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.
Puma IP Scout Bowie Knife | High Carbon Stainless Steel, Stag Handle
51 sec read
Natural stag handles which vary in shape and pattern from knife to knife give each Puma IP Scout Bowie the unique look of hand craftsmanship. Manufactured in Spain, the Puma IP line uses modern technology to produce knives in the tradition of the parent company’s German craftsmen. Though fewer hand processes are involved in the Spanish facility, the steel and the quality control holds up to what buyers expect from Puma.
The 6-inch drop point Bowie blade of the 440C high carbon stainless steel knife gives this well balanced hunter 11.25 inches from tip to pommel. Pommel and hand guard of polished brass accent the stag antler that surrounds a full length steel tang. The IP Scout weighs just over a pound, including the well-made leather holster style sheath. If you’re looking for an ultralight, keep looking.
The advantages of carrying a full sized sheath knife are pretty overwhelming if you do much real work with a knife. Blade weight comes in handy for camp work where light chopping is the fastest approach. A six-inch blade with a good curve handles skinning and butchering without a problem. If you don’t need a knife for heavy work, the extra steel and dependability isn’t worth carrying. Deciding you don’t need that means you probably will, the first night in camp. Some people travel through the backwoods, and some people live there, even if just a day at a time. There’s a good knife for everybody.
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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Natural stag handles which vary in shape and pattern from knife to knife give each Puma IP Scout Bowie the unique look of hand craftsmanship. Manufactured in Spain, the Puma IP line uses modern technology to produce knives in the tradition of the parent company’s German craftsmen. Though fewer hand processes are involved in the Spanish facility, the steel and the quality control holds up to what buyers expect from Puma.
