Per Instagram post by Jerry Fisk
Bill Bagwell has passed away.
Louisiana born, knife making legend in his own time. His work has influenced many.
Not sure if he ever lived around West Monroe, I know he was from Shreveport and eventually moved to Texas. He was a knife maker and one of the founders of the American Bladesmith Society. He specialized in early damascus and Bowie knives.
Man i hate to hear that. Bill was a helluva nice guy, despite coming across as gruff and surly on the boards. His username "rdneck" (sp?) was completely the opposite of the man who was thoughtful and articulate.
When i first met him about 20 years ago he was living in a small wooden frame house on the edge of a cotton field a few miles outside of Delhi, La. I couldnt figure why a world famous knife maker who was the long time knife associate editor for Soldier of Fortune magazine was living like a poor man so to speak. Turns out Bill was having IRS troubles. A bad deal with Gerber Knives caused some a-hole at Gerber to turn Bill in to the IRS for unreported knife making income. He was laying low until he got his issues resolved.
I was visiting Bill after he graciously offered to teach me about shooting my Shiloh Sharps 45-110. I was on a blackpowder cartridge rifle forum and was asking questions and Bill told me to just come and visit. Bill was an expert blacpowder cartridge shooter and actually did field testing for Goex black powder. Bill had a rack with about 10 Sharps and rolling block type rifles, some he had built by hand. He had about 900 yards cut out through a cotton field where we shot that afternoon. Afterwards his charming wife Sidra fixed us a wonderful supper. I learned more from Bill in one afternoon than i ever did from books and internet boards.
The last time i heard from him he was returning from Montana. He called me up and said he was passing through West Monroe and wondered if i could grab a bite with him at Barbeque West, a place he loved. We met and Bill showed me 2 new beautiful Shiloh rifles he had purchased. He also had with him a very large custom Bowie knife he had made for his wife. Bill was a stocky guy and carried a 12 inch Bowie like a regular guy carries a pocket knife. He told me he had resolved his IRS issues and had just bought a ranch in Texas where he was building a 1000 to 1200 yard shooting range. He said to come by whenever i could. We ate and parted ways and i never saw or talked to him again. I tried to look him up a few years ago on the blackpowder boards with no luck. I was proud to say i knew him just a little bit.
Rest in peace Bill, and thank you.