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Mora knives in the military


Basic matrix of identification of Mora Military knives

  • Three crowns mean Military issue
  • Black handles were normally made just  for special order for the military at the early age
  • Orange handles are Civil defense (CIVILFÖRSVARET)
  • A big "+" indicates medical corp


Ref: http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/artiklar/knivar/swed_knife.htm
From left to right:
  • Long Military Mora
  • Two Medium Mora for Medics
  • The three knives to the right are the same length 215 mm with different colors and scabbards.
  • At the bottom, you can see the old military Pilot rescue knife from Mora (read more below)

From left: Several different military knife examples, Classic N.2 with black handle, rare 1960 Airforce pilots Survival Knive, Probably a prototype made in Frost workshop of the knife on the left, 2x M6310-010010 with a different stamp from the 1970-1980, 700 series utility knife 

Military utility knife M6310-001000

Almost all of the manufacturers from Mora, Erik Frost, Mora Knivfabrik (brand owned by Bolhmark and manufactured by Frost), KJE, and CA  made some type of version of utilitarian knife N.1 (not sure if the N2 was ever made for the military)



Mora Knivfabrik is still wrapped in the cosmoline, probably from the 1930's Photos: Chad Spies


Morakniv Fabrik, owned by Bohlmark 
https://oldmora.blogspot.com/2021/05/BohlmarkCo.html 
Blades most probably made by Frost. Source: internet 




Carl Andersson and Erik Frost examples from the '40s or 50´s Photos: Chad Spies






Some interesting examples, not common, made by KJ ERIKSSON, i guess from the 1970s


Frost, maybe 1970s?

Piotr Szlęk Source Morakniv Fans Group on facebook.
Interesting that the 3 Kronor directly in the handle. Original? 





On the left, detail of the dedicated pouch for the Mora N.1  of a 1970s Swedish Military Medic Kit
On the right: 1950s Swedish Military Medic Kit w/ Erik Frost N.1. Photos: eBay



Civil defense (?)  tools bag. The item list has a data 1979 but the knife is a old Morakniv fabrik made by Frost probably in the 1920-1930 era. Old stock? 






Very interesting AB Moraknivar in this medical kit


1960s UN mission in Congo with Swedish troops. Take note of the Morakniv hanging from a trouser pocket next to him and the Mora knife on a trouser button. Source https://www.facebook.com/groups/226514834084577/

The medical and tool kits are often seen with a classic. In some cases what we see is not a N.1 but more like a N.1/0 or even a N.2/0

Dalaregementet-85-86 - This is probably a commemorative item.


Frost N.1, My guess from the 1970 -1990s period. 
Its very unusual seeing the 3 crowns with this stamp

Photo by Krister Kàm Tayanin

 ArtSS 1980
Artelleriskjtuskolan Trängslet or Artillery Battle School source https://www.facebook.com/groups/894851640891369/posts/1884006815309175/


M6310-004010

Used by, among others, Armens Parachute School.
Sitting in the trouser belt tucked in the right back pocket.



A seller from Tradera posted this knives with the following references: Survival knife from the FJS (The Parachute Ranger School in Swedish: Fallskärmsjägarskolan, FJS). Carried in his back pocket.
Has been involved in parachuting at Karamossen and Flugebyn in the 1970s.
"Överlevnadskniv FJS: Bars instoppad i bakfickan. Har varit med vid fallskärmshopp vid Karamossen och Flugebyn på 1970 talet"

https://www.tradera.com/en/item/292211/630169402/overlevnadskniv-fjs

Swedish Army Signal Troops
Maker: unknown 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Army_Signal_Troops
https://sv.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arm%C3%A9ns_stabs-_och_sambandsskola
Made by KJ Eriksson 1980s







Frost "scout" model 

time frame and usage is unknown 




MORAKNIV Survival Knife for the Swedish Air Force 

1970s and 1980s. Swedish Army No (FMVnr) M6310-010010




Made by Frosts Knife Factory from the late 1960s to early 1980s.  

