- a foldable bushcraft knife
I have had another smaller folding knife from Brisa for a long time, which at the time was called Enzo. To be clear, it is not Brisa who changed their name, but they changed their knife brand to better reflect who is behind it. The older model I have is a Birk 75. A knife that is available both with a full flat grind blade and as on my knife with "scandi grind". The latter was very unusual at the time and it is still not something you see every day even though more brands have followed since.
I also glanced at the larger variant, its big brother or, given the names, perhaps rather its father. Brisa Borka 90 is a large and sturdy knife that aims directly at the great outdoors where Birk has more the character of an EDC knife.
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| Brisa Borka 90 |
Brisa is a company located on the Finnish Baltic coast, more specifically Jakobstad. In addition to making knives, they sell everything that is associated with knife-making.
Their current lineup stretches from kitchen knives via fixed blades for hunting, fishing, and bushcraft to folding knives in different formats. Today's revies object, Borka 90, is their biggest folding knife.
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| A solid handle paired with an equally sturdy blade provides a robust folding knife |
Twitter version: Brisa Borka 90, a sturdy folding knife for outdoor life born in the vast forests of Finland
Blade
One of the most distinctive features of Borka 90 is its blade and that is mostly due to the way it's sharpened, which is not the most common in the world of folding knives as I mentioned. But it is also a quite sturdy blade for belonging to a folding knife. It measures 9 cm in length, is 2.4 cm high and the thickness is 3.25 mm. If you perhaps recognize the proportions, it's not so strange. They are very close to a Mora Robust for example. Or other classic Scandinavian knife models for that matter. Here, Brisa has chosen to go for well-proven knowledge in terms of dimensions.
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| Borka 90 offers, as the name suggests, a 90 mm long knife blade |
The grind is, as mentioned above, Scandinavian or more correctly a saber grind without a secondary edge or "zero grind" as it is called in English. The advantage is that it bites extremely well in wood of all kinds and that the tip becomes very strong on a blade ground this way. The disadvantage is that the bevels are low and steep, which gives wedge-like characteristics that almost crack some other materials. Slicing carrots, for example, is not a favorite task for this type of knife.
The factory edge on this knife was exemplary with a very smooth, centered, and sharp edge. No complaints whatsoever. As I often say, edges can be reground but how they arrive is a measure of precision in manufacturing and quality control.
The steel used is N690Co, which is European steel from Böhler/Uddeholm that has approximately the same qualities as Japanese VG10. This means that it is very stainless, takes a keen edge but does not hold it for extremely long. It can be hardened to high numbers (in kitchen knives often around 60HRC) but is kept a little softer here even though I do not know the exact hardness. But it is wise to make a knife that is to be used in carving and whittling a little softer.
The finish on the blade is a nice polish and the marking is very discreet. Brisa's logo and knife steel in very small text on one side of the blade, other than that it is totally clean.
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| The blade has a "Scandi grind" and discreet markings |
Once put to work, Borka does not offer any surprises. It behaves just like any Morakniv. That is, the blade excels when it comes to cutting wood of all kinds, whether it is dry wood or fresh slats. You can carve everything from a simple barbecue stick to a walking staff or an extra tent pole. But also engage in proper woodcraft if you are so inclined. The edge bites well and it is easy to find the right angles for precision cuts.
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| One of the first tasks my knife was subjected to was to kill a Christmas tree |
However, it is not the ultimate knife when it comes to simple tasks like cutting an apple. It almost cracks the fruit rather than cuts it because of the grind. However, the same problem is not experienced when it comes to cuts that do not extend all the way through whatever you are cutting. Then the sharp edge takes over. Therefore, Borka also works well to cut meat for instance.
But like all sharp knives, it works for the most part. It's just not the best at everything. Cardboard, plastic, and other "everyday materials" Borka handle well. When it comes to EDC tasks other properties set the limits instead, such as this is not the fastest knife to pull, open, fold, and put away again.
On the other hand, the tip is extremely capable of everything you might need a tip for. It is both sharp and strong. It is no problem to pry it loose from a piece of wood or to remove a splinter from a finger if so needed.
Handle
In addition to the blade, the large and spacious handle is something that distinguishes Borka. The total length over the back is 12 cm, of which 10 cm is grip-area. The handle offers a pronounced finger guard and ends with a beak that prevents you from slipping when, for example, carving or performing other heavier knife work. At the rear end, there is also a hole for a lanyard. It is large enough to hold the standard 550 parachute cord that is often used for such things.
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| The large handle has sides in brown-green micarta |
The construction itself is solid as a bulldozer. The frame is made of steel that has not been lightened and on the outside, there are sides in brownish-green Micarta. They are worth an extra mention as they are both attractive with their distinct pattern and are nicely worked with a curved three-dimensional surface. They are screwed to the outside of the frame with three small T6 screws. There I would have liked to see a bit larger screw heads. They are easy to strip when they are this petite. The knife is made with a hidden pivot screw requiring that the sides be removed if you need to tighten or center the blade. The latter is, incidentally, perfect from the factory. I can add that it's needed, as the tolerances between handles and blades are very small.
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| The blade is well centered, which is lucky as the tolerances are small |
The back of this knife is not open due to the type of lock. The great advantage of having a completely covered back on a folding knife handle is that the contact surface against the hand increases. It is something that is first noticed when you put a little force behind cuts as when working with wood, heavy rope, and the like and these are exactly the tasks that this knife can be used for.
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| Borka offers a spacious handle that works in most grips |
The handle easily swallows my hand in size "large" and it is also possible to use the knife with gloves on if desired or needed. However, it is not completely optimal for those with smaller hands. Something that was pointed out by my lady who when she tested it said that "my hand just slides around". She did not experience that she got the same good grip as me.
