In this video I talk about why I upgraded from the Morakniv Garberg to the Joker Ember woodscraft knife... Follow Me on Instagram @ the_singing_toad Email me at: thesingingtoad1981@gmail.com
Great review. I own both knives and agree with everything you said. My Ember cost the same as my Garberg with leather sheath option and I definitely think that the Ember is the better value at that price point.
I purchased the Joker Ember (Sandvic 14c28n steel, scandi grind, curly birch handles, leather sheath, matching fire steel) from Chicago Knife works for $116.99 US dollars. This was quite a deal for the fit and finish of the knife. It is functional and beautiful. The handle needed light sanding and some oil but the is the trade-off for natural wood. I use this knife for “woods-craft” as well. I too dislike the term bushcraft. If I lived in Australia, then bushcraft all the way. I hike and camp in the Ozarks of the south central US. Those are the woods. Love my Mora Companion HD , but the Ember is both functional and beautiful.
Hi there. Just came across you channel while looking for info on both the Mora Garberg and the Joker Ember. Great video. I will be watching more. Thanks for sharing - Mark from Nova Scotia
I have several Moraknivs, including two stainless and one carbon Garberg, as well as a Joker flat grind Ember and their scandi Nessmuk. I have to agree with you on every point except maybe the sheath (I have a leather and multipoint sheath for two of them but the basic plastic sheath is nothing to write home about, that’s for sure). I wish I would have been familiar with the Joker lineup before my Garberg purchases, at least the last two. Unless the Garberg has a significantly better heat treatment, the Jokers blow the Garberg away. And I love Moras!
I have way to many knives, but that being said, I have both knives as well. I do like the Garberg, but I went and got a custom leather sheath for it. I threw my Kansbol in the Garbergs leather sheath, because I hate those plastic ones they come with. My Enver is the scandi grind with curly birch handles, and I love the damn thing. I also have the Joker Bushcrafter which is a full flat grind, and it's a damn good one too, as well as the Nessmuk. Joker has really impressed me. I think they are a great value considering the quality to price ratio.
Joker Spain,,,, makes all his knives by hand and by hand. I can assure you, since I am Spanish and I have visited his facilities. Great manufacturer. I also recommend Miguel Nieto (manufacturer of knives, handmade and very, very good ).👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Yes, both are good knives. Joker knives are of good quality & value. BTW, Armatus Carry in Florida makes very good kydex sheaths for the Garberg. I use that sheath in combination w/ the Tek Lok. They work well together. I operate in a humid/wet (marine) environment (in the military). When leather gets wet, it takes a long time to dry. That is a problem when you are constantly on the move in military operations. That FLAP on the leather Garberg sheath makes the sheath more SECURE. The Joker Ember in scandi w/ micarta handle is my SECOND choice (or next knife).
I have a Mora Kansbol that I like but I also have 3 Jokers. No one knife can do it all perfectly. I love the Eldris for most camp and home tasks. The Ember is a beast for heavy bushcrafting. That's what is best at and I have 2. My Joker Bushcrafter (FFG) and the Kanbol are better at standard camp tasks like food prep but honestly if you are doing bushcrafting, you should have an axe and a saw for those big tasks. Just my two cents.
Thanks fort the video Singing Toad. good comparison. I love my Ember Scandi Micarta. So glad for the choice I made. definitely more value than the Mora, although the Garberg is an excellent knife as well. The Terävä Jääkäripuukko is another amazing value for the buck. Good luck with your channel.
Great comparison! Just got my first Joker today, the Campero and already have the Garberg. I love the fit and finish of the Joker and can’t wait to get more. Actually just found your channel looking for Joker vid’s. Subbed and will watch you other videos for sure!
Hi, Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate it. I've found your videos honest down to earth and informative. I've seen C100 mentioned as the steel, similar to 1095 as you say. I'd be interested in your thoughts on the term "Bushcraft", I think we might agree. You could just drill the rivet out of that snap and it wouldn't make much difference practically speaking. All the Best.
I actually love the word bushcraft. It's not about what you're crafting, it's where :) "I'm off to the bush to build a camp, craft tools, and have fun!" "Oh, you're bushcrafting!" But yeah, I've subscribed just to hear your thoughts about that when you post!
