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.
Bear & Son Ninja Knife II Boot Dagger | Fixed Combat Double Edged Blade w/ Belt Clip
55 sec read
The Bear and Son Ninja II Boot Dagger may look like many other small combat knives, but the Ninja II carries an important difference. Most modern double-edged daggers provide one true cutting edge and one false edge. With the Ninja II, both edges of the blade are razor sharp.
This fixed blade fighting knife’s four-inch high carbon stainless steel blade includes a modern improvement many prefer as an option rather than a main edge. One side of the hollow ground blade is partially serrated for dealing with tough straps, rope, and cord, but the other side of the knife is plain-edged for smooth cutting. The knife’s wide tang is fully enclosed by the black synthetic handle, and that extra grip width provides more leverage and control. The blade guard incorporated in the handle combined with the short unsharpened blade base could effectively parry an attacking weapon. With this type of grip, there’s also little chance of the owner’s hand slipping forward.
Unlike many last ditch knives, the Ninja II is big enough to be practical for ordinary purposes. The extra heft that’s a trademark of Bear and Son Cutlery should inspire confidence in the person who carries it. All parts of the knife are American-made by Bear & Son at the company’s facility in Jacksonville, Alabama.
The black leather sheath which comes with this eight-inch-long knife clips to either belt or boot, and at only eight ounces, the knife carries well by either method.
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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The Bear and Son Ninja II Boot Dagger may look like many other small combat knives, but the Ninja II carries an important difference. Most modern double-edged daggers provide one true cutting edge and one false edge. With the Ninja II, both edges of the blade are razor sharp.
