For many years the Morakniv Companion has been my go-to recommendation for someone who’s looking for a new fixed blade to get into the outdoors with. They’re affordable and perform phenomenally in a wide variety of tasks.
Building upon the legacy that is the standard ‘Mora Companion’, Morakniv released the Companion “Spark” last year. And I fell in love with it! The spine is already squared off to a perfect 90º angle for scraping bark for tinder bundles or to use as a scraper for the integrated ferrocerium rod. And the changes end here…The rest of the knife is the same, which is a great thing in this case.
Morakniv Companion Spark Comfort & Ergonomics
Whenever someone picks up a Morakniv Companion around me, one of the first things that they mention is how comfortable it is. And I would fully agree with them. The Morakniv Companion and Companion Spark have the perfect handle size/design.
The palm swells fill your hand perfectly. The angle of the grip is ideal for wood-working & general tasks that are required of an outdoors knife. And there’s enough of a guard near the heal of the blade for safety purposes – Which is one of the reasons I like this knife for folks who are just getting into the outdoors.
Available on SMKW.com Available on Amazon
Morakniv Companion Spark Sheath
I’ve always been a fan of the provided Morakniv Companion sheaths. They are simple, easy to put on your belt or take off, and they hold the knife securely. Given that the Morakniv Companion Spark Knives are stainless steel, the polymer sheath pairs up with it perfectly. I really like this knife & sheath around water or in the snow, since maintenance is not as much of a concern in comparison to other types of materials (leather, carbon steel, etc).
When do I use the Morakniv Companion Spark?
I find myself using the Morakniv Companion Spark most when I’m trying to keep my loadouts lightweight. For example, the above picture is my ultralight titanium cookset. Since I’m using a small twig stove, I can easily bust up kindling with my Companion Spark and use the included ferro rod to get my fire going with natural materials that I find on the landscape. I also use this knife a lot whenever I’m out fishing or for adventures that are less “gear-heavy”.
Available on SMKW.com Available on Amazon
Morakniv Companion Spark Ferro Rod
One of the biggest changes to the Morakniv Companion Spark over the traditional Companion is the addition of the ferro rod in the handle. When comparing the two knives, here are some of my overall thoughts and I’ll leave the decision up to you on whether the included ferro rod (and 90º spine) is worth it:
- I mainly use the Companion Spark’s ferro rod as a backup to a large ferro rod that I carry. Having this ferro rod in the handle serves as a peace-of-mind kind of thing knowing I have a cutting and fire tool all-in-one place.
- The included ferro rod performs great for its compact size. I’ve had no issues using this ferro rod in any weather conditions to get a fire started.
- The standard Companion will run you anywhere from $13 to $20. While the Companion Spark is right around $30. I still recommend the standard Companion for folks who are looking to make the most of their outdoor gear budget. But, if budget isn’t a worry the Companion Spark is a nice all-in-one package to have.
Morakniv Companion Spark Standard Companion Knife
Morakniv Companion Spark Review
As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I have recommended the Morakniv Companion knives for many years. And the Morakniv Companion Spark is no exception. This is a fantastic knife at a great price and I would absolutely recommend you pick one up if you’re interested.
Available at SMKW.com Also available on Amazon