Thanks very much! Just to clarify, I really don't "hate" the word "bushcraft", but rather dislike it's misuse and misunderstanding by yuppy people. I have no problem with the term when its being used in the right context...
Where I do talk about bushcraft and not woodcraft I fully agree with your opinion. I've always said that the Garberg is overpriced and the Joker is great value for the money.
Hey Singing Toad, you need to check out the comments section on my KTACTICAL tanto knife video. By the way, the Garburg is what Mora considers their more premium knife - which is why it costs a few times as much as most of their knives. I agree with your comments on the handle material.
We share a lot of same opinions! Personaly, I think that the Mora Bushcraft Black, is a far better knife than the Garberg. As also the Mora 2000/Kansbol,which is probably their best knife. The Eldris is easily, the best small outdoors knife, that's another great design! Glad I found your video. Also, if anybody want's a proper knife with a scandi edge, 3mm is the maximum blade thickness you should aim for. Don't ask why, it takes maths (geometry) and a lot of experience of using your tools properly, to understand why. I don't say that, to sound like the "wise guy" I say that, because of the marketing traps, called "Bushcraft and Survival". Even if you fall into the surival trap, where you think you should get a 7mm thick blade to survive, it's not the thickness of the blade, that will keep that knife working for longer, it's a) your knowledge/experience. b) the heat treatment and the steel itself. c) the design of the knife, where any stupid and unnecessary jimpings, finger choils, sharp corners and so on, are all potential failure points. Also, most knives nowdays, that are sold as "full tang" knives, are skeletonized and non "full" tang. That in many cases, does't differ from hidden tang blades, on the contrary, most hidden tang blade knives ( Jaakari Puukko, Strongarm are good examples) are FAR stronger and tougher tang designs, than all the "full tang" that are actually skeletonized... PS, Please people, sto coping what the last backyard warrior did, on the last video you watched. For example, when I see people, puting their thimb on the spine of the knife, instead of holding it properly in a hammer fist grip and try to make feathersticks, etc.. I see someone, that tries to look like Mors, but actually looks like a clown. I mean, it's even my grandmother, will probably rise from the dead, and start a CZcams channel, calling herself "Bushcraft" teacher expert.. I mean come on.... you look like retards, that didn't even learn the basics, yet try to convince that are experts...Sometimes I laugh, sometimes it hurts, so I close those videos.. I just love knives, but I really think, all people's brains, don't work properly nowdays. There is no logic out there, no common sence, no Love, no nothing...that's unfortunately the TRUTH.
It seems like you are letting aesthetics sway you? which is fine actually...the Ember is a beautiful knife and I agree with your opinion except for handles. I have both as well and honestly I haven't really used the Ember yet as it feels like it will slide right out of my hand, even in dry conditions (did a little backyard fire prep once). And I don't want to scuff up the handle just yet, so for usage I would say the mora handle is better for use. Would love to see a follow up, if possible, on side by side usage. Please note I got my Garberg a few years ago for only $73 so there is a less bitter taste in my mouth (lol) and did the same thing with the sheath. But I did pay too much for the carbon Garberg. Good Stuff!
I agree the handle on the Joker is more slippery than the Garberg, for sure even in dry conditions. A lanyard can help to keep the knife in your hand. Also, the blade steel thickness of the Joker is greater than that of the Mora, but I actually prefer the thinner Garberg blade as it's more versatile for food prep and other around-the-camp tasks. The sheath from the Joker is much better than any of the offerings I've seen from Morakniv thus far for the Garberg. If I could improve the Joker knife, I would thin down the blade stock and put some texturing on the handle...
Personally I am a fan of sabre ground knives for all around use. If I want a knife primarily for woodcraft I will simply use a cheap off shelf Mora scandi. A sabre won't work wood as efficiently as a scandi in some scenarios but smokes a scandi everywhere else. Id also rather feather stick with a sabre as it doesn't "dive" like a scandi. I bought a Garberg when they 1st came out more due to curiousity than anything. Had a custom Kydex sheath for it a week after I bought it. While it is a solid knife at its price point it is more of a beater knife or a loaner. I opt for other options personally such as my LT Wright 3v Outback in a sabre grind or one of my Fjallkniven models if I am dealing with a horribly wet scenario. In the end it is all about what you want to spend. If the knife you have does what you need of it, and you like it that is all that matters price be damned.
