Wilson is just as particular about his knifemaking materials. He is a stubborn believer in 440-C steel for its high polishing properties. He and the owner of the Metal Treating Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, developed a special heat-treating process to help 440-C hold a better edge, following Wilson's belief in having his blades heat-treated professionally "because that's a field in itself, like knifemaking."
He declines to reveal the details of the process, but he does say that the textbook heat-treating specifications for 440-C "don't get quite what I'm after because the steel wasn't designed for knives. For 440-C to hold an edge, other things must be done to it."
Another facet of Wilson's talent is his speed in producing a knife. Those hours at the Weirton Steel grinders have paid off.
Wilson claims he can teach a fledgling knifemaker enough of the craft in one weekend to send the student home with the skills to make his own knives. Wilson's "school" is free, and came about by accident.
"It developed into something I wasn't planning on doing," he says. "It came about when people at gun shows would ask questions about knifemaking. I can show better than explain, so I'd invite them down to Weirton. First thing I know, others started asking about my 'school.' It started by accident just trying to help somebody out."
Wilson says the student usually begins the lessons on a Friday afternoon and finishes up by late Saturday. Wilson won't run his machinery on Sunday. If the student chooses, Wilson can set him up for knifemaking from his supply business for as low as $150. More advanced equipment will run about $300, with the top at $900.
Some of his students have included Norman Levine, Mick Koval, ChuckMcConnell, Rick Darby and T.J. Yancey, who was profiled in the April 1977 GUN WORLD.