I don't have a svea 123 and have never seen one up close , but I do have a 123r which works wonderfully. Everyone always says that the original 123 is much better than the 123r that has the built in cleaning needle . My question is ; How much better is it ,and ,would removeing the needle from my 123r not make it the same as an old version 123.
my only problem with the R is that i get the adjusting system mixed up and end up adjusting the flame with the cleaning needle up..which melts it --
Hey, Pete, While I do prefer the regular 123 over the 123R, I'm also very happy with most of my "R" versions! Some work better than others, however, and I've found that some of them need a cleaning needle adjustment to work their best. I prefer to lower my cleaning needles by a click, or two, to give more "throw", or adjustment, to the regulating spindle. Some of the 123R's I have, came to me already adjusted that way, and some of them seem to want to turn themselves off at the drop of a hat!! I adjust all of them to have more flame regulation, and VOILA, they work very well! Gerry just helped me acquire a Sigg Tourist cookset, with came with an almost brand new SVEA123R. This stove is a screaming heat machine, and has "just enough" flame adjustment, so I don't need to do anything to it, except fire it up and enjoy it!!! Both SVEA's are fine stoves. But, if you can score a regular 123, for a decent price, why not get it, and then you'll have the best of both worlds!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
I've got several of both. As far as I can see, individual stoves have more differences in operation than the two types. That said, I prefer the non-R version. Just the hard headed Norwegian part of me operating, I guess. I never in over 30 years of using my 123 simmered anything on it. I used it to boil water. Period. I boiled water to reconstitute dehydrated spinach and squash, make coffee and tea, boil eggs, reconstitute instant soup, and make questionable water safe to drink, or cook my breakfast dehydrated hash browns and egg/spam/cheese, onion goop. No simmering. If I wanted to get all gourmet on the trail, I built a fire and cooked over that. Gerry
Morning, Guys, Well, my experiences with the SVEA 123 are exactly opposite of my Stove Brother, Gerry! I have used our SVEA stoves to cook some regular gourmet-type meals, which have required some fairly long simmering times. And both types of 123 have done this task fairly well. Yes, I have other stoves that simmer better. But, with care and practice, the 123 will do just fine in simmering your chosen meal, should you need that versatility. What this means is, that the SVEA 123, and the 123R, can both do what I ask of them, as well as what Gerry asks of them, all in a pleasing and efficacious manner!! What's not to like about that, I ask?? Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Thanks everyone for your responces . After reading them I have decided to continue the search for a (reasonably priced) 123 ,but not as a "need it because my 123r may not be as good as it could be" , but as another stove to add to the collection. 8)
