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.
Swiss Army Craftsman Pocket Knife | Victorinox Multitool 20 Piece Emergency Kit, Red
1 min read
With over twenty usable tools in a 3-1/2 inch handle, this knife will seem heavy to most users. Although it’s still a manageable size for pocket carry, the red-handled Craftsman from Victorinox Swiss Army Knives contains over six ounces of high carbon stainless steel.
Everything in this good knife works. It’s not the best choice for everybody, but it does carry a miniature version of many handy emergency tools. Using them could be frustrating if you depend on them often. In the Craftsman, none of the blades lock in the open position, and that does make the use of screwdriver bits difficult. The small pliers don’t offer enough handle leverage to lock onto small hex nuts securely, although a loose fitting might be temporarily wrestled into place again. Some of these tool blades are compromises between having the right tools for the job and having nothing. If you need the knife for an occasional problem, you’ll be thrilled to have the help.
In emergencies, the Craftsman offers useful choices of metal file, metal saw, wire stripper, wood saw, and scissors as well as the always important can and bottle opener, tweezers, and toothpick. This Swiss Army knife holds two knife blades in large and small sizes plus a reamer and Phillips-head screwdriver. The only blade new owners may find mysterious would be the hook, which unfolds from the center of the handle’s spine. Nearly a relic, this old standby once was used to hook the cord which bound paper-wrapped parcels together. The knife then became a handy carrying handle for shoppers and tradesmen. Unfortunately, the Post Office banned parcel string years ago, and the knife isn’t quite strong enough for hauling hay bales.
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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With over twenty usable tools in a 3-1/2 inch handle, this knife will seem heavy to most users. Although it’s still a manageable size for pocket carry, the red-handled Craftsman from Victorinox Swiss Army Knives contains over six ounces of high carbon stainless steel.
