There is a difference between cheap and inexpensive. “Cheap,” when it refers to an object, means it is worth very little, according to the Urban Dictionary. “Inexpensive” means something doesn’t cost much and generally doesn’t refer to a compromise in quality.
In other words, you get a good product for less money.
Is The Boker Magnum Nordic A Good Choice?
In survival gear, I recommend you go with inexpensive items when possible and within reason.
Don’t let a celebrity endorsement be the deciding factor in equipment choices.
Subsequently, my nomination for the best all-around knife for the average person is an inexpensive, rigid-blade Mora-style knife.
Mora is a brand name. Generally speaking, I define a Mora as a knife with a rigid, three-to-four-inch blade, a Scandinavian grind, and an overall length of about eight inches.
The handle typically doesn’t have a guard, and the knife is intended to be an all-purpose, general-use cutting tool.
In this case, I decided to compare the Boker Magnum Nordic with the Mora model 86o.
I’ve carried my particular 860 for several years, and it has seen hard use.
My Mora is used for cleaning fish, small game processing, utility purposes and anything I need a knife for.
My 860 rides in my briefcase and goes to the office, where it is used for opening mail and packages, slicing bagels and, as needed, spreading peanut butter and cream cheese.
As far as I’m concerned, the 860 sets the standard for inexpensive, over-all utility knives.
Watch my video review here:
Can you spot the differences between the two?
Which would you choose?
Read more with these related articles from our site:
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- Survival Knife Review: Benchmade 140 Nimravus Fixed Blade Knife
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Editor's Note: This article was originally published on September 27, 2013, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
I’ve recently purchased several knives of this style, both for myself and as gifts. The brand name on both sheath and knife is MORAKNIV, and the style name is Companion MG. They come in both carbon steel and stainless.
I am pleased with the feel of the knife, both in balance and grip.
I haven’t put mine through any heavy use yet, but plan on it this deer season.
I’m guessing that the sheath on this knife would be better than either of the ones in this article. It takes an active effort to remove the knife from the sheath. It definately does not fall out when the sheath is inverted.
It would be interesting to see how it stacks up against the two listed in this article.
Fom me its the mora. But i do like the carbon blade over the stainless due to the ease of getting the razor edge back quickly.
I am a knife enthusiast and love them all lol. But for an all around survival knife at an affordable price I prefer my BK7. I love k bars been making knives for years and the marine k bar is awesome I just prefer the drop point style of blade on the becker bk7
Where can I purchase a Mora model 860 knife..
Cheap or inexpensive are just semantic word play. John Rustin said something about “you get what you pay for”. The knife I saw pictured is not built for heavy use, but suited to kitchen chores, skinning and dressing deer sized game, or larger, and lighter chores. From my own 50 years experience in the “Great Outdoors”, I can’t imagine going out without 3 knives:1-a big heavy 9 inch “cut it or kill it”; 2-a 6 or 7 inch for lighter chores, and a Swiss Army Champ. The first will disassemble anything that needs it, especially heavy bones and joints, and use the spine of the blade to crack the bones to get the marrow, should there be no rocks around, and whack off or down big limbs and small trees. The 2nd is just a smaller and more nimble version of the first, with many uses. The Swiss is your last resort or first resort, depending on your needs. If you can’t do it with the Swiss (on a moderate scale0 it probably doesn’t need to be done, and you should be doing something else more strategic.
As an all around do or die knife, I’ve got, as an old Marine (once upon a time, a long time ago), agree with you. It’s the most versatile knife there is. Not my opinion. Just a fact. There is a reason the Corps issues this knife: it’s been developed over 200 years of fighting damned near all over the world, which pulls together 200 years of history to examine n great depth what is the best tool for all around use. K-Bar all the way. Right to the hilt, if need be, and unzip like a rabbit.