Opinel no.10 or mora clipper?

[Asa Samuel]

Well, It's time for me to buy my first proper sized bushcraft knife. The two knives I am looking at are the Opinel No.10 carbon version and the carbon steel Mora Clipper knife.

Right, I have had an Opinel knife (No.6) since I was a little kid and know how good Opinel knives are, its so sharp and so easy to sharpen, feels really solid, my only gripe is the tip broke off a long time ago, I don't know how it happened so I don't know whether it was something that would've broken other tips or whether it was because the blade is too thin.

The mora clipper I've heard is an excellent knife, very solid and good for the price, but I have no experience with it or mora knives.

I want a solid knife that isn't going to break too easily. The clipper has a half tang blade, and I have heard of it breaking doing things like truncating. The opinel being a folding knife might also break during the tougher things like truncating.

Having a folding knife would be good for me as it can well...fold smaller :o but a fixed blade might be a little stronger.

Does anyone else have anything to say that might help me make a decision?

[Graham_S]

Clipper, you'll be glad you did.

[Iona]

had an opinel until relatively recently, tip had been broken forever. Now have a clipper. Not the prettiest knife in the world but does everything I need it to and more, and it looks a lot nicer in the sheath I got from Dougster on here :) check out the market bit, lots of makers doing leather sheaths, really nice ones too.

[Asa Samuel]

but for what reason? I know why the opinel is good but why is the mora clipper good/better than the opinel?

[British Red]

The NO 10 will have a very srping blade. Its too thin for any tough work and will bend and flex easily - I use a 12 eff but as a portable filet knife not a Bushcraft knife.

For batoning, feathering splitting and even striking on a firesteel, clipeer all the way - it'll take loads of abuse. I have heard of a couple breaking but only under madly extreme stress or huge wear and tear. Most of us have never broken and I've done some pretty tough jobs with mine

Red

[Asa Samuel]

Thanks British Red, that was the kind of post I was looking for. Looks like I'm getting the clipper. I think I'll order it now.

[Rob Tangtent]

yeh the mora is brilliant,

there is a good video on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CizBaI6SBgY

its suprising how strong it is really...

[Asa Samuel]

Just ordered a mora clipper. :)

[Black Sheep]

I'd go for a the clipper:) cheep 'n' cheerful, very robust and it won't fold up on your fingers:eek:(Well it was my thumb:o ).

Plastic/rubber handle gives good grip even when wet. Original plastic sheaths useable but a leather one could be made/bought to replace it.

I carry a clipper now as my main knife - If i loose it or damage it its under a tenner to replace;)

Cheers

Richard

[helixpteron]

Good choice, I've only just bought some Clipper's, to go with this (http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39541) fantastic piece of kit!http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/helixpteron/happy0034.gif

[Iona]

plus it's your profile picture! :D

[JDO330]

Clipper is a good choice if you want to put your knife to work although have to say the Opinel is a great pocket knife for odd jobs.

Enjoy!

ATB, Jon.

[Wilderbeast]

For a first bushy knife I would always suggest a fixed blade, it encourages strong and confident cutting strokes , a folding blade that slips can put people off using knives for ages!

good luck with the clipper!

[Tye Possum]

Never tried an opinel but I do have a mora clipper. I like to carry a fixed blade for most of the stuff I use a knife for but then have a folder just for carving and stuff like that. The mora is good, I've batoned a bit with it and it's still in one piece, I like folding knives but only smaller ones, a big folder is still a folder so it's not going to be as strong as a fixed blade, even if it's tang only goes halfway threw the handle. I'd say you made a good choice, and maybe carry the No. 6 in your pocket too, just for the more intricate stuff, of course not too intricate because the tips gone...

[Asa Samuel]

I think that sounds like a good idea, it was only about one or two mm that came off the end, I've managed to grind a bit of a new tip into it, it's still a bit rounded but it's alot better than before.

I'm hoping it will arrive today but I'm more expecting it to arrive tomorrow.

[squeezy weazel]

I'd most definately go for the Mora if I were you.

The reason...

Well, fixed blade over folding knife for Bushcraft every time.

It's as simple as that.

A folder is more likely to fail on you. Just think what could happen to your fingers if it's razor sharp and it fails while you're putting all you strength behind it.

You say you already have an opinel. Well, get yourself a fixed blade and carry both.

[steven andrews]

Asa, you will be very happy with the Clipper - it is a superb knife for the money.

Don't dismiss your old Opinel. With some coarse wet-and-dry paper you can sand the spine down to make a new tip. I have modded all of my Opinels to drop points:

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8201/opinel2.jpg (http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=opinel2.jpg)

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9200/20480101003.jpg (http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=20480101003.jpg)

[Asa Samuel]

A clipper arrived in the post this morning.

I say a clipper because they sent the stainless steel not carbon steel!

Grr, gonna have to wait even longer now!