As I am sure it has been for many, many people, Bill was a man I
admired not only for his skills and contribution to the knife-making world, but
for his integrity, kindness, and willingness to share. I believe Bill was
responsible for bringing a lot of folks along the good way and I believe that
one of his greatest enjoyments in life was seeing the others take up the mantle
and move forward in their own right.
From the time I first met Bill at one of the early RIT bladesmithing classes,
until the last time I had the opportunity to speak with him three years ago at
the Blade Show, he always dreamed about establishing the means and an
institution to pass along to others the skills and the sense of accomplishment
in creating fine crafts work with one’s own hands. Of course, he achieved that
dream with the founding of the Bladesmith School. But Bill was more than a
“simple” craftsperson. His professionalism in studying cutlery and blades
throughout the centuries; assessing what made them good, or bad; and
incorporating those findings into his work, was only surpassed by his joy in
sharing that information with others.
Bill was truly one of The Fine Men, in the all best sense of the word. I regret
I will not be able to travel back to Maryland for the funeral, but I will make a
contribution as he requested, and will continue to carry his ideals and
aspirations in my heart.
I only hope the he and Margaret are together once again. Dick Kimberley
I had a chance, several years ago, to visit Bill and got to go to his shop,
where he sharpened a knife I had just made. I enjoyed knowing him. The
school is appropriately named. I learned a lot while attending in 1997.
Tedd Harris
I met Mr. Moran several times and had a chance for a long conversation
with him on one of those occasions. He was encouraging about my work and
just downright friendly. I believe his legacy to us all is not his
re-introduction of pattern-welded steel or even his incredible skill as a
bladesmith. It was his ability to teach and freely share information, and to
encourage all of us to improve, push the limits of our skills, and to share
our work and discoveries. The ABS school in Washington, AR will be his
living memorial. God Speed Bill. Bill Hoffman
Hello:
Even simple keyboard typing was hard for me
when I just read that Bill Moran had just passed away, I guess my eyes
took over my heart in tears,I had to sit back,not believing what I was
trying hard to read. Bill Moran was a part of my heart and life. I
remember when the first Hammer-in in Frederick was coming in Bill
Moran's name,I wanted to be part of this gathering. Even though I had
met Bill before at a public sale featuring lots of blacksmith
equipment,I could not wait to meet him again. I had my book with me that
was authored by Mr. Hughes and Mr. Price. I was trying to get Bill's
autograph in my book,but too many guys were talking to Bill,that it was
almost an impossible task. I was sitting in on a lecture when out of the
corner of my eye,there was Bill walking "slowly", I sure was having a
tough time catching up to him from my seat in the pavilion,but, I
managed to "get him" alone, out on the lawn. Like a kid in a candy
store, I could hardly speak I was so excited,I asked Bill if he would
autograph my book for me. He said sure,where would you like it at? I
opened to his full size photo on page 52 and there's where he put it. He
said ,now you know who else you want signatures of,I said who? He said
the authors,and they are here today, off I went, after sincerely
thanking Bill,feeling like I just went to heaven. I found Mr. Hughes and
he gladly signed,yes!! Then off to Mr. Price,who also graciously
signed,but I had one problem,my book's cover had a rip in it, I asked
Mr. Price if there were any covers that he knew of that I could
purchase,he said he had some at home.When he got home,he sent me not
one,but two free of charge..wow!!! Many ,many thanks to all associated
with this event in Frederick,these signatures were worth more than the
price I paid to get in and once again see and watch Bill in action
especially with his silver wire inlays....God always takes the best with
him before i'm ready for them to go,but, at least Bill is back with his
loving wife,Margaret in heaven with the Lord,and one of these
days,Bill,i'll be more than happy to once again, join you. Thanks so
much to the American Bladesmith Society for allowing me to contribute
this small token of my deep appreciation. God Bless
David Rotz
3773 Mercersburg Rd.
Mercersburg,Pa. 17236
We have just heard about the sad passing
of Bill Moran. We didn't know who to send our condolences to, but wondered
if we could just let you know how very sad we are. We were so lucky to have
met him on a few occasions and his influence in the knife world will live
forever.
