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.
Cold Steel Spike Tanto Tactical Blade by Barry Dawson | Concealed Boot or Neck Knife
1 min read
Finally, a serious boot/neck knife from Cold Steel — previous offerings from that renowned self-defense company were not always up to Cold Steel’s no-nonsense standards. This tanto-style knife, designed by Barry Dawson, is one of seven blade styles available and probably also the most sensible. The tanto blade was made to penetrate armor — this knife does that, and a little more.
The neck knife or boot knife obviously isn’t intended for everyday use — it’s a tactical backup blade. Made for hanging on a lanyard in its small Secure-Ex sheath or lashed to other gear, the neck knife isn’t full-sized but it’s capable of full-sized work. The Spike is made from one piece of tempered 420 high carbon steel that’s a full 7/32 inches thick. The 4-1/2-inch tang handle undergoes minimal shaping — just enough to soften the sharp corners of the knife blank — before being tightly wrapped with a grip of black nylon cord. Shaped with a flat grind for extra strength, the knife blade has the penetrating shape of a spike bayonet but only 2.5 ounces of weight. A blade with a cross section this thick will be hard to sharpen, but it isn’t meant for everyday chores. The tanto was built to penetrate armor — the handle on this one is a little slender, so get a good grip on it before trying it out. A slip could be painful.
Anyone who has worn dog tags knows how they bounce and jangle if you wear them around your neck, which is why in real life they wind up tucked in boot tops. That same lesson applies to rigging the Cold Steel Spike Tanto, which if hanging loose quickly becomes a hazard. The Secure-Ex sheath is a tight fit for the Spike, but neck knives have been known to work loose. Strapping the sheath to accessible gear is a reasonable approach for most people. Unless otherwise licensed, keep the tanto in plain sight.
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.
Finally, a serious boot/neck knife from Cold Steel — previous offerings from that renowned self-defense company were not always up to Cold Steel’s no-nonsense standards. This tanto-style knife, designed by Barry Dawson, is one of seven blade styles available and probably also the most sensible. The tanto blade was made to penetrate armor — this knife does that, and a little more.
