Geri and Matt Willey of Willey Knives join Bob "The Knife Junkie" DeMarco on Episode 530 of The Knife Junkie Podcast (https://theknifejunkie.com/530).

As a farm boy in Greenwood, Delaware, founder Gerald Willey loved knives so much that at age 10, he made his first knife. In 1970, after serving in the U.S. Navy for 4 years during the Vietnam War, Gerald turned his knife-making hobby into a business.

Gerald Willey's first knife-making shop was in a small room built onto his shed, but in 1975, the family built a new house with a basement designed to be a knife store and knife making/sharpening shop. After many long nights, hard work, and help from the family, Gerald's dream became one of the most successful independent mom-and-pop cutlery stores of its kind.

Gerald and his wife Silvia passed away within a year of one another after 58 years of marriage. Though they are greatly missed, Willey Knives continues to grow under the ownership of son Matt, who runs the sharpening business, and Geri, who runs the store.

Willey Knives throws knife-themed events at their idyllic location, including a "Hammer In" with forging demonstrations and events with knife world luminaries like CJ Buck of Buck Knives, in October 2024.

In addition to the store, which sells over 40 top knife brands, Willey Knives offers knife sharpening services to the general public and a comprehensive knife rental program to restaurants across the region.

Find Willey Knives online at www.willeyknives.com and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/willeysharp.

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