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.
Boker designed the original Automat Kalashnikov knife to resemble the clean engineering of the namesake Russian military rifle. This new version keeps to the same specs but replaces the textured handle grips with inlaid strips of cocobolo hardwood. Black anodizing of the blade and 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum handle gives this new version of the Kalashnikov 47 knife the hard look of a military gunstock.
Five inches in closed length, the Automat Kalashnikov knife was designed for pocket carry and one-handed opening. A stainless steel pocket clip keeps the knife in place and in reach without need for a sheath. The thumb stud at the base of the blade and the precise action of the swivel bearing allows the blade to lock in the open position with an easy push of the thumb. Once locked, the four blade has the solid feel of a good fixed blade, built more like a hunting knife than a pocket blade.
Styling includes a blood groove more decorative than useful, reminiscent of the Kalashnikov’s bayonet and not contributing to the function of this modern folder. The plain edge blade is hollow ground and razor sharp, with an un-sharpened top bevel on the spear point of the blade. The 440C high carbon stainless steel holds an edge well and stands up to rough use without corrosion problems. Keep the knife clean to ensure fast and reliable opening. A drop of light machine oil on the bearing now and then helps.
Boker’s lifetime guarantee doesn’t cover broken blades more than a year past the purchase date. Any reworking of the knife to install spring-assisted opening kits voids the warranty completely.
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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Boker designed the original Automat Kalashnikov knife to resemble the clean engineering of the namesake Russian military rifle. This new version keeps to the same specs but replaces the textured handle grips with inlaid strips of cocobolo hardwood. Black anodizing of the blade and 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum handle gives this new version of the Kalashnikov 47 knife the hard look of a military gunstock.