Handle of Bubinga, ferrule, and finger guard made of nickel-plated steel. The sheath of Vulcanized Fiber, blade of Swedish Stainless Steel. Lanyard from army shoestring. The snap button is to stop the knife from flying out of the pocket on the thigh. This model was substituted by the Fallkniven F1 in 1995.

I also see some mentions about behing issued as a survival knife for helicopter pilots. Ref: http://carlotta.malmo.se/carlotta-mmus/web/object/416472 

This knife was nick-named "Attackmoran" or "Mora Attack". 



Accident report of a Saab J32 in 1963, in the inventory of the material the pilot had with him, was an M6310-010010 survival knife. Full report here

This sheath is not common to see.




MORAKNIV Survival Knife was probably based on the N. 97, fishing knife. The main difference is the guard and the sheath. 



Image from the 1965 Frosts Catalog

Teaching board of personal emergency equipment. Made of masonite board mounted on frame. Shows images of: Knife, Flashlight, Whistle, Emergency Compass, Life Saving Blanket, First Aid Kit Small and Medical Kit.  https://digitaltmuseum.se/0210211697182/undervisningstavla 

Morakniv Survival Knife for Swedish Air Force of the 1960s

!!! VERY RARE !!!


Made by Frosts Knivfabrik, now a part of MORAKNIV AB
Handle of balsa wood, finger guard, and ferrule of aluminum. Blade of Swedish Stainless Steel, the sheath of Polypropylene. 

Civil defense - CIVILFÖRSVARET

Orange handles have been a "requirement" from the civil defense to show the rightful owner





From top: Made by Frost (probably before the 1960s when the deal with Bohlmark was active), KJ Eriksson probably from 1950-1970,  Carl Andersson from 1940-1960s. KJ Eriksson probably from 1970s

Several different sheaths have been spotted: Frost with black or orange sheats, CA, and KJE with black sheaths. 



Medical corp kniv Aka militär sjukvårdskniv M6310-001000-2 

The knives are easily identified by the 3 kronor with the cross. 


Probably made by  KJE or Carl Andersson 







Probably made by Frost







Multiple maker made this knives KJE/Carl Andersson , Frost(Morakniv Fabrik). I seen a few examples that looks like Jonsson made them. 






Mora 2000



The Mora 2000 was introduced in 1991 and will have 30 years anniversary next year. About 1,5 million have been made. The Swedish Armed Forces use it and it got an official army number (like a NATO No but for Swedish Forces) FMV No M6310-004610. As a prototype, it had the name "Trapper" but when production started it changed the name to MORA 2000 https://oldmora.blogspot.com/2020/07/mora-2000.html 

Photo from Norrland's dragon regiment, K 4, 2022 
https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/aktuellt/2022/07/vi-tranar-for-att-kunna-ga-ut-i-strid-om-det-kravs/

Mora 2000 is still widely used, especially with Swedish forces working abroad


Hemvarnet https://sempermiles.se/frivilligforsvaret/grk-gor-entre-pa-hemvarnets-dag-rinkaby/




Other models


On the site, Gotavaopen.se, is mentioned a Military trial with a double-edged knife by KJ Erikson. Although that could have happened, both Thomas and Bo Eriksson never saw that knife before.  Source: http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/artiklar/knivar/swed_knife.htm

FMM Permissions bajonett

Ceremonial bayonet worn by soldiers when on leave In Swedish nomenclature Permissionsbajonett M/42. They were not officially issued. 
Produced by FMM from the late 1940s - until 1960. Models 100 e 105 was introduced in the catalog in 1945 and then the 7xx models were introduced in the 1950s 
The most common version is the one with the shield in the handguard, double guard, and antler handle. There was also a plastic handle version. and with no shield. and a version with a shield and a single guard. 
Leon's head is a very distinctive design detail of this model. They always had metal sheaths.

