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.
Leatherman Fuse Multi Tool, No Knife | Stainless Steel Locking Blade
58 sec read
So it’s come to this: the Leatherman Fuse Multi-tool without Knife. Designed for use by students and employees restricted to non-cutting tools, the Fuse still provides a wide range of alternative tools, but no clip point blade.
The good news is that the Fuse is otherwise the same high quality Leatherman multi-tool with an improved blade locking system. Every blade locks into place for safe and secure use — fifty percent stronger than the old locking mechanism. Blades open one at a time as well, so pulling one free of the handle does not pull out a rat’s nest of options. You actually can select the one you need and get at it.
Like the more venerable Swiss Army knife, the serviceability of the individual blades can be marginal — the scissors for example won’t be much good for anything but trimming thread, and the can opener isn’t likely to solve any emergencies in these days of pop-top containers. The tool does include a selection of things you’ll actually need, like screwdriver bits and a decent pair of long-jaw pliers.
Pliers really are the heart of this tool, with everything else only a built-in emergency accessory. One of the best things about Leatherman multi-tools is that the pliers themselves are rugged. While not so bulletproof as a stand-alone pair, the Leatherman Fuse will get you by when a cheaper knock-off multi-tool only distorts into a useless mess.
Where pocket knives are still allowed, carry a pocket knife and the Leatherman Fuse. The Leatherman clip point blade was awkward anyway.
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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So it’s come to this: the Leatherman Fuse Multi-tool without Knife. Designed for use by students and employees restricted to non-cutting tools, the Fuse still provides a wide range of alternative tools, but no clip point blade.
