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.
Boy Scout Swiss Army Adventurer Pocket Knife BSA Red | Victorinox Locking Blade w/ Bottle & Can Opener, Awl, Toothpick
1 min read
Any scout should be both proud and prepared when equipped with this fine, multi-blade Swiss Army Adventurer Pocket Knife. To make your favorite Boy Scout even happier, this Victorinox knife sports the emblem of the Boy Scouts of America.
Four-and-3/8 inches long when folded, this is a full-sized and full-featured knife large enough to handle the primitive skills and construction problems of any scout troop. The Adventurer’s main blade locks back for greater safety, and the liner lock mechanism releases with fingertip pressure. The assortment of tools is smaller than some Swiss Army designs, but that limited number of blades makes the knife less bulky and easier to handle.
The sturdy red handle slabs cover stainless steel liners and high carbon stainless steel blades, durable and easily maintained. Choose between can opener and bottle opener when it’s time to fix a meal, or use the same blades for tightening slotted screws or stripping wire. The single Phillips screwdriver blade will take some practice but works if you’re careful. The knife’s reaming awl with sewing eye could make that moccasin project go smoothly, and the tweezers and key ring could find occasional important uses as well. By far the busiest tool in my Swiss Army Knife has been that handy plastic toothpick — a real lifesaver at times, or at least a great comfort.
Chances are very good you’ll never need Victorinox’s lifetime warranty, but it’s standard.
See the Victorinox Hercules Swiss Army Knife for a larger version of this classic pocket knife with a wider assortment of handy tools and blades.
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.
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Any scout should be both proud and prepared when equipped with this fine, multi-blade Swiss Army Adventurer Pocket Knife. To make your favorite Boy Scout even happier, this Victorinox knife sports the emblem of the Boy Scouts of America.