Good news. You can get garberg for $55 USD currently. Dec 2022. Ember is $105. Everyone can now pick their flavor at a fair price. Personally, I'd buy mora companion hd or upgrade to master hunter. San Mai version is $84. 3v version is $128. Yes, I don't really care about the looks of my knife handle or sheath.
My problem with both of these knives is the size of the grind compared to the thickness of the blade. The Garberg is much to thick at the belly the geometry is weird. I used to "love" the Garberg until I learned more and used my knives more often. I really changed my views once I started reprofiling blanks for my own handle builds . Most knives on the bushcraft market in my opinion are over built . That said im OK with a thick knife as long as the relief edge is high enough for a good slicing blade . A good representation of what I mean would be the Tops BRAKIMO or a good comparison to the Garberg would be the Real Steal scandi Plus . The scandis are much larger and the performance is much better. Yes the Gatberg is to much money and don't get me started on the ridiculous price of their Eldris . BUT people can spend their money on whatever they want , even overpriced plastic knives.
So I'm looking at The Joker ember myself I also have the mora garberg.. my question is does the garberg also fit in that joker sheath..could be a Good upgrade..if you wanted to switch back an forth between knives
Hello good, a question. When sharpening the Garberg you do it according to the scandi angle or you do it by the microbevel that comes from the factory. Thank you!!
I usually go with the factory grind angle on any scandi ground knife, however, when I sharpened my Garberg last I rushed it and did it wrong; which I'm not happy about. I plan to resharpen it correctly in the future...
two very good knives you have good taste. what is your opinion on Victorinox buschcraf? it does not seem like a copy of the rib but at a meaningless price🍀🤔
I'm sorry, but I don't own a Victorinox Bushcraft knife, so I can't really give you an honest personal opinion on it. All I can say about it, is that from what I understand is that it's not actually made by Victorinox. So you're paying for something that's got their name and logo stamped on it but it's outsourced to another company...
Funny thing I got my Garberg with multi-mount for $55. I like the look of joker but being left handed. The joker cost more and I would need another sheath so even more money. I really like the Garberg it’s been a great knife.
@@singingtoad really can’t argue with that. It’s just in this day and age they make production knives and only make it for one group. I would think left hand draw knives would be more in demand especially for people carrying a gun. Really thought as I’ve gotten older. As much as I’ve liked leather I prefer kydex. It requires no maintenance you can try any carry you like.
@@arts872 yeah I didn’t know that before. It seems joker has some great offerings you just need to know where to look. I only knew about Amazon but they are getting very popular with good reason. I really would like a nomad is I can find a left hand sheath. Lol
Great review. I own both knives and agree with everything you said. My Ember cost the same as my Garberg with leather sheath option and I definitely think that the Ember is the better value at that price point.
Thank-you very much!
I purchased the Joker Ember (Sandvic 14c28n steel, scandi grind, curly birch handles, leather sheath, matching fire steel) from Chicago Knife works for $116.99 US dollars. This was quite a deal for the fit and finish of the knife. It is functional and beautiful. The handle needed light sanding and some oil but the is the trade-off for natural wood. I use this knife for “woods-craft” as well. I too dislike the term bushcraft. If I lived in Australia, then bushcraft all the way. I hike and camp in the Ozarks of the south central US. Those are the woods. Love my Mora Companion HD , but the Ember is both functional and beautiful.
Thanks very much for sharing about your personal experiences, that's very cool. Take care and Cheers!
Hi there. Just came across you channel while looking for info on both the Mora Garberg and the Joker Ember. Great video. I will be watching more. Thanks for sharing - Mark from Nova Scotia
Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate your kind words. Cheers!
