Bill Moran created a sensation among knife enthusiasts worldwide in 1973 when he single-handedly revived the lost art of forging Damascus steel.  For more than 60 years, he crafted knives that lured people such as Jordan's King Abdullah II and actor Sylvester Stallone to his little one-man workshop on the west side of Braddock Mountain, Maryland.  He made his knives by hand from the very best materials -- forging the steel, inlaying the precious metal, carving the handle, even stitching the sheath.

Some twenty plus years ago Bill charged around $500 for one of his better knives. Recently, one of his Bowie knives went for nearly $30,000. 

 

 

Mr. Moran began trying to revive the ancient process of forging Damascus steel in the late 1960s.  No blade smith in the United States knew the technique. Without anyone having knowledge of the time honored process, the art of Damascus steel forging was in danger being lost. Bill knew one could weld iron and stell together because he had seen it done on the farm.  Damascus is made of iron and steel, welded into three layers, heated and hammered flat. Bill takes the piece of layered iron and steel, re-welds it and hammers it out again. He repeats the process eight times, exponentially multiplying the layers into as many as 500. By mastering Damascus steel Bill Moran resurrected the art of Damascus steel forging and became one of the most sought after steel forging artists of all times.  

 

 

Thanks to Bill Moran's passion for an amazing knife and his revival of a time honored art, Damascus steel forging is alive and well today.  There are only a handful of smiths in the world today who can forge a custom knife from Damascus Steel.