.
Let’s take a look at a few of them now.
- Hard Steel:
This is huge. You can’t take a knife into the field with survival/bushcraft expectations when the blade is made of cheaper, softer steel.
The reason for this is because a knife that is used often for even mundane tasks will wear down the edge and overall sharpness of the blade rendering your bushcraft seemingly useless, or, you will just be constantly sharpening your knife.
The Mora Bushcraft uses a Stainless Steel blade cut at a 3.2mm thickness making this a very durable blade for most bushcraft tasks.
- Good Grip:
A good grip matters in a bushcraft situation. From cold hands to snowing or rainy weather, you need to have good control over your blade.
Control over your blade starts with a good grip that fits well in the hand and doesn’t slip or move as it’s put under pressure.
The last thing you want is to slip up when using your knife and hurt yourself, especially in the backcountry.
The Mora Bushcraft features a very nice TPE-Rubber grip that offers comfort and control in a nice weatherproof design.
- Reasonable Cost:
This matters to most folks, not all. But, a knife needs to have a reasonable cost.
Sure, you can go grab the most expensive “best” bushcraft knife, but, knives get used, and in a survival situation, knives get used daily and get used hard.
That means constant cutting, prying, batoning, Ferro rod striking, etc. Your fancy $300 knife will likely be beaten up and abused (and potentially lost) in the bush, meaning it’s a good idea to get a good knife at a good cost.
- Full Tang:
The great tang debate, is that a thing? Maybe not, but it seems to be a point of debate for many.
A full tang gives your knife more lasting power from strikes and heavy usage (think batoning). The more abuse your knife can take, the better off you are in the wild in a bushcraft scenario.
Can you imagine your knife snapping in half when using it? Yikes, let alone in a survival scenario.
So, is the Mora Bushcraft Full Tang?
No, the Mora Bushcraft is NOT a full tang knife. However, the Mora Bushcraft is an excellent knife for almost any survival or bushcraft situation.
Full tang simply means the blade of the knife extends all the way down from the tip of the blade down into the base of the entire handle, giving maximum durability.
Due to this, the Mora Bushcraft is not considered by some to be the best option for off-grid or survival usage.
However, the Mora Bushcraft does feature a “2/3” blade design meaning the blade tang does extend down two-thirds of the entire knifes body, making it still VERY durable.
Typically, you see people promoting the Mora Garberg instead due to sharing the same great features of the Mora Bushcraft but harnessing that sought after full-tang design and durability.
Is the Mora Bushcraft Black?
Yes, the Mora Bushcraft has a black finish when purchased in the Carbon Steel model.
However, Morakniv also offers the Mora Bushcraft – Survival in a desert tan sheath that features a stainless steel version as well.
So, you can get either one in the Mora Bushcraft series.
Is the Mora Bushcraft a Good Survival Knife?
If you are looking for the best bushcraft or survival knife, you have likely heard of the Mora brand name.
Yes, the Mora Bushcraft is an excellent survival knife. Because the Mora Bushcraft features a built-in sharpener, stainless steel blade, a fire starter, a scandi grind, and a great price point, the Mora Bushcraft hits almost all of the purchase points when considering a great go-to bushcraft knife.
Remember, the Mora Bushcraft is able to take a beating (despite not being full-tang).
Here’s the bottom line. Most people won’t use their knife to its full potential, and those that do will find the Mora Bushcraft to be all the knife they need for all tasks in the backcountry at a great price point.
So, stop worrying about the “best” of anything, and get out there and start practicing your bushcraft and survival skills!