Clean Cut
Stopping in at Axminster Tools the other day to grab some abrasives, I spotted a few Mora knives on a shelf – I’ve read a lot of reviews over the years saying they’re amazing little knives for the money (generally under £15) and having handled one at a friend’s a couple of weeks back I was totally sold. Fortuitously, one had a misprinted label, and I walked out with one of these for the princely sum of £7 -
You’ll note it’s an ugly bugger, and with a godawful oversized plastic tube sheath to boot, but it’s a shaving-sharp carbon steel blade wrapped sides-and-spine in stainless – for £7!
Still, I can’t abide poor aesthetics. Here’s another couple of shots after 15 minutes on the belt sander, some blowtorching to blacken & harden the handle, soaking in teak oil, and a basic wetformed leather sheath. Forgive the dirty-looking blade, it’s a thick smear of wax to keep the rust back. Ordinarily it will simply be oiled, but the modification process meant a lot of handling, so it got a temporary coat of something more resilient.
I fully expect this thing to be with me decades from now, and probably another half dozen in reserve. As much as I adore and appreciate expensive knives (if anyone wants to buy me a Fallkniven Idun NL5cx for a touch over £1100, I’ll love you forever) I believe there’s a lot to be said for the practicality of a knife you don’t need to worry about losing. A knife is only a tool when you don’t hesitate to use it – all else is (gorgeous, shiny, sharp) ornament.
