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.
For those privileged to carry a tactical automatic knife, the Benchmade Infidel 3310 offers the same intimidating features as the earlier Infidel 3300, but with a single edged blade that’s easier to use in ordinary work.
Owners will still be most impressed by the tactical advantages of this Out-The-Front automatic knife. Double-action blade deployment allows blade extension and blade retraction by simply pushing a slide button forward or backward. In any situation where one-handed use is essential, the Infidel series gets high scores. The handle scale beneath the pocket clip has a smooth surface for less friction when withdrawing the knife, and the over-sized stepped slide button simply can’t be missed. In a situation where you can’t afford to fumble for the button, you’ll know where this one is.
The opposite scale of the anodized T-6 aluminum grip shows a textured surface for better knife retention. The large size of the handle, 5 inches when closed, allows part of the grip to protrude beyond the palm for striking. The S30V stainless steel blade holds an edge well, hardened to 58 to 60 on the Rockwell scale. Benchmade calls the styling of the 3.95-inch blade a utility drop-point. The silhouette of the blade shows a straighter spine with enough width for safe back pressure during heavy cutting work..
Only active duty military, law enforcement personnel, and other special-use categories can legally carry automatic knives. If you’re a civilian interested in an OTF design, try the Smith & Wesson Assisted Opening OTF knife.
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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For those privileged to carry a tactical automatic knife, the Benchmade Infidel 3310 offers the same intimidating features as the earlier Infidel 3300, but with a single edged blade that’s easier to use in ordinary work.
