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.
I most appreciate the knives that take thought to comprehend, and the Cold Steel Espada V is a great example of a knife you won’t completely get the first time you see it. Cold Steel continues to take chances and express some good ideas. This one is worth a look, and then another look. Built of Japanese 8A stainless steel, a 7075 aluminum handle frame nearly as durable as titanium alloy, and G-10 handle slabs that withstand weather and chemicals and still look good, the Espada isn’t the usual pocket folder.
The first thing I noticed was the tab at the base of the blade — it reminded me of the trademark Laguiole bee that has embellished traditional Spanish pocket knives for at least a couple of centuries. The thought behind this massive folding knife — an overall length of 12-1/4 inches with the 5-1/2-inch blade locked in open position is definitely large for a modern folder — is old Spanish, but redesigned for modern circumstances. Instead of being just a pocket utility knife, the Espada is a pocket sword. It’s a little like a TDI tactical knife with more class. Both types base handle design on pistol grips — something more familiar to modern hands than the grip of a knife or sword — but the Espada does this with style. The grip design is more like the old flint lock pistol than a Police Special, but it fits the hand well.
As it turns out, the tab at the blade’s base isn’t a concession to tradition, but something entirely new. That little steel plate is designed to catch on the edge of your pocket as the knife is drawn, boosting the blade open. Smaller versions open with the usual thumb stud.
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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I most appreciate the knives that take thought to comprehend, and the Cold Steel Espada V is a great example of a knife you won’t completely get the first time you see it. Cold Steel continues to take chances and express some good ideas. This one is worth a look, and then another look. Built of Japanese 8A stainless steel, a 7075 aluminum handle frame nearly as durable as titanium alloy, and G-10 handle slabs that withstand weather and chemicals and still look good, the Espada isn’t the usual pocket folder.
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