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.
Anolon Bronze Kitchen Cutlery Sharpener, Plain Edge | Universal Manual Knife Hone w/ Ceramic Coarse, Medium & Fine Grit
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Made in the same style as Anolon’s Classic Bronze Cutlery, the Anolon Bronze Universal Sharpener takes knives through three stages of ceramic grit wheels to produce the factory-standard European bevel and a sharp cutting edge. Use the Universal Sharpener for fine edge cutlery only — Anolon recommends professional sharpening service for serrated blades.
This small manual sharpener will substitute for a knife honing steel if only the finest sharpening stage is used, but severely dulled knives require all three stages. Use the coarse wheel to restore the bevel, follow up with the medium wheel to refine the edge, and give it a final razor finish with the fine wheel. For daily touch-ups, don’t use the medium or coarse stones to avoid wasting good steel.
The hone is designed to hold a small amount of clean water during use — just lift the clear plastic cover and add enough water to submerge the bottom half of the honing wheels. Pulling a blade through the hone causes the wheel to rotate through the water bath and continually washes the stone clear of steel particles and loose grit. The clean surface cuts quickly without glazing. Rinse the wheels and the built-in basin clean under running water immediately after use.
The angled guides make this sharpener much easier to use if you’re right-handed. The Anolon Bronze Universal Sharpener comes with a limited lifetime warranty,
See the Global Shinkansen Sharpener for a similar ceramic hone set at the proper bevel for fine Asian cutlery.
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...
Made in the same style as Anolon’s Classic Bronze Cutlery, the Anolon Bronze Universal Sharpener takes knives through three stages of ceramic grit wheels to produce the factory-standard European bevel and a sharp cutting edge. Use the Universal Sharpener for fine edge cutlery only — Anolon recommends professional sharpening service for serrated blades.
