Two old and somewhat rare ones here. Sorry for the bad pics.
First up is a Bill Moran "Aviator" from that late 50's/early 60's as best as I can tell. it has the pre-1973 Lime Kiln stamp. This particular model appeared in what may be his first brochure which predates the introduction of the 5 digit ZIP codes in 1963. It did not have a specific model designation at that time. The version called the M-5 which has a slightly different handle treatment in that it has the raised flat "thumb pads" up by the guard like his later knives, appeared in his Vietnam era brochure. Bill had already discovered the benefits of the distal taper by this time, but this knife obviously does not have the full height convex grind of his later work. The bevels are a shallow hollow grind and I wouldn't be surpsied if Bill did them on one of his big stone wheels that yo see in pictures of him from the early days.
This one was a user and has no sheath. it has a 6 inch blade probably made from W2, a maple handle and brass fittings with filework typical of Bill's work from that period. It has a little ding or two in the edge up near the choil and I did not attempted to "fix" that nor did I attempt to "reprofile" the edge. It also has the expected patina, scratches and very minor pitting of a 50 plus year old carbon steel knife that was used for its intended purpose. I merely polished the blade up and did not attempt to "restore" it. The brass fitting are also polished up. The buttcap has the stamp EMCC. A slightly newer but smaller M-5 with its original sheath and a blade that looked like it had been buffed a little is listed on Ebay for $4500 which, as best as I can tell, is about right for that knife in that condition. I am asking SOLD for this one. Price includes PayPal and USPS Priority or UPS Ground shipping.
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Next, we have a large clip point hunter by Rob Hudson MS of Maryland. Rob was a Moran protege and I met him at the Guild Show in Orlando back in the early 90's. This knife is likely from before that period. I would say mid to late 80's. It does have his MS stamp, so that says it is newer than 1983. It was also a user, but it was not used nearly as much and is newer. It has the expected little scratched and a little stain or two, but is in pretty good shape. It comes with its original sheath The stamp on the buttcap says CV LORD BALTO MD. The owner also printed his last name LORD on the back of he sheath in magic marker it would appear. It has a 7 inch blade and brass fittings. What I have read says that it is either W1. W2 or 1084. I cannot honestly say whether the handle is rather feathery dyed maple or walnut. it has the typical Hudson octagonal shape and looks like some of the maple that he was using that I have seen on a couple of other knives. I know that Rob has not been making very many knives in recent years, supposedly because of a pretty severe auto accident. I am told that his knives do not show up very often on the market. A Big 10 inch carbon bowie with a double guard and the same setup in really nice condition went to $1250 a while back. I am asking $450 for this one. Same deal on shipping, PayPal, etc.
View attachment 475239
Respond with an "I'll take it" on this thread or a PM or e-mail.
First up is a Bill Moran "Aviator" from that late 50's/early 60's as best as I can tell. it has the pre-1973 Lime Kiln stamp. This particular model appeared in what may be his first brochure which predates the introduction of the 5 digit ZIP codes in 1963. It did not have a specific model designation at that time. The version called the M-5 which has a slightly different handle treatment in that it has the raised flat "thumb pads" up by the guard like his later knives, appeared in his Vietnam era brochure. Bill had already discovered the benefits of the distal taper by this time, but this knife obviously does not have the full height convex grind of his later work. The bevels are a shallow hollow grind and I wouldn't be surpsied if Bill did them on one of his big stone wheels that yo see in pictures of him from the early days.
This one was a user and has no sheath. it has a 6 inch blade probably made from W2, a maple handle and brass fittings with filework typical of Bill's work from that period. It has a little ding or two in the edge up near the choil and I did not attempted to "fix" that nor did I attempt to "reprofile" the edge. It also has the expected patina, scratches and very minor pitting of a 50 plus year old carbon steel knife that was used for its intended purpose. I merely polished the blade up and did not attempt to "restore" it. The brass fitting are also polished up. The buttcap has the stamp EMCC. A slightly newer but smaller M-5 with its original sheath and a blade that looked like it had been buffed a little is listed on Ebay for $4500 which, as best as I can tell, is about right for that knife in that condition. I am asking SOLD for this one. Price includes PayPal and USPS Priority or UPS Ground shipping.
View attachment 475237
View attachment 475238
View attachment 475236
Next, we have a large clip point hunter by Rob Hudson MS of Maryland. Rob was a Moran protege and I met him at the Guild Show in Orlando back in the early 90's. This knife is likely from before that period. I would say mid to late 80's. It does have his MS stamp, so that says it is newer than 1983. It was also a user, but it was not used nearly as much and is newer. It has the expected little scratched and a little stain or two, but is in pretty good shape. It comes with its original sheath The stamp on the buttcap says CV LORD BALTO MD. The owner also printed his last name LORD on the back of he sheath in magic marker it would appear. It has a 7 inch blade and brass fittings. What I have read says that it is either W1. W2 or 1084. I cannot honestly say whether the handle is rather feathery dyed maple or walnut. it has the typical Hudson octagonal shape and looks like some of the maple that he was using that I have seen on a couple of other knives. I know that Rob has not been making very many knives in recent years, supposedly because of a pretty severe auto accident. I am told that his knives do not show up very often on the market. A Big 10 inch carbon bowie with a double guard and the same setup in really nice condition went to $1250 a while back. I am asking $450 for this one. Same deal on shipping, PayPal, etc.
View attachment 475239
Respond with an "I'll take it" on this thread or a PM or e-mail.
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