I visited this man as a young lad and was mesmerized at his technique and tales of bladesmithing. He sold many a blade to sheiks, movie stars, famous people but he always had a joy for young lads and teenagers interested in his craft. A true joy!
These are film conversions except for the last one above his museum.
Dan
Thanks Parul! The 1st 2 are slide conversions(scans) so the quality is not good. But I was more interested in the man than the 2 photos. The last one is the sign over his shop in Middletown, MD.
His woodworks is just as amazing as his bladesmithing.
Dan
Simms65 wrote:
I went to high school in Middletown and didn't understand the significance of that little shop until too late. Nice images.
Thanks for your response....We love Middletown proper. You are not that far....
Thanks for the comments!
Dan
Fred Amico wrote:
I knew the name, Dan, but never realized just how famous he was. Sure made some awesome knives!
Thanks Fred! Bill had a small forge near the town where we live now. I met him as a teenager(1964 or so) and he invited some boys(Boy Scouts) to visit him and see how he made blades and handles.
He was a hoot! Precise to a fault! His wood working is on par with his blades. He did everything from memory. Yes he had a catalog of blades, stocks, sheaths but he did all work from memory. And not every knife was the same. The day I was there, a sheik came to pick up a knife he had bought. The sheik was astounded as to the quality, the balance, the handle of his knife. And boy this was a big knife!!! The knife's sheath was equally intricate in its leatherwork and scrolling. Bill did it all himself. The sheik greeted us and he and his, I assume they were his body guards, people talked for about 45 minutes about the Damascus steel and left in a huge limo.
A learning experience to say the least.
Thanks Fred!
Dan
Thanks Rajan! The 1st is from a slide I scanned into a jpeg. Many years old. It is not the best of quality. The website used it for their webpage. The forge is not that good at all but I posted it just for some look at what he worked with. Personally, I really like the 3rd. Just me..yeah a shingled roof is not a great bg but the linear lines seem to accent his sign and knife.
Thanks!
Dan
