Bill Bagwell

Talk with other Shiloh Sharps shooters.

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bobw
Posts: 3841
Joined: Tue Nov 23, 2004 12:52 pm

Bill Bagwell

Post by bobw »

I just heard that Bill Bagwell has passed away while recovering from back surgery in the hospital this afternoon. Sorry to say I have no more info than that saw it posted at 24 hr campfire. RIP Bill
Bobw
bobw
Kenny Wasserburger
Posts: 4728
Joined: Tue Sep 24, 2002 3:53 pm
Location: Gillette, Wyoming

Re: Bill Bagwell

Post by Kenny Wasserburger »

This is truly bad news.

Shocked more than anything. We had us some times at the Ranch testing Goex Express.


Kenny Wasserburger
We'll raise up our Glasses against Evil Forces, Singing, Whiskey for my men, Beer for my horses.

Wyoming Territory Sharps Shooter
MSalyards
Posts: 270
Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2018 4:18 pm
Location: Nine Mile Falls Wa

Re: Bill Bagwell

Post by MSalyards »

Damn, RIP Bill!
Michael Johnson

Re: Bill Bagwell

Post by Michael Johnson »

Prayers for Bill and Sidra. Two really great people. I always enjoyed my conversations with Bill about BPCR's. Bill was definitely old school. I am very sorry for our loss.I first met Bill at Kenny Wasserburger's Creedmoor match on his Dad's ranch north of Lusk, WY. We are most definitely diminished. - Mike Johnson
jackrabbit
Posts: 1792
Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2012 12:04 pm
Location: Carpenter Wyoming

Re: Bill Bagwell

Post by jackrabbit »

I am saddened by this news. Rdnck and I often butted heads here on the forum, but I grew to respect and appreciate him.

I hope Dan Theodore, Bill Bagwell, and Steve Rhoades are getting things all set up for us. It's going to be some shooting, let me tell you.
Cody
User avatar
Lumpy Grits
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Location: Springfield, Missouri-U.S.A. Earth

Re: Bill Bagwell

Post by Lumpy Grits »

So sorry to hear this :!: :cry:
His knowledge sure helped me in getting a very good .45-90 load.
Gary
"Hav'n you along, is like loose'n two good men"
Ray Newman
Posts: 3810
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Location: between No Where & No Place, WA

Re: Bill Bagwell

Post by Ray Newman »

I am stunned. Often spoke with Bill on the phone on many topics, especially the Sharps and Black Powder.

From the 24 hour campfire site:

"Bill Bagwell was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on January 11, 1944. He grew up in rural northwest Louisiana and was introduced to the outdoors at an early age by his uncles, who were avid hunters and fishermen. Bagwell was also a talented athlete and lettered in football, baseball, and track during his high school career. His senior year at North Caddo High School saw him named to the High School All-American Football team as a tackle, and he attended Louisiana Tech University on a football scholarship. He also attended Northwestern State University and has an educational background in engineering, English, and history.

"Bagwell has always been fascinated by knives. He made his first knife at the age of 10 from an old saw. While he was in high school he began to forge knives in the industrial arts shop, and by the time he was 15 he was forging hunting and Bowie knives as a hobby. He made and sold knives while he was in college and became a full-time professional bladesmith in 1969. Bagwell's skill and talent as a bladesmith is due in part to the fact that he grew up in an area that was rich in the lore of James Bowie and the early history of both Texas and Louisiana. The Bowie knife played a prominent role in the early history of the area, and the young Bill Bagwell wanted a good one for himself. Since none were available for purchase, he began to make his own. Bagwell has always sought excellence, and his early quest for a better Bowie knife has ultimately brought his knives to the point where they are today.

"Bill Bagwell is one of the true pioneers in the making of Damascus blades in the United States. He completed his first successful Damascus blade on December 1, 1973, after about six months of trial and failure. In early 1976, with the late Don Hastings, B.R. Hughes and Bill Moran, Bagwell became one of the founding members of the American Bladesmith Society and wrote the original charter for that organization. He also served as the society's first secretary and was on its first board of directors.

"Bagwell has lectured on blades and forging at the University of Wyoming at Dubois, the University of Florida at Tallahassee, and Texarkana College at its facility at Black's Forge in Washington, Arkansas. Bagwell has also made wootz steel and began work in that field in 1979.

"In 1984, Bill Bagwell became the knife editor for Soldier Of Fortune magazine, and the monthly "Battle Blades" column was begun under his byline. He continued to write the column until 1988 when pressing family matters called him to Belize for 18 months. (This November, Paladin Press will release the long-awaited anthology of Bagwell's "Battle Blades" columns, entitled Bowies, Big Knives, and the Best of Battle Blades. Advance copies will be on display at the Soldier Of Fortune Convention in Las Vegas, October 12-15.) Upon his return from Belize, Bagwell resumed his knifemaking career.