I have several Moraknivs, including two stainless and one carbon Garberg, as well as a Joker flat grind Ember and their scandi Nessmuk. I have to agree with you on every point except maybe the sheath (I have a leather and multipoint sheath for two of them but the basic plastic sheath is nothing to write home about, that’s for sure). I wish I would have been familiar with the Joker lineup before my Garberg purchases, at least the last two. Unless the Garberg has a significantly better heat treatment, the Jokers blow the Garberg away. And I love Moras!
I have way to many knives, but that being said, I have both knives as well. I do like the Garberg, but I went and got a custom leather sheath for it. I threw my Kansbol in the Garbergs leather sheath, because I hate those plastic ones they come with. My Enver is the scandi grind with curly birch handles, and I love the damn thing. I also have the Joker Bushcrafter which is a full flat grind, and it's a damn good one too, as well as the Nessmuk. Joker has really impressed me. I think they are a great value considering the quality to price ratio.
Joker Spain,,,, makes all his knives by hand and by hand. I can assure you, since I am Spanish and I have visited his facilities. Great manufacturer. I also recommend Miguel Nieto (manufacturer of knives, handmade and very, very good ).👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks very much! I appreciate that information. Cheers!
Joker make great knives from what I have seen. Awesome comparison buddy.
I agree, I own 2 Joker's currently and I plan to get more in the not so distant future. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Yes, both are good knives. Joker knives are of good quality & value. BTW, Armatus Carry in Florida makes very good kydex sheaths for the Garberg. I use that sheath in combination w/ the Tek Lok. They work well together. I operate in a humid/wet (marine) environment (in the military). When leather gets wet, it takes a long time to dry. That is a problem when you are constantly on the move in military operations. That FLAP on the leather Garberg sheath makes the sheath more SECURE. The Joker Ember in scandi w/ micarta handle is my SECOND choice (or next knife).
Glad I found your channel was really looking at joker knives and debating on which one to buy great video thanks 😊 👍
Thanks very much and welcome aboard. Cheers!
I have a Mora Kansbol that I like but I also have 3 Jokers. No one knife can do it all perfectly. I love the Eldris for most camp and home tasks. The Ember is a beast for heavy bushcrafting. That's what is best at and I have 2. My Joker Bushcrafter (FFG) and the Kanbol are better at standard camp tasks like food prep but honestly if you are doing bushcrafting, you should have an axe and a saw for those big tasks. Just my two cents.
Totally agree with you. Great review
Thanks fort the video Singing Toad. good comparison. I love my Ember Scandi Micarta. So glad for the choice I made. definitely more value than the Mora, although the Garberg is an excellent knife as well. The Terävä Jääkäripuukko is another amazing value for the buck. Good luck with your channel.
Thanks for the kind words! I appreciate it. Cheers!
Great comparison! Just got my first Joker today, the Campero and already have the Garberg. I love the fit and finish of the Joker and can’t wait to get more. Actually just found your channel looking for Joker vid’s. Subbed and will watch you other videos for sure!
Thank-you. Glad to have you along!
Hi, Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate it. I've found your videos honest down to earth and informative. I've seen C100 mentioned as the steel, similar to 1095 as you say. I'd be interested in your thoughts on the term "Bushcraft", I think we might agree. You could just drill the rivet out of that snap and it wouldn't make much difference practically speaking. All the Best.
You're quite welcome. I appreciate your support!
Today you can find Garberg right about 65-70 bucks with simple plastic sheath which I like.
Yeah, if I was to ever buy another one, I'd just get the plain plastic tube sheath. Take care and Cheers!
Glad to see I’m not the only one that cut the flap off their Garberg sheath!
I actually love the word bushcraft. It's not about what you're crafting, it's where :)
"I'm off to the bush to build a camp, craft tools, and have fun!"
"Oh, you're bushcrafting!"
But yeah, I've subscribed just to hear your thoughts about that when you post!
Thanks very much! Just to clarify, I really don't "hate" the word "bushcraft", but rather dislike it's misuse and misunderstanding by yuppy people. I have no problem with the term when its being used in the right context...
Where I do talk about bushcraft and not woodcraft I fully agree with your opinion. I've always said that the Garberg is overpriced and the Joker is great value for the money.
Thank-you.
