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Morakniv has made knives in Mora, Sweden for more than 130 years, and most people meet the brand through simple, light outdoor knives like the Companion. The Garberg is the Mora for people who want something that can take more punishment. It has a full tang, a thicker blade and a spine designed to throw sparks, and it is made in the same factory in Mora.
What it is
Morakniv describes the Garberg (S) as a bushcraft knife with a full tang blade made of Swedish stainless steel. The company says it is tough enough for batoning and building shelter, and pitches it for heavy jobs like carving, splitting wood and cutting branches. The name comes from a fäbod, a type of traditional Swedish farm settlement, near Mora, which Morakniv describes as a place shaped by strength and self sufficiency.
Specs
- Steel: 14C28N stainless steel from Alleima, Sweden
- Heat treatment: annealed, hardened and cryo treated
- Hardness: 58 on the Rockwell C scale (HRC)
- Blade thickness: 3.2 millimeters (0.13 inch)
- Blade length: 109 millimeters (4.3 inches)
- Overall length: 229 millimeters (9.0 inches)
- Weight: 207 grams (7.3 ounces)
- Grind: Scandi, 26 to 28 degrees total, with a 37 to 39 degree edge
- Tang: full tang
- Handle: polyamide with a finger guard and lanyard hole
- Sheath: polypropylene, ambidextrous, with a belt loop
- Colors: black, Dala Red and green
The blade and grind
The Garberg uses the Scandi grind that Morakniv calls its signature. As the company explains on its grinds and edge angles page, the Scandi grind is a flat bevel ground all the way down to the edge, finished with a small micro bevel that makes the edge less fragile and helps it hold up. The practical result is an edge that bites well into wood and is simple to resharpen, because the wide flat bevel gives you a clear guide on a stone. Morakniv lists the Garberg among the knives that use this grind, and recommends it for outdoor work, bushcraft and woodcarving. For a deeper look at the different shapes, see our guide to knife grinds.
The 14C28N steel is chosen for its balance. Morakniv says it offers excellent edge retention and durability and needs little maintenance, which matters for a knife that will spend time wet and dirty.
The spine and fire starting
One of the most useful details is easy to miss. The Garberg's spine is ground with sharp corners, so you can strike a ferro rod against it to start a fire in any weather. Morakniv explains why on its grinds page, where it explains that ground but unpolished 3.2 millimeter spines are excellent with a fire starter, while polished spines are not.
Sharpening and care
Because the Scandi bevel is wide and flat, you can lay it on a stone and let the bevel guide the angle. Morakniv advises finishing any sharpening by stropping to remove burrs, and notes that the back of a leather belt works if you do not own a strop. Some owners go further and regrind the Garberg to a convex or scandivex edge for better feathersticking and lighter batoning, a modification Morakniv itself mentions as popular among enthusiasts. Out of the box, though, the stock grind is ready for work.
Garberg vs Companion
The Morakniv Companion is the knife most people start with. According to Morakniv, the stainless Companion uses a 2.5 millimeter blade in 12C27 steel at 56.5 HRC. The Garberg is thicker, harder and has a full tang. If you mostly cut cord, open packages and make the odd feather stick, the Companion is plenty. If you plan to baton firewood, pry or lean on the knife hard, the Garberg is the one built for it. It is the same idea as choosing a folder like the Opinel No. 08 for light jobs and a fixed blade for real work in the woods.
Who it suits
The Garberg suits campers, bushcrafters and anyone who wants one fixed blade that can do everything around a fire. At 207 grams with a 3.2 millimeter blade, it is more knife than you need if you only want something light for a day hike. But if you want a Mora you never have to baby, this is it. Pair it with a stove like the MSR PocketRocket 2 and you have a simple, durable camp kit.
Where to buy
Garberg (S) at Morakniv
Morakniv Garberg, stainless steel
Morakniv Garberg Survival Kit
For more knives and tools, browse our everyday carry hub.
