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.
With the backing of the famous Italian firearms makers Beretta, this Bob Loveless drop point skinner design offers the essence of the Loveless 522 at an affordable price. Without the gold filigree of the original but holding onto much of the beauty, this sturdy hunting knife still qualifies as a limited edition piece. The Japanese makers of the Loveless Skinner manufacture no more than a hundred of these knives a month. The Skinner is the first Bob Loveless knife to be factory produced and brought within the budget of most collectors and hunters.
Eight-and-a-half inches overall with a 3 5/8-inch AUS-8 stainless steel blade, this modified Loveless simplifies the build with nickel silver bolster and rivets and a flat ground plain cutting edge. The tapered steel tang extends the full length of the handle, enclosed between fitted quince burlwood handle slabs. A lanyard hole in the hilt and a high quality leather sheath provide security on the trail. Polish of the blade and handle are both top notch.
The Quince Skinner is backed by Beretta’s warranty against defects — the company excludes damage caused by abuse or normal wear and tear. The Skinner is fully functional as a hunting knife, but Beretta advises against using this fine blade as an everyday prybar.
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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With the backing of the famous Italian firearms makers Beretta, this Bob Loveless drop point skinner design offers the essence of the Loveless 522 at an affordable price. Without the gold filigree of the original but holding onto much of the beauty, this sturdy hunting knife still qualifies as a limited edition piece. The Japanese makers of the Loveless Skinner manufacture no more than a hundred of these knives a month. The Skinner is the first Bob Loveless knife to be factory produced and brought within the budget of most collectors and hunters.
