Ok I'll never be able to own a Moran ST23 fighter. Well maybe when I retire but then I wouldn't be able to do probably nothing for the rest of my retirement! So I ordered one of those paki/india where ever they are made copies off the bay. Felt like a fool when I did it and still feel like a fool even after receiving it.
In a nutshell the actual knife is not bad. No kiddin either. Grind lines are spot on and very even, full flat grind and .250" at the spine maybe a tad thicker but not much. Sheath even looks decent and fits the knife perfectly. However the sheath "stinks". Has some kind of funky smell to it that might be the dye they used or maybe buffalo piss or something used to tan it. The handle is a lite wt. wood of some sort, maybe sandal wood or something. The brass hilt and guard though are very decent and the guard shows a good fit to the ricasso. Blade is highly polished and working sharp in that it will tear hairs out. Balance point is exactly at the guard so it a very neutral in the hand knife.
So what I plan on doing is putting a new handle on it with some really old fine tiger striped maple I have. It is luthier grade maple and I have a big ass block of it that is about 25-30 years old or so. I got it back in the late 70's or like 80. I can't believe I still have it actually. I made a few knives back then and was going to use it for handle and never did so I am going to use it now for a new handle on this one. Anways I ordered, recieved it and am going to modify it at some point. keepem sharp
In a nutshell the actual knife is not bad. No kiddin either. Grind lines are spot on and very even, full flat grind and .250" at the spine maybe a tad thicker but not much. Sheath even looks decent and fits the knife perfectly. However the sheath "stinks". Has some kind of funky smell to it that might be the dye they used or maybe buffalo piss or something used to tan it. The handle is a lite wt. wood of some sort, maybe sandal wood or something. The brass hilt and guard though are very decent and the guard shows a good fit to the ricasso. Blade is highly polished and working sharp in that it will tear hairs out. Balance point is exactly at the guard so it a very neutral in the hand knife.
So what I plan on doing is putting a new handle on it with some really old fine tiger striped maple I have. It is luthier grade maple and I have a big ass block of it that is about 25-30 years old or so. I got it back in the late 70's or like 80. I can't believe I still have it actually. I made a few knives back then and was going to use it for handle and never did so I am going to use it now for a new handle on this one. Anways I ordered, recieved it and am going to modify it at some point. keepem sharp
