People Will there be a Bill Wilson Biography? Recoil Staff May 4, 2016 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More Find out more about how we test products. It would appear that someone is in the process of wrapping up a book about storied gunsmith and accomplished competitor Bill Wilson, founder and HMFIC of Wilson Combat. We hear rumor of nearly 400 pages and almost as many photos in a 6 in. x 9 inc. hard bound book with a dust jacket. Alas, we don't have any pictures of it yet. Here's a picture of two of Bill's guns we snapped at his ranch recently though! This is how we're told the Bill Wilson Biography (if that is indeed what it is) will be laid out thusly: Contents 1 The Early Years 1 2 The Drive to Excel in Competition Shooting 12 3 Watchmaker or Gunsmith? 35 4 Couldn’t Have Done It Without Them 54 5 The Need for Parts 64 6 The Complete Wilson Combat Pistol 80 7 Life Beyond the 1911 95 8 Wilson Combat Today (2016) 121 9 The Second Generation – Ryan Takes the Helm 145 10 Blessed with a Wonderful Family 154 11 IDPA – Putting the ‘P’ Back in ‘Practical’ 173 12 Bill’s Favorite Guns 197 13 A Passion for Hunting 226 14 Still Shooting After All These Years 252 15 Finally A Texan 261 16 Firearm Maintenance Bill’s Way 272 17 Handloader, not Re-loader 289 18 Bill’s Favorite Handgun Training Drills 296 19 Bill’s Buds 314 20 Guns of the Past Masters 338 21 Wilson Combat Unique and Deluxe Pistols 358 If you want to see what's going on at Wilson Combat, follow them on Instagram (@wilsoncombat). Seriously, the Wilson Combat Instagram page is to gun porn what Porn Hub is to, well, regular porn. This is Mr. Wilson's bedside gun. Nice, eh? Wilson Combat is located in Berryville, Arkansas, where it's een since 1977. They're recognized anywhere people know guns as one of the finest custom and semi-custom firearm manufacturers in the world. They didn't always build complete firearms — for the first few years Mr. Wilson optimized pistols with aftermarket parts from noted gunsmiths, but by 1983 he was making his own parts and in the mid-90s began building complete handguns. Although known primarily for 1911s, Wilson Combat now manufactures a wide selection of high end firearms. Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
