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.
United Cutlery Pathfinder Emergency Knife, Combo Edge | Combat Tactical Tanto Blade w/ Compass
1 min read
The Pathfinder Combat Tactical Knife from United Cutlery might be a better choice as a camp tool or an emergency knife for the car trunk. It’s big and impressive, but it’s heavy. The compass comes up to military standards, but only if you’re into WWII surplus.
For the price, you might consider the knife a bargain anyway. The Pathfinder is nearly 13 inches of full tang 420 high carbon stainless steel knife with an armor-piercing tanto point and a partially serrated edge. The aluminum handle slabs bolted to the tang contain rubberized inserts, which are intended to make the grip more firm and more comfortable. The dropped bolster forms a deep finger choil, and along with the dropped heel of the knife does provide a solid hold on this wicked-looking blade.
Some of the promises implied in a tactical knife aren’t fulfilled — the steel isn’t the best quality, and the bayonet mounting slot won’t be useful to many owners. The rubber pads in the grip are nearly as hard as the aluminum. Another weakness is the nylon sheath, with compression buckle straps that release much too easily to depend upon. The Pathfinder is still plenty of knife for the price but isn’t the best design for field use.
The compass is an old style that works, with the same advanced features as standard issue field compasses used in WWII. I can actually recommend this type as a good way to learn wayfinding — once you know this system, all the rest of it is easy.
United Cutlery makes a popular survival knife of similar quality — check out the Bushmaster with its concealed packet of emergency gear.
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.
The Pathfinder Combat Tactical Knife from United Cutlery might be a better choice as a camp tool or an emergency knife for the car trunk. It’s big and impressive, but it’s heavy. The compass comes up to military standards, but only if you’re into WWII surplus.