The author of this article about the leave bayonet, Nils "Nila" Frost, who was 72 years old at the time of her death in 2005, was a small shareholder in FMM and worked as a buyer there. translated from the Swedish original


"Regarding the request for FM bayonets. 
The background to the manufacture of the bayonet is that F.M. Mattsson's then boss (3rd generation) Frost Anders Mattsson d:y had been inspired by a parade bayonet worn by German soldiers in the late 20's and early 30's. Anders was studying in Germany at the time and became a witness to the construction of Nazi Germany (although without adopting their ideas). The German equivalent was worn as a parade uniform and was thus included as an attribute in the army, while the one produced here at FMM was in no way connected to the Swedish army. It was never worn (and was not allowed to be worn) by Swedish soldiers. It was only intended as an ornament to hang on the wall at home. At the bottom was also the sense of nationhood during the harsh war years -39 to -45. (See the bayonet's lion head). The German equivalent had a stylized eagle head in the shaft. Frost Anders bought a few which are in the possession of his nephew. Production of the bayonet started at the beginning of World War II, but we do not have any information on the number sold. Production ceased in 1962.
It was sold through sports and hardware stores. The bayonet has never had a production ban, but the production was completely shut down at FMM (40 items) due to unprofitability and that premises and manpower were needed for the armature production.In the first copies there were .three crowns. cast on the coat of arms under the parer bar on no. 720 and 730 but was immediately banned by the national heraldist due to the fact that this mark is protected for state and crown. A few copies of this came out on the market (should have a considerable collector's value today). The bayonet has only been sold within Sweden (by FMM). We do not know of any equivalent of this bayonet in Sweden. F.M. Mattsson AB Nils Frost(belongs to the 4th generation)"


Models
100 Single guard, shield, antler handle, shield, Length 330 mm.
105 Single guard, shield, bakelite handle, shield, Length 330 mm.
710 Double guard, antler handle,  no-shield. Length 285 mm
720 Double guard, antler handle, shield, Length 330 mm
730 Double guard, antler handle, shield, Length 370 mm
725 Double guard, bakelite handle, shield, Length 330 mm
735 Double guard, bakelite handle, shield, Length 370 mm







A rare early version had three crowns on the shield but it wasn’t allowed because it’s only reserved for the king and state. These are really desirable. These are sold for more than 5000 SEK


In March 2024, this knife was sold by 610 EUR





Frost bayonets 



Some bayonets models were made but they were intended for the civilian market although much military personnel acquired them

Bajonettdolk N.6150


There are versions with brass hardware and chromed hardware. I guess the ones with brass hardware are older.

Bajonettdolk N.6215



Livregementets grenadjärer

Infantry unit active between 1815–2000. The knife was probably made by KJ Eriksson
More info here https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livregementets_grenadj%C3%A4rer






Hemvärnskniven 

Hemvärnet Swedish national guard. Made by Frost N.210. 


Fo 65 
( JOKKMOKKS FÖRSVARSOMRÅDE) refers to the defense are 65 in the region Jokkmokk in the Finnish boarder 

Source: https://sok.riksarkivet.se/agent/EuYFr0N4rX61p03GjpvwY3
" The Jokkmokk Defence Area (Fo 65) was organized in the spring of 1940 through a reorganization of the Northern Lapland Defence Area. Jokkmokk's defense area included the Arvidsjaur, Arjeplog and Jokkmokk districts of Norrbotten County and the southwestern part of the Gällivare district (SFS 1943:33). Fo 65 had a joint commander and staff with the Kiruna defense area (fo 66) in Kiruna and Jukkasjärvi. In 1946, the Jokkmokk defense area was merged with the Kiruna defense area to form the Kiruna-Jokkmokk defense area with the Kiruna war defense area."

