October 10, 2011

Bill Moran Jr. sold his first knife around 1939 at age fourteen. By the time of his death in 2006, his knives had become some of the most valuable modern handmade custom knives, appraising for tens of thousands of dollars. Two of the most common features of his knives, an example of which is shown here, are a long slender bowie blade shape and a silver wire inlay in the handle. Moran made knives for all types of people: outdoorsmen, collectors, soldiers, actors, statesmen, and even royalty.