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.
Shun Classic Knives Boxed Gift Set | 3 Piece Damascus VG-10 Steel | DMS300
1 min read
The three Damascus-type VG-10 steel blades in this Shun Classic Gift Box Set may cause you to put aside the knives you’ve owned and loved for years. Other companies make good knives, but these good knives have a difference you can feel at work. The 8-inch chef’s knife, 6-inch utility knife, and 3-1/2-inch paring knife could take over your kitchen.
Not too many years ago, layered damascus steel was the stuff of legends, and few craftsmen actually attempted that process. Shun brought modern techniques to the art and transferred some of the legendary quality of fine samurai swords to chef’s cutlery. Though it’s not exactly the same technique, Shun’s manufacturing system yields many of the same strengths. Sixteen layers of high tensile strength tool steel form each side of the blade, sandwiching a thin central core of hard VG-10 steel. Without the tool steel support, the edge would shatter, but the combination yields a thin edge that cuts with very little resistance and seems to fall through the work. The knives seldom need sharpening in ordinary, everyday use.
Shun’s knives do require some changes in technique. The knives won’t fare well if used on glass cutting boards or if used to chop bones and other hard objects. Edges of VG-10 tend to chip rather than fold. The steel is also too hard for resetting with a honing steel. Shun offers several grades of sharpening stones designed for maintaining the knives.
Pakkawood handles look simplistic, but the flattened sides of the round grips orient fingers correctly with the blades and allow the fine control needed for shaving thin, perfect slices of vegetables and meats. Handles of pakkawood resist chemicals and heat — the layers of real hardwood bonded with resin have the look of dark wood grain without the problems of real wood.
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.
The Diamond Edge Pro knife and scissors sharpener from Smith Abrasives combines electric and manual sharpening systems for quick and accurate refurbishing of knives...
The three Damascus-type VG-10 steel blades in this Shun Classic Gift Box Set may cause you to put aside the knives you’ve owned and loved for years. Other companies make good knives, but these good knives have a difference you can feel at work. The 8-inch chef’s knife, 6-inch utility knife, and 3-1/2-inch paring knife could take over your kitchen.
