The latest creation from the venerable Mora of Sweden is something a little unusual, at least for the modern knife market. Meet the Morakniv Wood Splitting Knife, a bladed implement designed for – would you believe it – splitting wood.
Mora calls this one a “knife,” but to us the term “bladed implement” is probably closer to the mark. The Wood Splitting Knife’s edge is 4.5 inches long, running straight for that entire length, with no tip at all due to its very specific design. The blade made from the company’s preferred stainless, 12C27N; this one falls well short of super steels in terms of performance, of course, but compares favorable to other steels in its class: it’s amiable on the stones and you’d have to work hard to get it to rust. And given that the Wood Splitting Knife is made to do one specific task, maintenance should be both straightforward and periodic.
It is an interesting one for sure. Anyone have any experience with this tool?
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Del Corsi
It is very similar to a drawknife used for skinning off the bark when building log homes. One spring breakup I went to work for a log home builder, really interesting work. The drawknife is a prolific tool in the hands of an expert, which I wasn’t! 🙂 People that did that all day had arms like Popeye.
Jason K
Del, that was my exact thought. When I was young man living on the Canada/Minnesota boarder I peeled logs when i needed extra cash. I believe it was 35 cents a foot for most logs, graded by diameter and amount of knots. It was certainly a pay rate that required skill with a draw knife.
Hocky
Yep, a Drawknife. My maternal uncles, the Warner Bros. (aka Bud, Head and Pill) skinned and shaped logs; and, they shaped their “skinning boards”, too. My Mom’s brothers were adept at stone masonry as well as carpentry. Many of the log cabins with stone fireplaces they built in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s and sit on mountain acreage fetch $$$,$$$. I have a draw knife used by them hanging on my tool shed wall with other “relics” from my younger days. Del, my uncles had forearms like “Popeye”!
Del Corsi
This is an artform for sure Jason, some necessary technique skills to learn as well. Thought I was a tough logger and would easily be able to use the tool, by the end of the first day I was dragging my butt and the target for more than one good natured joke!
Del Corsi
Really cool Hocky, no doubt the one on the wall is razor sharp, and those forearms are no exaggeration! Those cabins with the stonework must have been incredible. The precision work building these “cabins” is mind boggling, so it’s no surprise about the value! $$$$$$