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.
Kershaw Ener-G Folding Knife, Black | Lee Williams Custom Plain Edge Locking Blade & G10 Handle
1 min read
Designed by Lee Williams and manufactured by Kershaw Knives, the Ener-G Knife with black G10 handle opens with a surprisingly easy and fast action. The “pseunetic” flipper system invented by Williams qualifies the Ener-G as a manual opening knife and streamlines the opening process without crossing the line into the assisted-opening category.
Proper action will depend on keeping the mechanism clean. Thumb pressure on the knife’s tang flips the blade past the resistance of the liner lock. Momentum should carry the blade into the open and locked position. Side pressure on the recessed liner lock tab releases the blade again for storage. A drop of oil on the bearing now and then and a regular cleaning should keep the knife working efficiently. Textured black G10 handle slabs guarantee a good handhold on the knife, and the shape of the handle includes both finger choil and dropped bolster. The design is sleek and convenient for the pocket.
Three-and-three-quarters inches long when closed, the Ener-G isn’t a large knife and only packs a 2-13/16-inch blade. That’s still enough for the usual assortment of everyday chores most people confront, as well as an occasional emergency. The hollow ground blade sharpens easily with ordinary whetstones or diamond hones — the Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel takes a razor edge but will need a regular touch-up.
The 2.2-ounce Ener-G includes a strong stainless steel pocket clip for convenient carrying, and there’s a lanyard hole in the handle in case you want to add a wrist loop. The Ener-G’s conveniences make it a great knife for many tricky situations.
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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Designed by Lee Williams and manufactured by Kershaw Knives, the Ener-G Knife with black G10 handle opens with a surprisingly easy and fast action. The “pseunetic” flipper system invented by Williams qualifies the Ener-G as a manual opening knife and streamlines the opening process without crossing the line into the assisted-opening category.