F0 63 Defense are of Boden
Source: https://sok.riksarkivet.se/agent/E8YFr0N4rX61p03GjpvwY3
" Boden's defence area (fo 63) was organized from 1943 with headquarters in Boden. It included the city of Boden and the Överluleå and Defors rural fishing districts of Norrbotten County (SFS 1943:33). In 1946, fo 63 was merged with the Luleå Defence Area (fo 64). In the 1956 organization, fo 63 therefore comprised the cities of Boden and Luleå as well as Piteå norra, Piteå södra, Älvsby, Nederluleå and Överluleå landsfiskaldistrikt of Norrbottens län (SFS 1956:634). In 1961, fo 63 was merged with the Jokkmokk defense area (fo 65) to form the Boden-Jokkmokk defense area (fo 63/65)"

Fo 63/65 Boden-Jokkmokk defense area ()

Frost Diver knife

Many have been said over the year about this knife but without official confirmation. 
This model was always involved in some mystery, some say it was a military order other than that only made by the guys at the factory for personal usage. 
A veteran Swedish Armed Forces Diver, confirmed to me, that this were indeed used by the Armed forces like the Attackdykare and Reconnaissance divers, during the 1950-1970s. 

The yellow handle where Bahco shafts that were sold as universal shafts for wood chisels. The sheath looks like the same used in the n. 6150 but the blade is a complete mystery. 

Bases on the ones I seen in the auction sites, they came with green brass sheath with with nylon (??) belt loop adapter. 

The prices of this model in the auction are always very high. Between 300€ and going pass the 500€






Photo dated from 1966-167 of a diver from the ship Älvsnabben . Original photo  https://digitaltmuseum.se/021017335167/ahlman-gar-pa-djupet

https://digitaltmuseum.se/021026133266/kniv 

Frost Diver aka "Katia" aka "moroten"

The previous knife was replaced by this one. Gunnar Olsson, from the company Underwater Control AB, designed and manufactured this diving knife. Katia is the name of the model.

Sports divers bought it, but Defense Forces divers used it as well. The military version, however, had nylon leg straps instead of rubber ones.

Blades were purchased from Frost, and sheaths were purchased from Simotal. 

Gunnar sourced the blade elsewhere and designed a custom sheath for the latest model. This models as the "Katia" word on the handle. 

Both models were produced from the early 1970s to the early 1980s. 

The military variant has the M 6310-055010 number stamped in the blade 






Fält knives

There are many knives from many makers that have "Fält" messages stamped in the sheath relative to solders that server in the Finnish board during WWII

Seen with a AB Moraknivar knife but i have some reservations about that being the original knife
A military division of doctors in an Infantry from Hälsingland: 
Med = medicin
7 Komp = 7th Company
I14 = Swedish Infantry no 14
Fält = "In field" (in action)
1940 = the year


Frost 700 Craftsman series 




Knifes attributed to Dalregementet (Infantry regiment from the district of Dalarna) based in Falun
Source: FB








Knife distributed by Swedish Army Staff and Signals School in 1992. Source: FB






Special version for Hemvärnet Swedish national guard. Source

Knife from 1995 


Hemvärnet https://sv.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil:Truppslagstecken_M46-60_f%C3%B6r_Hemv%C3%A4rnet.jpg https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/var-verksamhet/det-har-gor-forsvarsmakten/hemvarnet




F15 was one of Swedish Airforce flotilla located in Söderhamn. Hundförare means dog handler. In the hangars, they used to have "Hangar dogs" usually on a break chain. And would set off an alarm when barking to alert the sentries. Only one dog handler at a time could handle the dog. These type of knives was common in the 80-90.



Gotlands militärkommando - Probably from 1980-1990s period, since the unit was extinct in 2000. 




Fort F is short for Fortifikationsverket and "Öst" translates East. It is a government-owned company that owns and manages all Swedish "defense" buildings. A military company in other words.


Hälsinge Regiment Swedish Army infantry regiment. this knife is probably prior to 1997 
(The regiment was disbanded in 1997)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A4lsinge_Regiment

Frost 700 "PRAEPARATUS SUPERVIVET" 





UNIFIL UNITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON  https://digitaltmuseum.se/





https://digitaltmuseum.se/011023040146/kniv 
https://digitaltmuseum.se/0210211761396/kniv/media?slide=0

Related to Dalarna? source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Morakniv/posts/1943413776012142/

Dalregementet


Frost marked I15/Fo34

Black version ?

