Spyderco FB01P Moran Trailing Point - 3.88" Plain Edge VG-10 Blade - Black FRN Handle - Boltaron Sheath

Rightfully recognized as the grandfather of American custom knifemaking, Bill Moran (1925-2006) was also the founding father of the American Bladesmith Society. He started making knives at the age of 12, and in the 1960's is credited with re-discovering the process of making damascus blades. If you're lucky enough to find a custom-made Moran to buy, expect to shell out five-figures, minimum. His work and designs are that revered.

Spyderco is privileged to offer a production fixed-blade collaboration patterned in Bill Moran's ageless tradition. It is available in two distinct blade shapes. The FB01 has an upswept Bowe-style trailing point blade, and the FB02 features a drop-point blade shape. Both blades are flat-ground VG-10 and carry Bill's signature. They are tapered, starting thick where the blade joins the handle, thinning down the spine to a fine, uniformly ground tip.

In the hand the knife conveys a unique feeling of balance, called by some a sweet spot. The sweet spot is due to the blade and handle being comparable in weight. This balance transfers into a feeling of steady control over the cutting edge. The FRN handle three-dimensionally fills out the palm and is inlayed with a panel of non-sliding Kraton. Highly recommended for hunting and camping both models come in a molded Boltaron sheath with multi-position G-Clip fastening system.

The Moran Featherweight is my personal pick as the best overall outdoor/hunting/survival field knife (short of a bowie) that you can carry. How's that for an ever-so-subtle recommendation? Jeff Loffer