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.
Victorinox Swiss Army Bantam Alox Pocket Knife Multitool | Plain Edge Spear Point Blade w/ Aluminum Handle in Silver, Red
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Only 3-1/2 inches long, the Swiss Army Bantam Alox Pocket Knife packs five useful functions into a pocket folder with only two blades. With size and weight equivalent to an American gentleman’s knife with nothing more than cutting blades, the Bantam Alox still manages to be a toolkit.
The main blade of high carbon stainless steel does all the cutting with a general purpose plain edge and spear point that fit nearly any everyday task you come across. The second multi-purpose blade could be either bottle opener or can opener, depending on your need. The tip works as a flat blade screwdriver, and the notch at the blade’s base effectively strips insulation from small electrical wires. The silver alox version of the bantam weighs less and has a thinner profile than the equivalent knife with red cellidor scales. The slimmer build also leaves out the key ring, tweezers and toothpick of the red Bantam.
Victorinox’s Silver Alox Bantam slips inconspicuously into a trouser pocket with a barely visible outline. The sleek look and ribbed aluminum scales give it a civilized appearance, but it holds up to work as well as any of Victorinox’s other blades.
Only a few Swiss Army Knives are simpler than the Bantam — but if all you want is a blade, see the Swiss Army Solo, a dependable knife without the extras.
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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Only 3-1/2 inches long, the Swiss Army Bantam Alox Pocket Knife packs five useful functions into a pocket folder with only two blades. With size and weight equivalent to an American gentleman’s knife with nothing more than cutting blades, the Bantam Alox still manages to be a toolkit.
