The Bottom Line
The Morakniv Companion (or Mora for short) really is the gold standard in ‘beginner’ bushcraft belt knives – and they are so good that many more advanced bushcrafters stick with them.
I am a total beginner to bushcraft, so everything here is based on my view of the knife from having used it while learning basic skills that can be used in a bushcraft setting.
(5 / 5)
- Cheap (£10-15)
- Versatile
- Available in Stainless and Carbon steels
- Easy to get used to
- Comfy grip
Purchasing and Price
Given its how nearly universal this knife is in bushcraft, it is surprisingly challenging to get hold of. This is probably to do with the (entirely sensible) knife laws here in the UK. It is, however, available on Amazon for between £10-15 here.
Legality
The UK has very sensible and strict knife laws. I am not an expert so please check for yourself what the laws surrounding knives are before purchase.
As far as I know, you can carry this knife in the UK if you have good reason, and you may not have it in public. If you are travelling to somewhere you plan to use this knife, you must not have it on your belt while travelling. As a general rule, I will only ever have this or any knife on my belt if I am at my final destination (e.g. in the woods) and I’m allowed to practice bushcraft there. Otherwise, it is buried in the bottom of my bag – or just left at home.
Features
The Mora Companion is good to use straight out of the box. It’s ‘Scandi’ (single bevel) grind comes fairly sharp, but you may want to work on this a bit. One of the advantages of a fairly cheap beginner knife like this one is that it is great to practice your sharpening skills on: if you make a mistake you haven’t caused too much damage, and if it really is past it you can replace the knife, or grind even more material off it, without worrying that you’re wasting hundreds of pounds. The knife comes in both carbon and stainless steels: I have the stainless one, which is easier to sharpen and will not rust, but the carbon one holds its edge better and you may have to sharpen it less often.
The default sheath that comes with the knife is a protective, hard plastic. I was worried that the knife would fall out, but it clicks into the sheath very nicely and is secure. The belt loop on the sheath is also very convenient: it can snap onto your belt without you having to take it off, and in a push you can even hook it to the waist of your trousers. It also has a keyhole-style hole on the back so you can hang it on a screw or nail – although I’ve never used it.
Use
It isn’t as though the only advantage of this knife is that it is cheap, either. It is very good for outdoor tasks of all sorts, and actually compares in functionality too many other knives. I have tried the Hultafors Craftsman’s Knife (£9.90), and I’ve found them very similar in use. The only notable differences are in the blade. The Mora’s blade is taller (and a bit longer), and the Hultafors has a sharp back edge, so you can strike firesteels far more easily.
The one area where a Mora falls down compared to even the most expensive knives is its toughness. The Companion isn’t a full-tang knife, which means the blade can snap off the handle. This will only really happen with some quite heavy batoning (I’ve never had an issue). If you’re planning a long wilderness trip you’ll need something stronger – but if you are then you should probably already know that.
Conclusions
The Mora Companion is a fantastic investment for anyone who is just getting into bushcraft. I can even see it working for those with more experience who don’t have the time for much practice. There is something quite satisfying about a flashy, expensive tool, but I don’t think it’s the point of the skillset. After all, it is bushcraft, the emphasis is on the skills and knowledge and not on the tools. With that in mind, I really struggle to see the point of my investing in anything more expensive at my skill level.
My final verdict on the Mora is simple: if you are interested in bushcraft but don’t have much experience, buy one. £15 well spent for a fantastic gateway to a skillset. If you are a more advanced outdoors person, the same Mora may well do fine – but for longer trips you might want something tougher.