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.



Crocodile Dundee Knife Replica | Bowie Australian Frontier Fixed Blade by Down Under Knives

1 min read

Crocodile Dundee Knife Replica Bowies large enough to suit Crocodile Dundee were common on the American frontier but are much harder to find now. Today, if you’re shopping for a Dundee knife, you might have to settle for a cheap movie replica or something practical but smaller. Fortunately Down Under Knives, a knife company from Australia, makes the real thing. You’ll find it hard to distinguish their Outback Bowie from the knife Mick brandished in the urban jungle of New York City.

The styling of this fixed blade of high carbon 440C stainless steel matches the details of the movie blade including the upswept point, false upper edge, and blood groove. Brass pommel and blade guard bracket a grip made from African ebony and stacked leather spacers — a construction similar to Ka-Bar’s classic Marine knife but better looking. Durability counts in any real knife, and the dual temper of the Outback gives the spine and tang of this hefty outdoorsman’s knife flexibility and shock resistance along with a long-lasting and harder cutting edge. Down Under Knives warrants the knife against defects in workmanship and materials for five years, and in spite of its good looks, the Outback is built tough enough to withstand heavy use.

Sixteen inches long and 6 mm thick, the Outback Bowie provides 11 inches of cutting edge — enough to impress friendly New Yorkers and many others. Twenty-eight ounces gives the knife chopping ability as well, so when you strap the Outback to your belt, you can safely leave the axe at home.

Down Under includes a genuine leather belt sheath with a crocodile-skin pattern. A sharpening rod also fits in the sheath, attached to a rawhide loop with ornaments of real bone.

See the Panther from Mad Dog Knives for a Dundee-style Bowie built with tactical quality.

Find this Crocodile Dundee Knife:

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.



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