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.



Boy Scout Swiss Army Explorer Knife BSA | Victorinox Pocketknife Multitool, Red w/ Magnifying Lens & Corkscrew

1 min read

Boy Scout Swiss Army Explorer Knife BSA The Boy Scout version of the Victorinox Swiss Army Explorer features the same versatile set of blades and tools and includes the emblem of the Boy Scouts of America on the red Cellidor handle.

The Explorer’s tools will interest solitary travelers as well as troop members. Only 3-1/2 inches long when closed, the Explorer carries sixteen tools including a 5x magnifying lens, which could be an effective emergency firestarter on sunny days. Two multi-purpose blades double as can and bottle opener as well as small and large flat-blade screwdrivers. The bottle opener blade includes a notch good for stripping insulation from wire.

In the Explorer, the Phillips-tip screwdriver blade pivots from the end of the knife, not the center of the handle spine as in some other versions. That makes the Phillips screwdriver blade much easier to actually use. The tool set also offers a corkscrew, a large and small spear point blade, scissors, a reamer, and a parcel hook. You’ll find the indispensable toothpick and tweezers secured in slots in the handle. The key ring is a handy place to string a wrist lanyard so you don’t lose your good knife when you need it most.

Liners and blades of high carbon stainless steel hold up to heavy use and resist corrosion. A little cleaning occasionally and a drop of oil on pivot points keeps the knife like new. All blades are slip-joint style, requiring opening with two hands. None of the blades lock back, so be careful when applying pressure during use.

See the Swiss Army Mountaineer for a knife of similar size with tools specially selected for climbers.

Find this Boy Scout Swiss Army Explorer:

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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