"In September 1995, Bagwell attended the prestigious Paris Knife Show, where one of his Damascus Bowies won the award for the best fixed-bladed Damascus knife at the show. The following spring he was commissioned to go to Theirs, France, and conduct a forging and knifemaking demonstration by the Theirs Department of Commerce and Industry.

"Today Bagwell focuses his knife energies on his "Hell's Belle" fighting Bowies. The Hell's Belle is acknowledged by many to be the finest fighting Bowie knife ever made, and those examples hand-forged and made by Bagwell himself are, without a doubt, in a class by themselves. Bagwell's research and studies into tactics and application of the fighting Bowie knife in a combat environment have not gone unnoticed, and he currently serves as an instructor to selected units of the U.S. Army's Special Forces at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

"Bagwell is also an accomplished rifle shot. His primary interest is in black powder firearms, and he has served as a consultant to GOEX since 1993. His love of the outdoors has remained strong over the years, and his interest in history has led him to study the arms and weapons of early America. While Bagwell's early studies were focused on muzzleloaders (which ultimately led him to good Hawken rifles), the last 10 years have seen him develop the knowledge and skills necessary to shoot the black powder cartridge rifles. The long-range marksmanship of the buffalo hunters of the plains was not just legend, and Bagwell can today take a Sharps rifle and hit a gallon jug at a quarter of a mile with cast lead bullets, black powder, and iron sights.

"Bill Bagwell is a rarity in today's world. He is a man at the top of his game who is doing exactly what he wants to do, when he wants to do it. Happily married, he and his wife, Sidra, currently reside in Louisiana."

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthrea ... 15802241/5
Grand PooBah
WA ST F. E. S.

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Chief Beck
Posts: 780
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 8:51 pm
Location: Patton State Hospital

Re: Bill Bagwell

Post by Chief Beck »

Holy Cow!!
I am truly saddened! Bill was the first person I ever talked (phone conversation) to concerning Sharps rifles and how to load for them. We talked for about an hour, he was very friendly and loved talking about Sharps rifles.
Yes, we are greatly diminished!!!

Dennis
"40 knots, no smoke"

"By God Woodrow; it’s been quite a party ain’t it?”
Kurt
Posts: 8428
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2005 10:28 pm
Location: Not Far enough NW in Illinois

Re: Bill Bagwell

Post by Kurt »

What a loss this is.
Just this morning I was going to call him because he usually calls several times a month but the phone battery was dead.
Bill was a very in depended secretive friend with a lot of knowledge he shared with me. I will miss his hour long chats.

God be with you Bill.
The reason a dog has so many friends is because he wags his tail instead of his tongue.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery"Winston Churchill
Michael Johnson

Re: Bill Bagwell

Post by Michael Johnson »

Thanks Ray! I have one of Bill's knives. May he RIP!
sandhillcowboy1
Posts: 166
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2005 11:36 pm

Re: Bill Bagwell

Post by sandhillcowboy1 »

First time Bill called me it turned into a three hour conversation and subsequent ones never got shorter. He had read one of my articles on buff hunting with Sharps and was very interested in my experiences using cast bullets on big game.

Bill was an exceptionally intelligent and skilled man. If you got to know Bill you would get a wealth of information. He was one of the few people I could talk with on the same level regarding bullet performance on large game and that is where most of our conversations centered. We had even looked seriously at doing Cape buffalo hunts with Sharps but health problems got in the way.

I regret that we never got the chance to meet in person although it was in the plans.

RIP Bill, a good one gone

Rick
SHCB1
John Boy
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Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 11:39 am

Re: Bill Bagwell

Post by John Boy »

Such deeply sad news. Our relationship goes back when he was testing for Goex and they screwed him off the payroll and benefits. Totally uncalled for and it impacted Bill financially. Have had many conversations with him and his knowledge transfer to me has been invaluable. Bill, RIP, you will be remembered by the BPCR Community for many years. My Sincere Condolences to Sidra ...
Regards
John
pacecars
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Location: Tallahassee, Fl

Re: Bill Bagwell

Post by pacecars »

We are truly lessened by his loss. He was opinionated but it was earned through experience. When I posted about a .45-110 I was buying he sent me a message with his phone number to call him. We spoke a few times in the phone and each call was 1 to 2 hours. His knowledge was unbelievable. He saved me time and money and had me shooting well in no time. He invited me to his house for some shooting and fellowship. Sadly I was unable to make it and I sorely regret it. Rest in Peace Bill
Real gun powder is black.
Orville
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Location: Buffalo Wy

Re: Bill Bagwell

Post by Orville »

I called an talked to Bill the day before he passed had trouble understanding him, told me they had him locked up 30 miles from home thought he would get out Friday. He said it was the first time in his life he didn’t have a knife or gun with him. We had many conversations about patched bullets he will be missed.
Charter Member O-G-A-N-T

Shooting grease groove bullets in a sharps is new technology and just a passing fad.
GrumpyBear
Posts: 312
Joined: Tue May 15, 2018 6:42 pm
Location: Western,Pa

Re: Bill Bagwell

Post by GrumpyBear »

Sad news, prayers for his wife and family.
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