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.
Linder Straight Razor Shaving Blade | Racing Red Razolution, High Carbon Steel 888109
57 sec read
The Linder Racing Red Razolution straight razor from Linder’s traditionally styled product line offers a perfect shave for the skilled user. Made from high carbon Solingen steel, the Razolution series follows the guidelines of manufactured razors from the years prior to WWII. With this historical example to work from, the Linder company saw no reason to change anything but the handle.
One of the oldest cutlery firms in Solingen, Germany, the original Linder company ceased operation during the WWII years. New owners Paul and Siegfried Rosenkeimer literally built the company back up from the rubble of the original family business after the war and turned it into a prosperous enterprise again, making knives for outdoorsmen, chefs, and collectors. The Razolution razor line is only one of the many fine products the company now manufactures and sells worldwide.
Made from cast and polished carbon steel, the blade of the Razolution is hardened to between 58 and 59 on the Rockwell scale and should be maintained razor sharp with a traditional leather strop. The lever at the front of the handle swings open a 75-mm-long blade that’s 15-mm wide. The handle is strongly built with metal liners and glossy synthetic handle slabs.
Linder’s Razolution razors are guaranteed to be razor sharp right out of the box, but be sure to have sharpening gear on hand. Straight razors built in the old style require some practice to use well, and the old shaving system consists of more than just soap and a razor. This old design works, but it’s not forgiving.
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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The Linder Racing Red Razolution straight razor from Linder’s traditionally styled product line offers a perfect shave for the skilled user. Made from high carbon Solingen steel, the Razolution series follows the guidelines of manufactured razors from the years prior to WWII. With this historical example to work from, the Linder company saw no reason to change anything but the handle.
