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.
Gerber AR 3.0 Emergency or Utility Knife, Combo Edge | Tactical Black Folder LHR 30-000183
55 sec read
Thumb-stud opening and smooth action complement the high carbon stainless steel blade of the Gerber AR 3.0. This tactical black folder fits the pocket of anyone who needs a handy utility blade capable of much more than opening boxes.
Drop-point blade styling gives the AR 3.0 even more of that tactical look, but the 3-inch, combo-edged blade isn’t too much knife for civilian applications. You’ll find it practical for woods craft, and the serrated portion of the edge makes it a good emergency blade should you need to quick-release a seat belt. Handle design makes the knife comfortable in use and lightweight. Die-cast aluminum forms the body of the handle, keeping total weight down to only 2.8 ounces. Soft-grip inserts in the handle yield slightly to finger pressure and give extra traction when the work gets wet.
Seven inches long when fully opened, the AR 3.0 grip includes a slight finger choil and jimping at the base of the blade’s spine. Four inches of handle give just enough room for a controllable handhold. The AR 3.0’s stainless steel pocket clip keeps the knife securely in the pocket but within easy reach, and the lanyard hole in the heel allows stringing a wrist loop through — in case you’re working on the roof, or better yet, fishing. Overall, it’s the right size for many purposes — strong enough for workaday jobs and light enough to carry on back-country trails.
For another good Gerber folder with more blade options, try the Gerber Obsidian.
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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Thumb-stud opening and smooth action complement the high carbon stainless steel blade of the Gerber AR 3.0. This tactical black folder fits the pocket of anyone who needs a handy utility blade capable of much more than opening boxes.
