First impressions of the W.A. Surls "Moray"

Comprehensivist

Comprehensivist

Platinum Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2008
Messages
3,233
My first purchase at the Blade Show this year was the W.A. Surls “Moray” pictured below. I am very impressed with this knife so far. It is 3/32” CPM 154 with mill finished flats wearing black linen micarta over black with a white pinstripe. Measured from the top front of the handle, the blade is just over 5-1/4” long and the handle is just under 4-3/4” long. That is a handy size kitchen knife for most food prep in a two person household.

The thing I like the best about the design of this knife is the up-tilted angle of the handle. A few months ago I made a post about the Fiddleback Padre where I stated the opinion that it would be a better knife if it had a slightly up-tilted handle angle to provide more finger clearance. I am not sure if Allen read that comment before he designed the Moray handle or if it is just a happy coincidence that the Moray incorporates this feature. Whatever his inspiration was, Allen deserves all the credit for doing a fantastic job with this design. It feels great in hand and provides enough finger clearance at the back of the cutting stroke to make it a very cutting-board friendly tool to use. It has nice first finger balance too that gives it a very nimble feel in hand.

I’ll do an in depth review of this knife in mid-July after I complete a few other projects. Until then, I will say that I recommend this knife to anyone in the market for a nice mid-size kitchen knife.

Thanks for making this one Allen. My wife has claimed it as “her” Blade Show knife.

Phil



 
Last edited:
Nice score Phil! I will have to keep an eye out for this model, always looking for ways to improve the kitchen cutlery.
 
I am tempted by all of Allen's new kitchen knives, but this model has really caught my eye. I will be watching for one in a configuration I like. I would like one in cpm154, but I am not always thrilled with the mill finish flats. As my experience with buying knives grows, I get pickier. I like the simple yet elegant handle on that one. Looks like an awesome kitchen knife!

Thanks for sharing Phil and I look forward to a full review!
 
hasco said:
I am tempted by all of Allen's new kitchen knives, but this model has really caught my eye. I will be watching for one in a configuration I like. I would like one in cpm154, but I am not always thrilled with the mill finish flats. As my experience with buying knives grows, I get pickier. I like the simple yet elegant handle on that one. Looks like an awesome kitchen knife!

Thanks for sharing Phil and I look forward to a full review!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments Tod. I agree with you that mill finished flats are not the most visually attractive option. I much prefer the look of hammered flats. Based on conversations I had at the Blade Show with several people, I don't expect to be seeing much hammer textured CPM 154 coming out of Allen or Andy going forward. Chris (Osprey K&T) seems to be the only one on their team actively producing hammered flats on stainless.

This knife has too much going for it in my eyes to let it pass because of the mill finish flats. Personally, I'll take that trade-off for the ease of maintenance of CPM 154 on a kitchen knife that is going to get wet and sticky all the time. If an attractive look on the flats was my primary concern, I would go with nicely spalted A2.

I hope you find one with all the details you want. I think you will really like it.

Phil
 
Great post, Phil.

I also got a Moray at Blade. Of all the knives that I purchased there, Allen's kitchen knife is my favorite. The more I use it, the more I like it. My wife, who it not a knife aficionado, absolutely LOVES this knife. It is a slicing machine, and the ergonomics are perfect. Mine is 3/32" A2, and I am looking forward to it getting a unique patina as it gets used more.

Sorry for the lame pics, but homemade praline cake was what was being cut tonight...

XkC6qec.jpg
[/IMG]

xvMySiK.jpg
[/IMG]
 
scratch the arowana now.....i want a moray


edit

and some of that cake
 
Last edited:
Congratulations on a good looking Moray Charles. That is what I was talking about with beautiful spalting. Based on a sample size of two, this model seems to be quite popular with the wives.

I also find it interesting to see the difference on the shape of the back end of the handles between our two knives. I wonder which configuration is going to be the standard going forward?

Thanks for sharing your pictures and comments.

Phil
 
I noticed the different handle configurations too. I am not sure if I have a preference between the two. There was also a bog oak version there. I chose the green handle for my wife, but I think the Bog Oak was the best one there.
 
i believe if you look closer
ncrockclimb's knife has a thinner blade profile and the pommel is different...making it a Mantis
 
They are both Morays, on Charle's, i made the upper cut back on the pommel more pronounced, otherwise, the are the same.
 
VANCE said:
honestly i dont know charles

im confused

im going back to the fiddleback forum :D
Click to expand...

LOL. That makes two of us that are confused... although I don't think my confusion is limited to this thread! ;)

allen456 said:
They are both Morays, on Charle's, i made the upper cut back on the pommel more pronounced, otherwise, the are the same.
Click to expand...

Thanks for clearing that up. It is a great knife, Allen, and I am really proud to own it. Now, get busy and make a 5/32 Arowana! :)
 
Great review Phil. I'd love to try one of these. The Moray and Matador look like very attractive options. Just waiting for the right handle config to come up. (and a Huntsman too!)
 
I love the Moray and I snatched up mine when it was first introduced. It has become my go to kitchen knife when I'm home and my wife uses it when I'm back at work. I like the weight and balance on mine as it doesn't fatigue my hand and I love the full length edge on it. I need to do a better review on it and take more pictures using it. Eventually I will add a couple more of Allen's knives to my kitchen block.

Tony

IMG_5290_zpsirso3x8q.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 
ncrockclimb said:
Great post, Phil.

I also got a Moray at Blade. Of all the knives that I purchased there, Allen's kitchen knife is my favorite. The more I use it, the more I like it. My wife, who it not a knife aficionado, absolutely LOVES this knife. It is a slicing machine, and the ergonomics are perfect. Mine is 3/32" A2, and I am looking forward to it getting a unique patina as it gets used more.

Sorry for the lame pics, but homemade praline cake was what was being cut tonight...

XkC6qec.jpg
[/IMG]

xvMySiK.jpg
[/IMG]
Click to expand...

TLA said:
I love the Moray and I snatched up mine when it was first introduced. It has become my go to kitchen knife when I'm home and my wife uses it when I'm back at work. I like the weight and balance on mine as it doesn't fatigue my hand and I love the full length edge on it. I need to do a better review on it and take more pictures using it. Eventually I will add a couple more of Allen's knives to my kitchen block.

Tony

IMG_5290_zpsirso3x8q.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
Click to expand...

Both of those are great looking!!! I always love evergreen shade tree and I love the full height grind on Tony's blade. I don't think I have seen a fiddleback with a piece of cake either. That should be against the rules :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top