All About Pocket Knives

Vale – Herman Williams

It is with a heavy heart that I wish to inform you all that Herman Williams passed today.
I am sure that this news with trigger fond memories of this amazing friend and craftsman of a lot of you on this site.
Herman was a craftsman for Schrade for 24 years, and in that time built up a hero worship reputation as an innovative craftsman, and was considered the Father of knife customising with his amazing work.
He had a very close relationship with Uncle Henry, who was amazed at what this man could do with a knife, and had him commission many special works for him.
On a personal level I had a good close relationship with him over about 10 years, and over that time had him embellish over 70 knives for me. Those knives will always be extremely special to me.
We lost a Legend today.
RIP my dear friend,
Tony Moat.

RIP Electra 225!!
thanks Tony.

Schradenut wrote: ↑Sat Mar 13, 2021 9:57 pm It is with a heavy heart that I wish to inform you all that Herman Williams passed today.

Sorry for the loss of your friend. Thank you for letting us know.

Mr. Williams worked on a few knives for me. His work is second to none. My interactions with Mr. Williams were infrequent, however he always remembered me. He was always gracious and courteous, a true craftsman and a gentleman. I can't imagine anyone having a bad thing to say about Mr. Williams.

The before and after pictures attached show an example of Mr. Williams' repair work. He jigged the replacement bone himself. He also restored the blades to the original factory finish for this pattern. And the blades are shaving sharp. All I asked him to do was replace the handles.

A customizer and modder before there were modders. A Schrade legend. I am fortunate to have a few pieces of his amazing work.

RIP Herman WIlliams

We have treasures like Herman among us for far too short a time. We always assume that people like Herman are larger than life. But I know I assume too much I'll take too much for granted there is always tomorrow, assuming there is always tomorrow, assuming there is always tomorrow.

Herman was one of the most friendly and genuinely cordial people you will ever meet. We emailed and talked on the phone several times. It was always very friendly and always invited me to call him back just to talk about knives. I did call and talk with him, but I felt like I was keeping him his work; not that he said anything that would indicate that, it was just something give me that didn't want to abuse his time.

In the time that I have been on the cutlery business or in the hobby of collecting, repairing and modifying knives I am feeling a lot of people, all of them great people but there are a few men who stand out in my mind a little more than other, Herman Williams is one such individual. In my mind I place Herman in the lofty company of Al Mar and Les de Asis in terms of their personal integrity.
That is one of the highest complements one man can give to another, IMHO.

Rest in peace my friend, and God be with your family and give them comfort and peace.

I was privileged to purchase one 863 mod directly from Mr. Williams and a second after market. I contacted him about the after market one and he was very gracious and owned it as his own. What a wonderful knife master and cordial person. I also remember what good friend he and dweb1897 were.

R.I.P. Herman. The man was a total gentleman, always happy to talk knives whether on the phone or email. He had health issues for some time but never stopped working on knives and I'm positive he lived longer because of it. It was a real passion of his. He sure had a talent for filework and coloring stag! Another great one gone

There's a picture of Herman here that Cal had posted up a while back. Hope you don't mind if I put it up here Cal.
Eric

What a sad, sad day for the knife world. RIP Mr. Williams.

jerryd6818 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 4:03 am What a sad, sad day for the knife world. RIP Mr. Williams.

Would love to see more examples of his work, they few here a absolutely beautiful.

The Knife community has lost a wonderful craftsman and a gentleman.

RIP Mr. Williams.

Ken 🗡🗡

Here's a couple more Ken. I never could comprehend how he made any money on his knives when considering how much work went into them. I think it was more a labor of love than a business endeavor.
Eric

He put stag handles on an 863 for me. The man was an absolute magician with stag.

jerryd6818 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 8:01 pm He put stag handles on an 863 for me. The man was an absolute magician with stag.

Glad you have that one Jerry. Beautiful stag from a master.

Was this one of Hermans deigns?

Ken98K
Herman used to shape some 51OT's like that, and also use that handle material.
He always signed his work though, if not to the pile side tang, then on the inside liner.
If you have either of these then it is a genuine "Williams Masterpiece", and you are a very fortunate man.

Schradenut wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 5:20 am Ken98K
Herman used to shape some 51OT's like that, and also use that handle material.
He always signed his work though, if not to the pile side tang, then on the inside liner.
If you have either of these then it is a genuine "Williams Masterpiece", and you are a very fortunate man.

It's not my knife. I fell in love with the concept and saved the photo to my desktop.
I bought a 51ot and some c-tek hoping to get Mr Williams to build one for me but alas, I never got around to sending the knife to him.

I never met the man but I have seen and owned some of his work. After reading this, I surely regret that I never met the man.
RIP, sir!

Ray

ea42 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 7:50 pm Here's a couple more Ken. I never could comprehend how he made any money on his knives when considering how much work went into them. I think it was more a labor of love than a business endeavor.

Schrade Herman Williams 5OT 3.jpg

Schrade Herman Williams 5OT 4.jpg

Schrade Herman Williams 5OT 5.jpg

Schrade Herman Williams LB7 10.jpg

Schrade Herman Williams LB7 8.jpg

Schrade Herman Williams LB7 7.jpg

Schrade Herman Williams LB7 6.jpg

Schrade Herman Williams LB7 5.jpg

Eric

Absolutely gorgeous!!
Ken

We spoke several times, but I never could get the knives to him at the right time. Last time we spoke he was too covered up, and before that he had cut his finger.

He was right down where you live.

Condolences to the family.

In a sad irony, I had been working on this 863 pattern with some of my own dyed stag. My inspiration was an 863 I have from Herman Williams. Here are the 2 together...

glennbad wrote: ↑Wed Mar 17, 2021 11:46 am In a sad irony, I had been working on this 863 pattern with some of my own dyed stag. My inspiration was an 863 I have from Herman Williams. Here are the 2 together...

863-4.jpg
863-5.jpg

Those are nice.
Great work on both accounts.

I just saw this.... I sure hate to hear we lost Herman..... What a gifted knifesmith.

God speed Herman.