In 1976, KJ Erikssons Knivfabrik introduced model 510 as the reinvention/evolution of the traditional Mora knife, with a plastic handle which was an instant success.
Bo Eriksson, CEO of KJ Erikssons at the time, led the development of the new model and built a new cheaper alternative to the Classic line.
Olle Anders Nordlund was already known to Bo Eriksson when he invited him to design the brand-new model.
Olle Anders Nordlund was born in Bäckland, Högsjö on 25th July 1919. He was a Swedish sculptor and craft teacher. Nordlund was the son of two school teachers, Gustav Nordlund and Matilda Wedin. He married Ruth Eriksson in 1948.
Norlund is best known for his small, abstract works in oak, walnut, ebony, and rosewood. He exhibited at 'Crafts of Today (Konsthantverk av I dag) in Linköping (1953 and 1955), 'Nine Östergötland artists' (Nio östgötakonstnärer) in Skänninge (1955), at the Swedish Public Art Association Spring Salon Liljevalchs konsthall (an art gallery located on the Djurgården island in Stockholm, which was designed by architect Carl Bergsten) in 1956, as well as exhibitions in Ljungsbro (1953) and Mjölby (1954 and 1960). Olle Nordlund died in Mjölby, Östergötland on 2nd March 1996, aged 76. Source http://www.saundersfineart.co.uk/artist/110/olle-nordlund?r=item/1898/mobil
Olle Anders Nordlund designed KJ Eriksson's No. 510 (which later became 511) 410, and 430 and he was also involved in the final finish of EKA's Swede series together with Sigvard Bernadotte.
The design process was completed in a couple of months, culminating in a redesigned ergonomic plastic handle and a new sheath. There was no change to the classic design of the blade.
x-ray of the 510 tang
The model was designed patent protect in 1976-06-30, No. 2467/75.
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| Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office: Patents - United States. Patent and Trademark Office, 16 of May 1978, volume 970, page 1584. The patent was filled in late 1975 |
Image from 1979 KJE Catalog
The original model was made in carbon steel (red handle) and stainless steel (blue handle)
The 510 with 100 mm blade and 2.5mm thickness and the 520 had a 110mm blade and 2.5mm thickness. The 2,5 mm thick blade can easily be identified by looking closely at the grinding line, the 2,0 mm thick blade, that came after 2005, has a shorter grinding line.
The blade had the same length and shape as the Classic N.1 and N.2 respectively.
510/545/511/546 had a No 1 blade with the tang shortened (cut off) after stamping.
The 520/555/521/556 had a No 2 size blade, also that shortened tang after stamping.
Later on, a new stamping tool with a shorter tang was used, though still a copy of the Classic No 1 & 2 blades (except for tang length)
From left: 510 Carbon, 545 Stainless, 510 in yellow co-branded (same red plastic got left in the mold by accident, this was sold at second choice ) and 520 Carbon,
At the same time, Frost launched the S1 line with the same philosophy but it never got the acceptance of the public and was soon after replaced by the Viking series.
From the left: KJE 510, Frost S1 and the Frost Viking (n. 640)
After a negative media debate started by a Swedish hand surgeon because the classic model didn't have a finger guard (see below), KJE in conjunction with his largest customer, Luna, launched the 511 Luna safety knife in carbon still and 546 in Stainless steel. (after 1979 catalog)
It was an instant success, breaking record sales that are still unbeaten after 30years.
For a short period (1 or 2 years), Luna company (Swedish hardware distributor) received exclusive rights for Sweden and Norway for 511/546. The Luna model is easily identified by the logo on the handle.
"Morakniv Syndrome" as it is known by hand surgeons refer to the troublesome nerve and flexion injuries that occur when, for example, during a fishing trip, you have to cut with a knife in a boat with slippery fingers and your hand slides down over the edge of the handle and you cut your fingers severely.
In a study from 1975-78, of all injured men, mostly during leisure activities and then most often during a fishing trip. Young men in their 20s were overrepresented.
From the magazine article Råd & Rön 1979, nr 10. "Between 70 and 100 people come to Swedish hospitals every year because they have cut the finger-tendons of one hand with an ordinary mora knife. All are boys, most 5-25 years old. Healthcare costs per year injured can be estimated at at least half a million kronor."
Above: The 510 and 511.
Different 511 in carbon steel from different years.
In 1980 they also introduced the 521, the same blade as the 520 but with guard finally 556, same as 555 but in stainless steel.
Above: All variants of the 510 family.
First version of 511 sheath - Only used for around one year. This initial design was based on the 510 sheaths but had a lot of design problems and was quickly replaced
Second version. PE-polymer (greasy feeling) and riveted belt strap. No "drain hole" at bottom of the sheath, just the tool core support holes on the back of the sheath for the molding process.
Probably a prototype for the 3 version
Third version, first version with moulded belt strap and KJE on back of sheath, "drain hole" in bottom of sheath
Last version (except for the logo on the sheath that was later on removed). The production of this version of 511 was discontinued by December 31st, 2014, and replaced by the Basic 511 we have today. We still are making custom-made versions for Würth and Jotun of the original 511 design.
The accessory belt clip that never was released
In the early 1990s the sheath was re-design and the soft plastic belt loop was replaces by a belt loop build in the sheath. The one in the middle is not common to see.
Model 561. In the 1990s there was a version for woodcarving, same handle but with the blade of the 1260.
A special version was made for the US market. Note the lanyard hole that is not a common feature of the regular 511. You can also see this handle is some of the Normark variants
2008 Aniversary edition
Normark branded variants
In Jully 2004 the Field & Stream magazine made an article about the 510 calling it “The wilderness blade”, Ever since, it is considered to be the ultimate survival knife due to its simplicity, its reasonable price, its superior sharpness, its reliability, and its unsurpassed durability, in all categories.
Mors Kochanski used frequently a 510/511. BEST BLADE: A carbon-steel KJ Eriksson Mora knife customized by Mors Kochanski: Note the ground-down finger guard, flattened butt, and modified Tanto point (for strength when prying or pounding into the wood), plus the for-ward lanyard and flagging tape (for working around water and powder snow).
Ray Mears sold for some time, a branded 510 version on his
website
In the 2000s (probably 2005) 510/520/545/555 was removed from the catalog.
In the 2010 catalog, the 511 was present in the catalog with rebranded the “all around kniv”. This model was retired from the catalog in 2014
In 2014 the new craftline was introduced and a new design of 511 is introduced.
In 2010 a small blade version of the 510 was introduced, Woodcarving Basic (S). With 70mm stainless steel blade (somewhat between the 106 and the 120)
This model is still available today https://morakniv.se/en/product/woodcarving-basic-s-black/
In 2012 the 510 was re-introduced, only available with a black handle. Kai Tjarks from https://www.hkgt.de learned that wthe production was going to restart in 2012 (with 2mm blade) and got the first batch for them selves that year. In 2013, other clients started to received order for this model.
Around (!?) 2015, a version with guard and serrated blade for marine rescue as introduced
https://morakniv.se/en/product/no-510-c-black/
The present Basic 511 we have today has a new design.
The present basic 546 we have today has a new design
The 546 with the original design, is also available for co-branding
From the introduction of the original 510 in late 1970, to the current day more than 20 million knives were produced between all the different variants making it one of the best-selling knives made from Mora.
Special thanks to Thomas and Bo Eriksson for all their collaboration.
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