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.
While the Silver Alox versions of Victorinox Swiss Army knives do have advantages compared to the classic red polymer and stainless steel builds, the Swiss Army Electrician manages to make a good pocket knife fall short of its name.
In the Swiss Army Electrician, you’ll find several handy tools. The Silver Alox design eliminates some of the bulk of the company’s multi-blade knives by combining handle slab and liner. Brass bushings compensate for the loss of the usual stainless steel liners, and the result is a slimline version of the bulkier classic build. With a folded length of 3-1/2 inches, the Electrician is a convenient size for the pocket and wields a stout main spear point blade of high carbon stainless steel. Other options include an electrician’s blade with wire scraper notch, bottle opener blade with wire stripper notch and flat head screwdriver tip, and a reamer.
Professional electricians will recognize the shortcomings. Special tools are required to do high quality electrical work, and a pocket knife doesn’t measure up to that standard. The Electrician provides a few useful options for emergency work which a standard pocket knife does not, but the array of stainless steel blades won’t be first line choices for the tradesman.
Everybody needs a pocket knife, though, and whether you work in residential construction or work for the power company, the Electrician will serve well in those important but ordinary situations. Now and then, the simple tools it provides could construct a temporary solution to more technical wiring challenges. Just remember to go back later and do it right.
For a more versatile multi-tool from Victorinox, see the SwissTool X.
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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While the Silver Alox versions of Victorinox Swiss Army knives do have advantages compared to the classic red polymer and stainless steel builds, the Swiss Army Electrician manages to make a good pocket knife fall short of its name.
