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 Super Chef Knife Set w/ Attache Travel Case | Professional Gourmet & Classic 19 Piece Cutlery Tools

1 min read

Wusthof Super Chef Knife Set w/ AttacheEverything the traveling chef requires fits into this attache-style knife case from Wusthof of Solingen, Germany. The set includes kitchen prep knives plus specialty tools needed for unique gourmet fare. Wusthof includes knives from both the Classic and Gourmet lines.

Wusthof’s Classic series features one-piece forged blades, bolsters and tangs with riveted black polymer handle slabs permanently secured to the full-length tangs. The Super Chef set includes three knives from the Classic series: an 8-inch chef’s knife, 9-inch carving knife, and 6-inch fish fillet knife. Each Classic knife comes in the old European pattern with full-width forged steel bolsters reaching to the heel of the blade.

All other knives and implements in the set come from the Gourmet line. Laser-cut from solid steel blanks, these knives use similar handle construction but lack the forged bolsters of the Classic pattern. Where needed, bolsters formed from the handle polymers support the blade and add safety to the grip. All Wusthof knives use the same high carbon stainless steel alloy, designed for toughness and ease of sharpening as well as for stain resistance.

Along with a full set of prep knives, you’ll get a carving fork, melon baller, citrus zester, and channel knife (for opening oranges neatly and for carving designs in the rinds of fruits and veggies). Chef’s needles include a truss type for closing stuffed cavities in poultry and two types of larding needles for inserting thin strips of fat into tasty but dry meats.

The sturdy case uses plastic side panels set in a metal framework with interior storage panels of tough foam that fit each Wusthof knife or tool to a customized pocket.

See the Mundial Chef’s Set for a practical set of basic knives in a convenient soft-sided carrying case.

Find this Wusthof Super Chef Set:

 

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.



Electric Scissors & Knife Sharpener by Smith Abrasives |…

The Diamond Edge Pro knife and scissors sharpener from Smith Abrasives combines electric and manual sharpening systems for quick and accurate refurbishing of knives...
JT Hats
1 min read

Fiskars Scissors Sharpener | Shears & Scissor Blade Restoring…

You’ve probably accumulated quite a few pairs of inexpensive scissors that are too good to throw away but not sharp enough to work well....
JT Hats
1 min read