Knife choices for the average outdoorsman or woman are many and quite diverse, especially for collectors. Finding good-quality knives that still have excellent use cases is important, which is why we're highlighting the exceptional Anniversary Edition Morakniv Knife: the Mora 2000 (S). This Swedish blade is a monument to the vaunted knife maker's 130th anniversary and the 30th year since the introduction of the Mora 2000.
The Mora 2000 offers the collector and the serious user a 0.1-inch (2.5 mm) blade made from the best Swedish Sandvik stainless steel. It includes a rounded spine, Scandi grind profile, and a non-slip polymer handle. This knife looks like the standard version of a re-released product, but with a few upgrades that make it worth some extra attention.
We all want to feel like we're getting something new, and the Mora 2000 doesn't disappoint. As an anniversary edition, this knife was set only to be produced in 2021, but you can still get it while supplies last. It has its upsides and a few downsides, but it is an excellent knife for the money.
Mora 2000 Background
First introduced in 1991, the anniversary edition of the Mora 2000 drew from the lightweight utilitarian knife prowess that has proved itself these past 30 years. Should you find yourself with one in your hand, you will see an engraving on the blade that marks the years from 1891 to 2021. Like the original, it comes with a leather belt loop designed to keep the knife's handle right at the top of the belt line for the best access. You don't have to worry about caring for the leather with a plastic sheath, but most knife owners still prefer the cowhide version.
At the facility where they are made, Morikniv can produce nearly 7,000 blade blanks per hour which are heat-treated at an incredible 800 to 1,100 degrees C for a mammoth amount of durability. They are precision sharpened by a robotic process that gives them a spectacularly professional, resistant, and attractive look.
Once I got to try the Mora 2000 (S) for myself, I found even more to like about it.
The Mora 2000 (S) in Hand
The knife feels great in your hand right out of the box. The rubberized and polymer grip provides 4.5 inches of excellent holding power, as good as any knife for cold or wet conditions. No wonder it's so popular for hunters and anglers in Sweden's sometimes inclement weather.
The upside? The excellent profile-ground stainless steel blade, the light weight in your hand, and the blade's rounded spine. The downside is that the sheath is plastic and it's not a full-tang blade.
While this anniversary edition knife is meant to be a belt-carried knife, it easily fits into my hunting bag, sheath and all. Since it does not come in a full tang version, I chose not to do much batoning with it (using a stick or a mallet to strike the spine like a chisel), but it did perform well the few subtle times that I tried it.
Ultimately, it works great for carving and notch cutting, but could it be used as a field dressing knife? I believe it could. It has the size and the blade to execute it, but that will have to wait until the fall when deer season rolls around.
I walked into the woods with it to hang a couple of trail cameras. It immediately came in handy to pare away some limb knots and knurls that were getting in the way of a camera hanging spot I wanted to use. Since it was a wet day, it was easy to see how the excellent grip of the handle performed when wet.
In fact, since my sidearm holster sat nicely on one hip, I could easily attach the Mora 2000 to it on the opposite side for easy carrying. It's so light that I had to glance once or twice to see if it was still there, since there is no strap holding the knife in the sheath.
I was a little disappointed in the plastic sheath and the fact that it isn't a full tang blade, but overall it has great strength and utility considering the setup. This is a wonderful knife recognizable as much for its beauty as its craftsmanship and utilitarian usage as an everyday knife. I can see it serving me well in my deer hunting bag, my pheasant and grouse hunting vest, and even a tag-along knife in my boat for a day of fishing out on the reservoir.
The Mora 2000 will work fine to cut, chop, or make notches in a pinch. It is available for $51.99 and at that price point, it's a steal. But it won't last forever.
Please check out my book "The Hunter's Way" from HarperCollins. Be sure to follow my webpage or on Facebook and YouTube.