Sveatrangare - Ett Strå Vassare




















Hemvärnet 1940-1990 










I 19/ P 5 Norrbottens Regiment.  Early 90s?
"Upplands-& Västmanlandsgruppen med Hemvärnet & Frivilligorganisationen"
translated to 
"Upplands and Västmanlandsgruppen with Home Guard & Voluntary organizations"
https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/var-verksamhet/det-har-gor-forsvarsmakten/hemvarnet/upplands-och-vastmanlandsgruppen/ 
http://www.uniformsdetaljer.com/Tygmarken/Uppsala_Vastmanland/Tygmarken_Uppsala_Vastmanland_armen_hv.htm


Järnvägarnas driftvärn - The Railways' Operational Protection
https://www.bokman.nu/jarnvagarnas-driftvarn-under-50-ar-1946-1996-19248
https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driftv%C3%A4rnet


????






Frost 440

Frost 440 before 2000
LV 3 Roslagens luftvärnsregemente
http://www.lv3.se/







KJE 511 

Knife was probably made for an army regiment perhaps close to Stockholm and therefore the royal connection. Around 1977 - 1978.




Lapland Ranger Regiment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapland_Ranger_Regiment 

Luleå Luftvärnskår Lv7






Clipper / Companion

Swedish marines source: https://blogg.forsvarsmakten.se/combatcamera/files/2016/11/20161117-joethu01-swenex-jpg-8-1200x800.jpg




Other knives
Made by Frost








SWEDISH army stock number (FMV) by MORAKNIV


M6310-001000


M6310-001000-2 
Medical corp knife




M6310-014010



M6310-004610

Source https://digitaltmuseum.se/011024461982/kniv

https://www.forsvarsutbildarna.se/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/VSH004PG-%C3%96VERDRAGSKL%C3%84DER-UNGDOM-FRIV-INSTRUKT%C3%96RER-2017.docx 




M6310-004019




KJ Eriksson 611 issued in 2002-2003 by the Swedish Navy Source



Military use outside Sweden
These are accounts I have read in Forums and Facebook about the usage of MORAKNIV in the military.

Denmark 

In the front sticker there is this text 
HMAK=army material command.
730-22-100-0223
DOLK KOMPLET
MED SKEDE
6/72
GR.1

Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Morakniv/posts/1943849892635197/

Australian Mora Garberg is issued for the survival training of the army

Finland issues the Companion HD as a utility knife

France

Above: French Foreign Legion. On the belt, you can see a Companion MG. Source


UK - Royal Air Force RAF helicopters personal use the Bushcraft Survival Black


NATO

A NATO Stock Number, or National Stock Number (NSN) as it is known in the US, is a 13-digit numeric code, identifying all the 'standardized material items of supply' as they have been recognized by all NATO countries including the United States Department of Defense. Pursuant to the NATO Standardization Agreements, the NSN has come to be used in all treaty countries. However, many countries that use the NSN program are not members of NATO (e.g. Japan, Australia, and New Zealand). A two-digit Material Management Aggregation Code (MMAC) suffix may also be appended,[1] to denote asset end-use but it is not considered part of the NSN. In the United Kingdom, it is known as a Domestic Management Code (DMC). WIKIPEDIA

Above: NATO Stock Numbers by MORAKNIV

 The Bushcraft Survival Black NATO No.: NSN 1095-99-614-9805 (UK)
Morakniv Companion HeavyDuty MG (C) NATO No.: NSN 1095-64-000-4080 (SWEDEN)
Morakniv Companion MG (S) NATO No.: NSN 7340-38-001-3098 (ESTONIA)
Morakniv Outdoor Axe | MG NATO No.: NSN 5110-22-625-4706 (DENMARK)
Morakniv Basic 511 NATO No.: NSN 5110-41-003-0472 (AUSTRIA)

Note: Besides each model, is the name of the country which country was the first to codify the item






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