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.
Ninja Tanto Knife w/ Caltrops, Shuriken Stars, Punch Dagger | Fantasy Master Recon Belt Sheath
1 min read
Like the Ninja themselves, this Ninja Recon Tanto Knife from Fantasy Master holds secrets you won’t suspect until it’s too late. I mean that in a good way — the ninjas have some of the best toys. If you’re not opposed to having a good time with sharp objects, this knife will be fun.
The knife itself, 10-3/4 inches of matte black high carbon stainless steel with a 5-7/8-inch tanto style blade, isn’t anything special. Expect some preemptive repair work if you do decide to use it as a camp knife, and test the edge and blade strength reasonably well before depending on it. At this price level, variations in quality of steel and temper are common. But just look at all you get!
The knife set includes the main tanto, 10 caltrops, three shuriken throwing spikes, and a hidden punch dagger. The fitted belt sheath has places for all, and attaches to harnesses or other gear via the several holes and slots punched in its edges.
How practical is any of this? Good enough that I’d certainly leave the caltrops at home. If you mistakenly dropped those on the trail when outward bound, you’d have a painful time getting back again. The throwing spikes? I will admit I take a set of those camping with me anyhow. The spikes are light, hard to damage, and let me get in some much-needed throwing practice in between supper and the mosquitoes without wrecking my good knife. Even if this set of ninja tools never leaves the wall of the den, it’ll get a smile.
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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Like the Ninja themselves, this Ninja Recon Tanto Knife from Fantasy Master holds secrets you won’t suspect until it’s too late. I mean that in a good way — the ninjas have some of the best toys. If you’re not opposed to having a good time with sharp objects, this knife will be fun.
