A everyone please answer survey. Lets see how many of you have a Svea 123. Iain P.S. I'll try one stove every week as we wend our way thru the variations.
Good Evening, Iain, Great idea for a survey! Yes, I own quite a few SVEA 123 and 123R stoves!! I have given more than a few away, and swapped a few, so I no longer know, exactly, how many I have. But, I'd guess that I still have around 13-14 of those wonderful little stoves!! One can never have too many SVEA's, ya' know!!!! I'll wait, patiently, to see what's on next week's survey!! 8) \ Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
You should add another option to your poll: Do you own more than one 123? I think it would be quite surprising to see how many owner own multiple copies of this fine little contraption! CB
No Svea... I have a Meva 2140 though... practically the same dimensions... and function... I might try buying one, but it seems that everybody else owns all of them...
Hey Doc, I have two myself. One in a cookset and one freestanding and complete with Pot and Handle. (Thanks to all who helped on that one). Now it's your turn, pick a stove, run poll for 2 weeks (long enough) and add the good choice of "More than one!" Iain
I have one but I'm buggered if I know where it is . Been hunting forit on and off for weeks. Don't know why - I hardly ever use it when its at hand.
I have an older SVEA 123. A beautiful piece of brass indeed. Some claim it is better than the later 123R with the cleaning needle. My self, I do not really need the cleaning needle as I bought a stainless steel brush with wires of a lesser diameter than the nozzle. I cut off the end and worked out many of the wires. Then I cut up an Aluminum soda can into smaller than postage stamp pieces and Instant glued a piece of wire to each piece. This gave me many nozzle cleaners. Usually, for every one I use, I loose ten or more. Buy hey, the price is right. So is the 123 better than the 123R ?? I do not know as I have never been in a position to compare them. Can anyone elighten me on this comparison ? Thanks, Ken H.
Hi, Ken, I have both versions, the 123 and the 123R, and like them both quite a lot. Each of them is a very good stove, but there are a few differences. Some say that the 123 burns hotter than the 123R, and there may just be something to that. The 123R does not have the arc of adjustment that the 123 does, because of the addition of the cleaning needle. Therefore, I do think it is not quite as hot as the regular 123. But, the main difference I see is that the 123 does simmer MUCH better, in my opinion, than the 123R. You can crank the 123 down to just a candle-sized flame and it will do just fine. But, if you crank the 123R down too far, it will go out, or at least be a sputtering mess. My preference is the straight 123. But, I've also used the 123R, and it is nothing to sneer at, and works just fine, once you get used to it. I hope that helps you a little. Others may have differing opinions, but that's my "take" on the two of them. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
I have a 123r which I love and couldn't part with. I have never seen a used one for sale around here but I keep looking has anyone tried running the 123r with the cleaning needle removed? does it act more like the originale 123?
I have half a dozen 123 & 123R's. One of my R's has no cleaning needle and it seems to run comparably to the older non-R 123's. And yes, I prefer the non-R models. For me, at least, camptoves reached an as yet unsupassed pinnacle with the combination of the 123 with the Sigg Tourist in stainless steel. People keep trying to do better, bless their hearts, but haven't yet for my purposes. Your mileage may vary. Gerry
I had a 123R even before I collected stoves. Now I have three 123's and four 123R's. For a compact lightweight stove that is ultra-reliable and easy to use, I think it has hardly been surpassed. I wonder if my Omnifuels or a Nova will have its longevity. Any opinions?
Hey, Guys, As much as I love my Optimus Nova, I'm afraid I'm going to have to side with Rik on this one. The SVEA has more than proved it's reliability and longevity, year, after year, after year. Though I love my Nova, I will tell you forty years from now whether it will complete with the SVEA for reliabillity and longevity!! As much as the US backpacking press crapped on the SVEA, 8R, 99, and other such stoves, I think they completely missed the most important point: Most of their latest, greatest, "wonder" stoves are long gone, while the SVEA, 8R, 99, and other stoves like them, just keep burning away!!! Long live the SVEA and associated family members!!! (And, may my Nova live near so long...!) Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
Ok so them stoves live a long time. Now my stove has lived for 63 years plus thousand more the old good wood camp fire bet that.
Hey, Robert, Though campfires are fun, NOTHING beats using a wonderful stove, when out on an adventure!!! You can have your fire, I'll take one of my favorite stoves!!! When you're freezing cold, in a drizzling downpour, and you can't light your fire, I'll be warm and dry, and eating some warm food that I just cooked on my stove!!!! YAHOOOOO!!! 8) Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
I bought my first 123 back in about 1970. Used, and still use it all the time. When I married my lovely wife in 1978 I promptly bought her one. They are about the only stove I really USE. Thanks
