"Men of Steel" article in Hagerstown Magazine - March/April 2011 issue

Western Maryland Master Bladesmiths Hone a Place for an Ancient Craft in Modern Society

by Kristin Detrow + photos by Erick Gibson

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Modern culture is saturated with things made cheaply and easily, disposable and common. When an item is lost or broken, it’s a minor inconvenience that costs a few dollars to replace. But in Western Maryland, a rare breed of men still exists. They pour their blood, sweat and tears into their craft to create something of significant worth — something precious and exceptional, yet sturdy and powerful. They’re custom knife makers, true modern renaissance men, who have made it their personal mission to perfect the art of bladesmithing and pass it on to future generations.

Paving the Way

It’s virtually impossible, blasphemous even, to delve into the topic without first paying tribute to Bill Moran, who passed away in 2006. The son of a Frederick County dairy farmer, Bill fashioned his first knife at age 12 and later became the founding father of the American Bladesmith Society (ABS). Jack Fuller of New Market, Md., one of Bill’s students, says the ABS is a teaching organization set up for the “working man.” But, becoming an ABS master bladesmith is no easy feat. “Bill set the ground rules to make sure you knew how to make a knife,” Jack says. “It has to slice through a 1-inch, free-hanging hemp rope, and then cut through a two-by-four twice.” One must present a knife that will not break when put into a vise and bend to 90 degrees.

Bill is said to be solely responsible for restoring the lost art of forging Damascus steel — an often shatter-resistant and intricately designed steel originating in medieval times. After years of relentless practice and honing his skills, Bill’s knives fetched as much as $30,000. Sylvester Stallone and Jordan’s King Abdullah II were among his clientele.

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