JT Hats
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Posted on: Mar 14
Designed for Spyderco by Fred Perrin, a world-ranked martial artist and ex-French commando now making knives in Paris, this small fixed blade incorporates some excellent military ideas but still fits civilian use well. You'll find the sheath equally handy.
With a 3-1/2-inch clip point blade of VG-10 stainless steel and ...
Posted on: Mar 13
Designed to never need sharpening, the knives in this block set from Chicago Cutlery feature thick stamped high carbon stainless steel blades with serrated edges. The set is a tempting mix of good values and troublesome ideas.
The Basics 25-piece Wood Block Set, made in China to Chicago Cutlery's specifications, includes ...
Posted on: Mar 12
McGowan's Firestone Electric Sharpener quickly hones kitchen and sporting knives to a short functional hollow ground edge. The Firestone works well on utility grade knives commonly used for kitchen prep, but save your finest blades for the whetstone. The angle this machine sets works efficiently but doesn't match up to ...
Posted on: Mar 12
Designed by Bill Moran, one of the founding fathers of the American Bladesmith Society, Spyderco's Bill Moran drop-point, fixed blade knife provides adventurous knife owners with important modern features seldom found in traditional belt knives. Also find Moran's signature etched in the blade.
This 8-1/16-inch-long hunting and survival knife ...
Posted on: Mar 11
United Cutlery made the Black Ronin Ninja Sword good enough to actually use, though it's an odd blend of jungle machete and wakizashi. Like the Black Ronin Tomahawk, the Ninja Sword looks like a fantasy weapon until you get up close. Then it's surprisingly real.
Made from one bar of ...
Posted on: Mar 11
This ornate two-handed longsword represents the sword of King Solomon. The Medieval Crusader Knight's sword is constructed in the style of weapons that a medieval knight might have used during the Crusades. The 440 high carbon stainless steel blade shows intricate laser-cut etchings and a false edge in a quality ...
Posted on: Mar 10
If you own United Cutlery's LOTR Movie Replica Sword Glamdring -- the personal weapon of Gandalf the Wizard -- you'll need a good scabbard whenever you take the sword down from the wall. That high-quality replica sword has the feel of a real weapon and will require some ...
Posted on: Mar 10
This strong metal 36.5-inch walking cane features a cast metal grip in the shape of small sketetal arms with a decorative screaming skull in poly-cast resin at the forefront of the handle. Unscrew the handle from the cane sheath and reveal a wicked 15.5-inch high carbon stainless steel sword ...
Posted on: Mar 9
Since today's pirate cutlasses are usually part of a costume rather than battle weapons, you'll want to consider the Pirates of Caribbean Cutlass Sword with Basket Guard. This cutlass is clearly an accessory rather than a fighting cutlass, but it does offers some good features at a reasonable price.
The Cutlass ...
Posted on: Mar 9
Few people with an interest in swords have no interest in how to use them. Most collectors will not become highly skilled, but those who do want to learn the basics should follow the wise training regimens and start with something that isn't deadly. In the Japanese style, that ...