Moran - Sal, did the forums save it?

F

Frank Norman

Joined
Oct 2, 1998
Messages
63
Sal,

It's my understanding that the Moran was going to be dropped. Then Bald 1 got one and told everyone what a great knife it is, had EdgeWorks make a sheath for it, etc. Others got one and agreed with ol' Baldy.

Sales of the Moran must have increased dramatically. I know I sold a couple (or three, or four ...).

Did the interest created in the forums lead to the the new Moran and save this great knife design?

------------------
Frank
Little River Trading Co.
Win the PHOTON TACTICAL GROUP in August!

 
Well I bet between Bob's proselytizing and the great deals at your site, that you guys gave a major push to the idea of saving the Moran. Of course, it's not gonna be quite as nice as the first one, but only a little bit less of a pearl. I still get a good feeling carrying mine around in it's Edgeworks slip sheath. Glad I got more than one of this knife too, only model I have kept two of.
 
Gee Frank & Brian, you guys may be giving me too much credit here. I'll only go so far as saying that I made my contribution to spiking the sales figures and sharing my reasons why here with fellow forumites last year. Between my boys and myself we ended up with 5 of the original style. And locally some other folks made a buy based upon handling one of mine (especially a pretty neat LEO firearms instructor I know). Then again there was the great collaboration with Scott Evans and his gang at Edge-Works. I know they moved a lot of Moran sheaths!

BTW Frank, just heard from my oldest son. Remember selling me a Moran and some Photons for him? Doc Welch also send a fistfull of the little lights to pass around to other corpsmen. Bottom line is that they're back in country and others want to buy some Photons, and yup, a few are looking at Morans too
smile.gif
! He still has your address and URL and said he'll be passing it around 29 Palms.

-=[Bob]=-

[This message has been edited by bald1 (edited 28 August 1999).]
 
Bob & the forumites helped convince me that the model was worth the effort to find a solution.

I think that ultimately, the dropping of the price to $80 from $150 made the biggest difference in the market place. Now we've made the necessary changes to be able to produce the model for a retail price of $90 with a kydex sheath and TechLock belt fastener. Not quite as plush, but a great knife at a good price that will serve most in the field for many years to come.
sal
 
Sal,
I'm honored. But I too agree with you that the sales surge didn't occur until the Moran hit the "right" price point.
I'm personally gratified that Spyderco sought the means to continue to offer the Moran, with an improved sheath system, at a popular price point, yet still retain profitability. The elimination of your fixed blade offering might have doomed future fixed blade introductions (aside from your great kitchen line) and that would have been tragic to my way of thinking!
-=[Bob]=-
 
Bob was most influential in my recent knife education. I consider myself fortunate to know Bob and have been briefed by him, in person, on the Moran concept. I shortly followed his lead and am quite happy with the advantages and capabilities I have gained from the Spyderco Moran. I have shared the idea with some of my law enforcement counterparts, as well as associates who appreciate a useful as well as artful tool....the Spyderco Moran.

Thanks again Bob!

Kilroy...
...was here.
 
Talk about timing! I ran across this website and entered in hopes of finding info on the Spyderco/Moran. I've searched hi and lo for this knife in its original leather sheath. I never got into Kydex. Now after reading the above posts, I hear that someone came out with an improved sheath for this great knife. Can anyone steer me to someone who still sells the S/M with original leather sheath (although I am willing to hear more about this "improved" sheath)?THANKS----Alex
 
Talk about timing! I ran across this website and entered in hopes of finding info on the Spyderco/Moran. I've searched hi and lo for this knife in its original leather sheath. I never got into Kydex. Now after reading the above posts, I hear that someone came out with an improved sheath for this great knife. Can anyone steer me to someone who still sells the S/M with original leather sheath (although I am willing to hear more about this "improved" sheath)?THANKS----Alex
 
Alex,

Try Frank Norman of Little River Trading, Top of Texas Knives, or Bullman to see if they might still have some of the old style. Might check Chai Cutlery too. He also bundled the knife with an Edge-Works kydex sheath. Regardless , I have spare original leather sheaths. You pay for shipping and one is yours.

-=[Bob]=-

[This message has been edited by bald1 (edited 31 August 1999).]
 
Bill Moran just sent us drawings of the same knife with a drop point and a semi skinner. We're making a proto of the drop point. Any opinions, improvements, slams or whatever, while we're at the beginning stages of the proto.
sal
 
That's GREAT news, Sal! I can understand your choice of a more traditional drop point over the semi skinner for the initial prototype but I'd love to see the semi produced as well. (I probably have more drop points than any other single fixed hunting blade and would appreciate the variety. Of course, I'd still buy a Spydie/Moran drop point in a heart beat.
wink.gif
)

Aside from blade shape preference, I might prefer a slightly deeper & rounded choil than the original but that's it.

Now for my (first) questions -- OAL? Blade finish & edge type? Sheath construction?

OK, one more question for now -- Do you expect to have the prototype at the NYC show in Nov?

------------------
Cheers,

--+Brian+--



[This message has been edited by bcaffrey (edited 31 August 1999).]
 
Sal,

Great news!! I too would a little deeper choil for choking up. And (I know... adds expense) some file work on the top of the blade again for choking up. The existing textured thumb "spot" works great. Don't change that.

-=[Bob]=-
 
Drop point, huh. They're not ready, yet.
Seriously, same steel as existing Moran, but
with a Kydex sheath - couldn't be beat.
Charlie
 
Ditto to Bob's comment on filework on top of blade and either VG10 or CPM 440v steel. Also, don't drop the two part handle, it's part of the beauty of the design.
 
I would buy one with CPM440V.
 
How much metal would you take off to enlarge the choil?

What kind of filework (coarse, fine, etc.)?

How far would you extend it from the handle onto the blade?

thanx for the input.

sal
 
How much metal would you take off to enlarge the choil?
Click to expand...
only 1/8-3/16" deeper but at the center of a rounded choil w/more of a shoulder before the blade edge
What kind of filework (coarse, fine, etc.)?
Click to expand...
fine, ala the SS Native
How far would you extend it from the handle onto the blade?
Click to expand...
1/2-3/4" parallel to the choil

Is it ready yet?
biggrin.gif


------------------
Cheers,

--+Brian+--

 
Sal,

Brian's got the answers. I might go a bit less on the choil... the depth simply depends on getting that slightly rounded purchase point right.

-=[Bob]=-
 
Guys,

I know I saw it posted earlier, but what is the difference between the old style Moran and the new model besides the sheath? Satin finish instead of Mirror? Anything else?

[This message has been edited by Ronald Reagan (edited 04 September 1999).]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top