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.



W.R. Case Yellowhorse Whittler Pocketknife, Limited Collectible | Seahorse, Wharncliff, Half Blade w/ Mammoth, Sulgite, or Turquoise Handle

55 sec read

W.R. Case Yellowhorse WhittlerProduced in limited quantities from one to 500, the Yellowhorse Whittler knives from W.R. Case depend upon traditional Navajo craftsmanship as well as proven Case pocket knife design.

The Half-Whittler knives created by Ron Yellowhorse offer the most striking patterns, using such rare materials as slabs cut from fossil mammoth teeth to accent inlays of nickel silver. Other inlay choices include semi-precious stones including turquoise, jet, and suglite. The Seahorse Whittler knives may look simpler but offer detail in the style of David Yellowhorse. Many include complex inlays of antique bone and fine scrollwork on bolsters and chevrons. Some versions include handmade or hand-hammered blades, while others feature polished stainless steel whittler knife blades with the etched signature of David Yellowhorse on the main blade.

Half-Whittler knives are only 3-1/4 inches long when folded with one large clip point blade and one penknife blade. The larger Seahorse Whittlers carry three blades. The main blade of the 4-inch-long Seahorse Whittler is a straight-edged Wharncliff blade with two smaller blades in penknife and coping patterns pivoting from the rear bolster.

Knife collectors will certainly find something of interest in this wide selection of unique or limited edition knives. Price varies considerably, but all the knives are very well made. Whether an individual knife came from a series of ten or a series or 500, it’s still a work of art.

See the Bob Loveless Beretta Skinner for a good limited edition fixed blade.

Find this Case Yellowhorse Whittler:

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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