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.
Unless you’re a sailor, you may not know what the spike blade of this knife is actually for. Myerchin knives like the Offshore Crew Pro are finding increasing use even away from the water, as truckers and climbers and other people who work with cargo straps and rope rediscover this modern version of an old sailor’s standby.
The A377P all-stainless-steel knife is manufactured for just that — working with rigging. Even the serrations on the 2.25-inch 440C high carbon stainless steel blade were specially designed for that task, not just created to look impressive. The 2.4-inch marlinspike is for the opposite chore — used properly, this stout steel spike can penetrate and unravel the tightest knots, saving valuable rope from the knife’s edge. Before you choose an ultra-lite knife for the trail, consider this durable 4-1/2 ounce knife and its unusual features.
Myerchin’s Offshore Crew Pro locks back both blades, either individually or as a handy pair. The knife includes a lanyard clip that doubles as a lock release so you can add a wrist loop or a safety line. The smooth steel build has a sensible grip and finger choil built-in, and the spine of the knife blade places a jimped section in easy reach of your thumb for better traction and control. The blades are built for two-handed opening but respond well to the clumsy touch of fingers numbed by the cold. Everything’s big enough to grip on a bad day.
In 1984, when Myerchin Inc. began making sailing and rigging knives, their customers were mainly professional sailors from the Coast Guard and Navy. Based in southern California, Myerchin received plenty of advice and requests from knowledgeable customers and developed a well-rounded product line which today combines traditional rigging knife concepts with new materials and ideas.
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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Unless you’re a sailor, you may not know what the spike blade of this knife is actually for. Myerchin knives like the Offshore Crew Pro are finding increasing use even away from the water, as truckers and climbers and other people who work with cargo straps and rope rediscover this modern version of an old sailor’s standby.
