Tom Moran and Spyderco are both pillars in the knife community and they’ve been friends for a long time. The Spyderco Moran Drop Point is one of their best selling fixed blade knives and after my time with it, I see why. The Spyderco Moran Drop Point design has been around for a long time and this knife will be with me for a long time as well. Most of us can’t afford a Bill Moran knife and this partnership with Spyderco has given us an affordable knife with Bill Moran’s touch.
The Spyderco Moran Drop Point is a very simple fixed blade knife. When you take a look at it not a lot stands out. Then you pick it up. Holy Hell is it light. When I got the box I thought it was empty. The Moran Drop Point weighs only 3 ounces. This is a fixed blade knife with a 3.8-inch long blade and an overall length of 8 inches. It weighs only 3 ounces! With the sheath, the weight is a little more but it’s still very lightweight.
The Blade
The Moran Drop point uses VG-10 steel which is comparable to 154CM and even S30V. A lot of knife guys would probably prefer S30V but VG-10 is still excellent steel. It’s strong enough to last, and it can be sharpened to a fine edge. It’s easy to sharpen and it’s even highly stained resistant.
The blade has a generous belly that allows the Moran to punch up quite a bit for its sub-4-inch blade. The Moran is a skinning knife through and through. The blade’s design is perfect for gutting animals both large and small and dressing them out. The blade is also a solid choice as a general outdoor’s and camping knife. It would be at home on the creek and the boat when catching fish as well.
The blade has a full flat grind and this will often give users a very smooth cutting blade. The Moran slides through materials with ease. This includes everything from cardboard to chicken. I made tacos tonight and used the Moran to glide through the chicken breast I made into delicious tacos. The satisfaction this knife delivers as you cut through materials is unbeatable.
The Spyderco Moran Handle
The handle looks quite plain right? Nothing super fancy at first glance. However, I challenge you to pick it up, use, and then say that. The handle is cut for the hand and fits in it extremely well. I can best describe it as a handle that flows into the hand. It’s comfortable and offers you the ability to precisely cut.
The Spyderco Moran’s handle is made mostly from fiberglass reinforced nylon. The left and right sides of the handle have Kraton inserts. Kraton is a rubber-like material that adds grip to the knife. There is no checkering or grip cuts. The Kratom is a sticky material that prevents the grip from sliding through your hand. It’s also very water-resistant. Get the thing soaked and it will still stick to your hand as you cut.
From what I’ve read Kraton is stronger and more resistant to heat, the cold, and other oils and chemicals. The Spyderco Moran grip is very comfortable and a bit deceitful. It’s plain but highly useable.
It’s plain because as a knife designed for skinning game you don’t need a ton of crevices for blood and flesh to stick into. The Moran handle prevents your knife from being a filthy, disgusting thing after cleaning game. It’s also easy to clean and can be done as if you were washing spoons.
The Sheath
The Moran Drop Point comes with a Kydex sheath that molded to the Spyderco Moran. It clicks into places and locks down with passive retention. The Moran Drop Point is held extremely tight by the sheath and it’s not going anywhere. You can run it upside down on a vest and it’s gonna stay put. The Sheath comes with a belt clip and can be worn vertically or horizontally depending on user preference. It’s a well-made sheath that’s comfortable to wear, and adjustable as well as versatile.
The Moran and Me?
Hunting season is right around the corner and the Moran will be clung to my hip while I’m chasing whitetail deer up and down the pine rows. The Moran is so utterly lightweight that I won’t even notice it’s there until I need it. The Moran is also so very lightweight and the modular sheath would allow you to carry it concealed quite easily. Spyderco Moran Drop point could be used as a concealed carry defensive blade or everyday knife. It’s joined my Polymer 80 Glock on my Wilder Tactical Belt.
It’s an amazing knife and I’m still not over how light and handy it is. Hats off to Spyderco and Bill Moran for bringing use awesome Moran designs at buy it now prices.
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine gunner who served with 2nd Bn 2nd Marines for 5 years. He deployed in 2009 to Afghanistan and again in 2011 with the 22nd MEU(SOC) during a record setting 11 months at sea. He’s trained with the Romanian Army, the Spanish Marines, the Emirate Marines and the Afghan National Army. He serves as an NRA certified pistol instructor and teaches concealed carry classes.
Not Tom Moran, the knife was designed by Bill Moran, or specifically William F Moran Jr