Otherwise, Borka is most comfortable in the strongest grips such as hammer grip and reverse grip for "draw cuts". Then, of course, it is excellent to grip the knife in a saber grip or place a forefinger on the blade, but it is not quite as comfortable as the slightly pointed stern feels a bit against the inside of the hand.
Opening and Lock
Borka 90 opens mainly with thumb studs and some effort. This means that it requires a strong thumb since the main way to open the blade offers a bit of resistance. The thumb studs are placed close to the handle, which I personally appreciate as they are not in the way when working. On the other hand, it does not provide the same leverage when the knife is to be opened, and then the strong spring tension from the lock is added. It is no problem to open the knife. It just does not belong to the smoothest in that regard.
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| The thumb studs are barrel-shaped and are placed close to the handle. Alternatively, there is a nail nick to facilitate opening |
On the other hand, it is completely in line with the type of knife in question. It's as far away from "fidget toy" as it gets. This is a serious edged-tool for outdoor activities. Opening method number two is even more in line with that thought. The blade has a nail nick for those who use such. I must admit that I think it's redundant since there are working thumb studs. The notch is, however, large and deep enough to be grasped with your fingertips. Luckily, because if you try to put a fingernail in there it will break.
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| The lock is strong but has a slight play up and down |
The lock on this knife belongs to the stronger standard "back locks" that I have encountered. The Tri-Ad version of this lock type is, as most people know, a bit stronger. But among the more conventional ones, Borka is just beaten by Lionsteel TM1 in my collection. This means a solid lock bar, a strong spring, and a lot of contact surface against the blade. The latter means that you have to lift the lock quite high for it to release. As I said, it is a strong lock and even if it is possible to close the blade against a leg or something else, I definitely prefer to do it with two hands. The sound it makes is a muffled confidence-inspiring one.
There is a tiny problem with the lock. Laterally, it is as rigid as it should be, no play at all. There are also no gaps between the frame, handle sides, and lock bar. But up and down there is a small movement that can be felt, as it often does on back-locks. In this case, a little more than I am really happy with and it is enhanced by the lock bar sinking slightly inside the handle when the knife is opened. It is a detail that can be improved upon.
To Carry
Borka does not aim to be a small and flexible EDC knife. If you still want to use it as such, you can of course do it, but be aware of a substantial piece of hardware in your pocket. As I said, the length is 12 cm and it is also backed up by a thickness of 14 mm. The height is 31 mm. The same features that make it comfortable to work with making it less good to carry around. The weight is stated at 141 g on the website but on my scale, it weighs 132 g. It is positive when it goes in that direction.
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| The clip is of a fairly standard type and very strong. It works well thanks to the smooth scales under it |
The clip is made of stainless steel and quite ordinary. The finish is polished, which nicely matches the blade. The spring tension is very strong and it could have been a problem if it were not for the fact that the Micarta used in the handle is quite smooth. It is not polished but well sanded and after a period of use, it becomes even softer. Therefore, it is no major problem to neither pull nor put Borka back in the pocket after use.
The clip can be removed if you feel like carrying the knife loosely in your pocket or buy the case that is available as an extra accessory. It can also be moved to the left side for those who need or prefer it that way. Since EDC isn't the main focus here is a bit of handle visible when the knife is carried. Just under an inch or so.
To Conclude
I think this knife can be quite polarizing. Not because the design is extreme or because the color scheme is crazy or the materials are strange. But because, on the contrary, it is extremely traditional, if it wasn't foldable, it could be any Scandinavian knife. It can be seen when you place it next to a Mora Robust for example. This is also reflected in the choice of materials and construction. A micarta of good quality and well-established middle-class steel. In the same way, a back-lock is one of the most established solutions for folding knife safety available.
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| The dimensions of both the blade and the handle are close to, for example, a Mora knife |
But what distinguishes the Borka 90, in general, is that it is a well-built quality knife. All details such as a centered blade, a strong lock, and a really good factory edge are in place. To this can be added that the contoured and well-sharpened handle sides are a joy to hold and work with. It gives the knife a more exclusive feel than the average work knife. A couple of small details could have been better in my opinion and one is the precision of the lock. There are no malfunctions or safety shortcomings connected to it, but the small play up and down annoys me. Another is that the corners, especially the ones at the back are a bit too sharp for my liking. Fortunately, that it is easily remedied with a few minutes of sanding.
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| Finns are known to be one of the few people in the world who drink more coffee than us Swedes. They are also known for making very good knives. Borka is a good example of that |
But the great finesse and argument for this knife are that it is foldable. Here you have an alternative for those who are looking for such a knife with classic Scandinavian grind and do not want to sacrifice the performance it brings when it comes to "bushcraft" whether it involves hunting, camping, canoeing, mushroom picking, hiking, or other outdoor activities.
I have, of course, tested it as an EDC knife as well, but in that area, it has its shortcomings. First, it is fairly bulky to carry around even if the weight itself is not dissuasive. Secondly, it's not the easiest knife to open. The thumb studs require that you press at the right angle and the strong spring tension must be overcome. In addition, the knife is most easily closed with two hands. In all simplicity, this means that it is not the quickest knife to deploy for a quick cut or two. But it was not intended as such either.
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| Brisa Borka 90 where it best belongs, in the forest! |
If, on the other hand, you are looking for a large and solid folding knife to carry in your pocket on a stroll in the great outdoors, Brisa Borka 90 is definitely a candidate worth considering. You buy it in most well-stocked online stores, or directly from Brisa's. The price is then 146 €.
Specification:
Length Overall: 209 mm
Length Folded: 119 mm
Weight: 146 g
Blade Length: 90 mm
Blade Thickness: 3,25 mm
Blade Steel: N690Co
Handle Material: Micarta
Lock: Back lock
Produced by: Brisa, made in Finland
/ J
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