@@LubberKing You don't care. Many people do. You are just a sad little boy.
Great video thanks. I do like the joker knives quality, design and price value.
You are welcome!
I agree with your assessment of these knives. Joker def worth it. Mora $50 knife.
Hey Singing Toad, you need to check out the comments section on my KTACTICAL tanto knife video.
By the way, the Garburg is what Mora considers their more premium knife - which is why it costs a few times as much as most of their knives. I agree with your comments on the handle material.
Thanks for the response Jake, I'm honored to have such CZcams Knife royalty checking out my small, humble channel channel...lol
Agree totally! Joker is no joke great knife.
Just ordered my Ember with curly birch handle
Curly Birch is a great choice. Do enjoy. Cheers!
Both of them are very good knifes
Keep it up man!
Thanks! I agree, there are pros and cons to each...
We share a lot of same opinions! Personaly, I think that the Mora Bushcraft Black, is a far better knife than the Garberg. As also the Mora 2000/Kansbol,which is probably their best knife. The Eldris is easily, the best small outdoors knife, that's another great design! Glad I found your video.
Also, if anybody want's a proper knife with a scandi edge, 3mm is the maximum blade thickness you should aim for. Don't ask why, it takes maths (geometry) and a lot of experience of using your tools properly, to understand why. I don't say that, to sound like the "wise guy" I say that, because of the marketing traps, called "Bushcraft and Survival". Even if you fall into the surival trap, where you think you should get a 7mm thick blade to survive, it's not the thickness of the blade, that will keep that knife working for longer, it's a) your knowledge/experience. b) the heat treatment and the steel itself. c) the design of the knife, where any stupid and unnecessary jimpings, finger choils, sharp corners and so on, are all potential failure points. Also, most knives nowdays, that are sold as "full tang" knives, are skeletonized and non "full" tang. That in many cases, does't differ from hidden tang blades, on the contrary, most hidden tang blade knives ( Jaakari Puukko, Strongarm are good examples) are FAR stronger and tougher tang designs, than all the "full tang" that are actually skeletonized...
PS, Please people, sto coping what the last backyard warrior did, on the last video you watched. For example, when I see people, puting their thimb on the spine of the knife, instead of holding it properly in a hammer fist grip and try to make feathersticks, etc.. I see someone, that tries to look like Mors, but actually looks like a clown. I mean, it's even my grandmother, will probably rise from the dead, and start a CZcams channel, calling herself "Bushcraft" teacher expert.. I mean come on.... you look like retards, that didn't even learn the basics, yet try to convince that are experts...Sometimes I laugh, sometimes it hurts, so I close those videos.. I just love knives, but I really think, all people's brains, don't work properly nowdays. There is no logic out there, no common sence, no Love, no nothing...that's unfortunately the TRUTH.
It seems like you are letting aesthetics sway you? which is fine actually...the Ember is a beautiful knife and I agree with your opinion except for handles. I have both as well and honestly I haven't really used the Ember yet as it feels like it will slide right out of my hand, even in dry conditions (did a little backyard fire prep once). And I don't want to scuff up the handle just yet, so for usage I would say the mora handle is better for use. Would love to see a follow up, if possible, on side by side usage. Please note I got my Garberg a few years ago for only $73 so there is a less bitter taste in my mouth (lol) and did the same thing with the sheath. But I did pay too much for the carbon Garberg. Good Stuff!
I agree the handle on the Joker is more slippery than the Garberg, for sure even in dry conditions. A lanyard can help to keep the knife in your hand. Also, the blade steel thickness of the Joker is greater than that of the Mora, but I actually prefer the thinner Garberg blade as it's more versatile for food prep and other around-the-camp tasks. The sheath from the Joker is much better than any of the offerings I've seen from Morakniv thus far for the Garberg. If I could improve the Joker knife, I would thin down the blade stock and put some texturing on the handle...
Personally I am a fan of sabre ground knives for all around use. If I want a knife primarily for woodcraft I will simply use a cheap off shelf Mora scandi.
A sabre won't work wood as efficiently as a scandi in some scenarios but smokes a scandi everywhere else.
Id also rather feather stick with a sabre as it doesn't "dive" like a scandi.
