secret and did all of his work behind a leather curtain. Many claim that Black rediscovered the secret of producing true Damascus steel. In 1870, at the age of 70, Black attempted to pass on his secret to the son of the family that had cared for him in his old age, Daniel Webster Jones. However, Black had been retired for many years and found that he himself had forgotten the secret. Jones would later become Governor of Arkansas. The birthplace of the Bowie knife is now part of the Old Washington Historic State Park which has over forty restored historical buildings and other facilities including Black's shop. The park is known as "The Colonial Williamsburg of Arkansas". The American Bladesmith Society established the William F. Moran School of Bladesmithing at this site to instruct new apprentices as well as journeyman, and mastersmiths in the art of bladesmithing. As described in the 39th Anniversary Brigade Annual, published for the brigade combat team's 39th anniversary celebration in 2006 at the headquarters at Ricks Armory, Little Rock, Arkansas, the Bowie knife has been the individual weapon of senior leaders in the unit since the reorganization of the unit in 1967. Only knives that are procured by order of the brigade combat team commander are authorized for wear or presentation. The handle of the knife is commensurate with the leader's rank: General officers are authorized ivory handles; colonels wear knives with stag handles; field grade officers and the aide-de-camp wear black handles; CW3s and above are authorized walnut handles; command sergeants major and sergeants major are authorized the cherry wood handle; retired master sergeants are authorized cocobolo handles. The knife is worn on a pistol belt on the bear's left side with the Army Combat Uniform. The Arkansas Brigade Bowie knife has been worn by members through two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. The knife continues to be produced in Arkansas. Until his death, each presentation-grade knife was handmade by Mr. Jimmy Lile of Russellville, Arkansas. Mr. Lile was also commissioned to make the knives made by Sylvester Stallone in the "Rambo" movies. The Lile family continued to make the Bowie knife for the unit for several years following Mr. Lile's death. Today the brigade combat team's knife is produced by Mr. Kenny Teague of Mountainburg. The general public cannot purchase one of these knives, but can purchase a different