We have let our knife clubs in South Africa know and his knifemaking has
touched makers all around the world. He was such a wonderful gentleman who
will be missed greatly by all. It is an honor to teach at the school named
after him and we know that all the bladesmiths acknowledge all his work in
their work.
Heaven's anvils will ring a little sweeter now.
Kind regards
Heavin (Heather & Kevin Harvey)
South Africa
I live in Hagerstown MD and became interested in blacksmithing a few
years ago. I had heard of Mr. Bill Moran and stopped by to meet him on many
occasions. One day in late 2004 I got lucky enough to find Mr. Moran at his
shop. He was making a walking stick but took the time (all afternoon) to
answer my many questions. He showed me all his equipment and explained what
he liked and why it worked best. He drew a picture on a piece of paper for
me showing how to build a proper forge. More than anything, in one
afternoon, he made me feel welcomed and it didn't take long to know I found
a new friend. God bless him.
Rick Kemmerer
Hagerstown MD
I will never forget Bill Moran. Mr. Moran
had a profound impact on my life when I was a young boy. It is because
of knowing him that I have my life today, literally. I dropped out of
high school at age sixteen. I got a GED and a job at Standard Building
Systems welding steel joists on third shift. My Mother knew that I
loved knives and she told me that she heard of this guy down in
Middletown who makes knives for a living. She suggested that maybe I
should get in touch with him and see if I could learn something about
making knives. Maybe I would like to make knives or something in my
life. I called Mr. Moran and he invited me down to his shop. This
began a period of months where I would get off of work in the morning,
stop and get donuts and coffee for me and tea for Mr. Moran, and meet
him at his shop where I would stay for hours each day. I watched him
work and we talked about everything under the sun. Mr. Moran provided
me with some valuable wisdom at a time when I really needed it. I
learned so much more from Bill Moran than how to stoke a fire, how to
draw out a perfectly tapered blade, how to make damascus steel, how to
temper a blade soft on the spine and brittle on the edge, the value
of his axe style handle, how to stetch leather over a wooden sheath,
inlay silver, vine a blade's spine, opinel pocket knives, etc, etc,
etc. Mr. Moran told me a lot about being a man. He talked to me like I
was a man even though I was just a boy. This was 1984-85. I watched
and talked to him while he made a couple of projects. The one I
remember the most is a beatiful damascus steel blade for Sylvester
Stalone's personal collection.
I moved away for two years. When I
returned in July 1987, I went by his house in Braddock Heights to see
him again. It was early in the morning on July 29th to be exact. I
knocked on his door but one answered. I looked around to see if anyone
was in the yard. The only person I saw was a girl sitting on the porch
next door. I walked over and asked her if she knew whether or not Mr.
Moran still lived next door. She said that she had just moved in the
week before and hadn't met the neighbors. She didn't know so I walked
back to my car and drove away. About a half a block down the road, I
thought "I should go back and talk to that girl." I did. I invited her
to lunch. She accepted.
Her name is Lisa. She is my wife. We
got married in 1988. Two boys and 16 years later we are still very
happily married. Lisa is from Seattle and we ended up here. I never
talked to Mr. Moran again after 1987 but I never forgot him or the
enormous blessing that he has been in my life. Thank you a thousand
fold Mr. Moran! I will never forget you!
Vance McElmurry
Gentlemen of the ABS,
sorry for being so late, but the news of the death of Mr Moran arrived
very late to us. We, our family and our staff were saddened to learn of
your great loss. We knew and admired Mr Moran as a man and as a
knifemaker of so great renown in the world of cutlery, since we first
met him in the Seventies, and we wish heartily extend our sympathy to
everybody who share our feelings for him.
Aldo and Edda Lorenzi of the "G. Lorenzi" shop in Montenapoleone Street
in Milan, Italy
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