I bought a Garberg when they 1st came out more due to curiousity than anything.
Had a custom Kydex sheath for it a week after I bought it.
While it is a solid knife at its price point it is more of a beater knife or a loaner. I opt for other options personally such as my LT Wright 3v Outback in a sabre grind or one of my Fjallkniven models if I am dealing with a horribly wet scenario.
In the end it is all about what you want to spend. If the knife you have does what you need of it, and you like it that is all that matters price be damned.
Very well said, I agree. Thank-you.
@@singingtoad anytime.
Subbed.
Good news. You can get garberg for $55 USD currently. Dec 2022. Ember is $105. Everyone can now pick their flavor at a fair price. Personally, I'd buy mora companion hd or upgrade to master hunter. San Mai version is $84. 3v version is $128. Yes, I don't really care about the looks of my knife handle or sheath.
My problem with both of these knives is the size of the grind compared to the thickness of the blade. The Garberg is much to thick at the belly the geometry is weird.
I used to "love" the Garberg until I learned more and used my knives more often. I really changed my views once I started reprofiling blanks for my own handle builds .
Most knives on the bushcraft market in my opinion are over built .
That said im OK with a thick knife as long as the relief edge is high enough for a good slicing blade . A good representation of what I mean would be the Tops BRAKIMO or a good comparison to the Garberg would be the Real Steal scandi Plus . The scandis are much larger and the performance is much better.
Yes the Gatberg is to much money and don't get me started on the ridiculous price of their Eldris .
BUT people can spend their money on whatever they want , even overpriced plastic knives.
Thanks for your opinion. Cheers!
So I'm looking at The Joker ember myself I also have the mora garberg.. my question is does the garberg also fit in that joker sheath..could be a Good upgrade..if you wanted to switch back an forth between knives
Yes, the Mora Garberg will fit in the Joker Ember's sheath, however it is a slightly tighter fit. Great question, btw...
Hello good, a question. When sharpening the Garberg you do it according to the scandi angle or you do it by the microbevel that comes from the factory. Thank you!!
I usually go with the factory grind angle on any scandi ground knife, however, when I sharpened my Garberg last I rushed it and did it wrong; which I'm not happy about. I plan to resharpen it correctly in the future...
Had to give you a like the moment you said you hated the term "Bushcraft."
Thanks. That's more of a joke tbh, it's not so much the term I hate, but rather the misuse and misunderstanding of it in pop-culture...
Мора это мора , джокер это джокер. Два разных ножа . Покупай какой понравиться . Лучше или хуже зависит от ситуации.
Thank-you for commenting. Cheers!
Fantastic fixed blades. I love the garberg
Thank for sharing !
My pleasure!
two very good knives you have good taste. what is your opinion on Victorinox buschcraf? it does not seem like a copy of the rib but at a meaningless price🍀🤔
I'm sorry, but I don't own a Victorinox Bushcraft knife, so I can't really give you an honest personal opinion on it. All I can say about it, is that from what I understand is that it's not actually made by Victorinox. So you're paying for something that's got their name and logo stamped on it but it's outsourced to another company...
thank you for the answer I wish you a nice day and still a sharp knife. Martin from Slovakia
BINGO❣️
Funny thing I got my Garberg with multi-mount for $55. I like the look of joker but being left handed. The joker cost more and I would need another sheath so even more money.
I really like the Garberg it’s been a great knife.
I like both knives, for different reasons. If you could only have one, either one would be just fine...
@@singingtoad really can’t argue with that. It’s just in this day and age they make production knives and only make it for one group. I would think left hand draw knives would be more in demand especially for people carrying a gun.
Really thought as I’ve gotten older. As much as I’ve liked leather I prefer kydex. It requires no maintenance you can try any carry you like.
You can get some Joker Knives with Kydex Sheath.
@@arts872 yeah I didn’t know that before. It seems joker has some great offerings you just need to know where to look. I only knew about Amazon but they are getting very popular with good reason. I really would like a nomad is I can find a left hand sheath. Lol
Hey joker MORA RULES
🤣
the auto-play is unacceptable
Sorry, what are you talking about?!!