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.


Mad Dog Panther Bowie Knife | Australian Outback Hunting Fixed Blade w/ Crocodile Dundee Sling

1 min read

The Panther from Mad Dog Knives was built to military standards but literally with a Crocodile Dundee flair. Mick would feel right at home in any desert, swamp, or urban jungle with the Mad Dog Panther in hand. Maker Kevin McClung even included a Dundee sling for outfitting the Panther in the Outback style.

The 14-7/8-inch Panther wields 9-3/4 inches of plain-edged, flat-ground blade with a modified Bowie style that includes a false upper edge and several inches of squared spine for thumb pressure and fine control. This full tang fixed blade uses Starrett 496-O1 tool steel for stock, surrounding the tang with a grip of glass-filled black epoxy. The shape of the grip lets the owner orient the blade instinctively for reliable night uses, and the deep finger choil gives extra purchase in slippery weather. If you really do go after big salties for fun or for a living, the Mad Dog Panther won’t let you down. It’s built to penetrate, has the length you need to reach the vulnerable parts, and the blade’s pry bar strength lets you hang on throughout the death roll. A coating of chromium protects the steel from saltwater corrosion.

The Panther’s tool steel edge stays razor sharp, tempered to Rockwell 62 and about the same hardness as a file. McClung recommends sharpening Mad Dog Knives with a diamond hone, since lesser abrasives take too long to shape this extremely tough edge. A Rockwell hardness of 50 to 54 for the blade’s spine and tang gives this knife the resilience to withstand shocks and flexing without damage.

The Panther’s black handle also protects the owner from electrical shocks, since it fully encloses the steel tang. If you chop into a live wire by accident, you’ll be isolated from the electricity. The Panther comes with two handmade Kydex sheaths. One is designed for belt carry, and the other Dundee sheath system includes a shoulder strap for across-the-back convenience.

The Coast Grandpa Bowie, designed by Puma, offers fully functional design in a slightly smaller build.

Find this Mad Dog Panther knife on eBay:

[phpbay]Mad Dog Panther Knife, 2[/phpbay]

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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