He developed a new method of construction which made the knife and handle into a solid, bonded unit by welding, brazing, and using epoxy.

[1] A prolific maker who made over 100 knives in a month, Cooper taught his trade to knifemakers, Jody Samson and Vic Anselmo in 1969.

[5] Celebrities such as John Wayne, Sammy Davis Jr. and Lee Marvin collected Cooper's knives.

[1] Cooper made knives used in film and television such as the Arkansas toothpick in The Sacketts and a Bowie knife for Jeremiah Johnson.

[6] In 1978, Cooper opened a new knife shop in Lufkin, Texas, where he made 1,000 knives per year until his retirement from knifemaking in 1981.