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Bill Moran knives?

Bruce Bump

Bruce Bump

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
9,910
I want to make a tribute knife to the late Bill Moran. Do you guys know of a site that has some of his knives so I can get some general shapes and sizes? Is there such a site?

BTW I have a table at the RENO SHOW this year!!!
 
Bruce

The best I could suggest is getting a copy of "Master of the Forge".

Jim Arbuckle
 
Bruce,
Congrats on your table at Reno. :thumbup:
Thought I'd stick a pic of this one up.It's the end all/be all of Bowies for me.
 
leatherbird said:
Bruce,
Congrats on your table at Reno. :thumbup:
Thought I'd stick a pic of this one up.It's the end all/be all of Bowies for me.
Click to expand...

I like that one too. Is there a better shot of it somewhere? What model is it? Jay Hendrickson makes some of this one so I should make another model.
 
Bruce perhaps if you posted a request on the collectors forum at TKN they might be able to give you some detailed photos,Also maybe contact Coop photography or one of the others,I bet they have some great in depth photos.
 
Bruce,
I don't know,I found it on the net.The one to ask is Joe Mandt,he knows a lot about Moran's.
Great advice on 'Master of the Forge',can get them at ABS store,$85.
Edited to add:It's an ST-23 in pic.
Doug
 
Bruce, I have lots of photos in several books. The best are in "Master of the Forge",and "The 50 year Knives".I have all of bills catalogers ,too.Let me know what style you are interested in and I'll send you some photocopies. Stacy
 
Stacy, I would like to give the ST23 a try. Do you have a specifics on its size OAL and top view? It would go to Reno with me if I can get started soon enough. PM sent
 
Bruce,

There's a decent picture of an ST-23 available here (linked because it's a large image).

According to my copy of "Master of the Forge" that particular knife is 17" OAL with an 11 5/8" blade length.

-d
 
Bruce.....Master of the Forge is a great place to start. I would like to see someone of your skill level make a copy of the one of the original "fat" ST24 prototypes. That ST23 is a particularly nice one. There is a sleeker damascus one in the book that is amzaing looking. This may be sacrilege, but I don't like the really big ST23's as much, which includes the '06 Board knife. It was a beautiful piece, but to me not a "pure" 23. 8-9 inches is the ideal blade length for that model in my opinion. I actually liked the '05 bowie Board knife better, but is is arguably not as important a piece in the grand scheme of things. I bought two of the cheapo Pakistani copies....one plain and one "damascus, whihc was actually sonme klind of enamelled pattern on the blade...... just for reference as to handle shape. They are true POS's and are way to large, but the work ok as patterns. For a newbie like me, the angled plunge grind of the 23 can be problematic on the grinder. Personally, i would try to reproduce the smaller brass outfitted one that is pictured here in this thread. That is the classic ST23 at around 8-6 1/2 inches. Remember that the spine on all of Bill's big knives are pretty darn thick. He claimed to use 1/4 inch stock but i would have to start with at least 5/16th if not 3/8ths.
edit......I have an interesting suggestion for you, Bruce. The Moran Award knife for this year's Blade Show is a spear point bowie. Why don't you forge up a real fancy Rio Grande camp knife with the wire inlay and carving, and submit it for the judging. That, in my opinion, would be a very appropriate tribute, although you may not be the only guy doing that.
 
Bruce,


When you are at the Reno show look up B.R. Hughes. B.R was a very good friend of Moran, I am sure that he can help you. I am going to try to make the show if the weather does not shoot me down. If I do make it I will bring B.R. over to your table.
 
Also maybe e-mail Bert Gaston and if he is going to be at Reno, ask him to bring his ST23....that is the one that some of the Board members used as a template to get the handle and guard proportions right on the '06 Board knife. I don't know who ended up with Bill's handle pattern cutouts, but I am cetain that Jay could help you out asmuch, if not more that anyone in your quest.
 
ralph.merlino said:
Bruce,


When you are at the Reno show look up B.R. Hughes. B.R was a very good friend of Moran, I am sure that he can help you. I am going to try to make the show if the weather does not shoot me down. If I do make it I will bring B.R. over to your table.
Click to expand...

Ralph, yes I do know B.R. Hughes. I know Jay Hendrickson better and he also was very good friends with Bill. I will get with Jay while in Reno.
 
jdm61 said:
Also maybe e-mail Bert Gaston and if he is going to be at Reno, ask him to bring his ST23....that is the one that some of the Board members used as a template to get the handle and guard proportions right on the '06 Board knife. I don't know who ended up with Bill's handle pattern cutouts, but I am cetain that Jay could help you out asmuch, if not more that anyone in your quest.
Click to expand...

There may be several ST23 models at the show this year. I think Im going to do some research and make a working plan before just jumping in and making one. I want to do it right. youre right about Jay, I will talk to him there.
 
I believe Jay is in my neck of the woods. I haven't met him yet, but I've got several friends who know him pretty well. I've really got to get on the stick for meeting local folks...

-d
 
Bruce Evans called this morning and told me to look in the book HOW TO MAKE KNIVES by Richard W Barney and Robert W Loveless. I have that book but never read it close enough to know Bill Moran has a knife project in there. It looks to be an early ST23 model. He shows each and every step including the leather sheath. There are no sizes whatsoever but I think I can wing it with all the pictures some of you guys emailed me. Thanks all
 
Bill's section in the Loveless is kind of vague......more a primer on forging than on the ST23. Quite old because he was still brazing a mild steel tang to the W2 blade. Jay,Mark Sentz and Barney Barnes can put you on the right track for doing a Moran.
This thread has inspired me to try screwing up a Moranstyle blade again...lol. I just forged out a 7 1/4 inch bowie fighter with a long clip....about 50%of the length of the cutting edge. Gonna put an ST24 prototype style handle (without the bothersome shell carving which i can't do yet....lol) and maybe try some of the simpler "branch and berry" style wire inlay. A 23 will be my next Moran type project. I already have a NS guard made for it. :D How do you do a full convex grind?
 
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