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.



Wusthof Knife Roll Bag Storage for 12 | Portable Black Cordura Duffel Case

1 min read

Wusthof Knife Roll Bag Storage for 12 Machine-stitched from Cordura, the Wusthof 12-Pocket Knife Roll holds twelve prep knives securely and safely and stores pens and other small items in separate outer pockets. An inner flap covers and separates the knives and offers some additional storage for odds and ends.

The Wusthof knife roll is well-planned with elastic covers that hold knives in place and internal Velcro closures that lock down the corners of the second layer of the roll. More Velcro on the outside of the roll keeps the knife carrier shut tight. The main carrying system is a loop of Cordura strap sewn to the case in a duffel bag style. There’s a pocket for a name tag or business card on the outside of the case, and access to the outside pockets via zippered closures.

The Wusthof knife roll also includes metal D-rings sewn to the ends of the bag, which accept the clips of a shoulder strap. The strap itself is not included with the bag, and the Cordura handle sewn to the bag is much stronger than the shoulder strap system.

Although this bag is good for occasional transport of your good cutlery and serves well for storage, it may not hold up to frequent heavy use. Cordura is a synthetic canvas often used for knife sheaths and tool pouches. While the cloth itself endures sunlight and resists abrasion and is moderately puncture-resistant, the stitching which holds Cordura products together is much more vulnerable to wear and tear. Inspect any weak points — like the D-ring loops for the shoulder strap — regularly before relying on them to support your good tools.

Find this Wusthof Knife Roll Bag:

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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