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.
Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops Military Pocket Clip Folder Knife | Titanium Camo Tanto Blade
46 sec read
This lightweight pocket clip folder is a little too military to be a great utility or camp knife, but the camouflage titanium coated tanto blade will still appeal to some. If you do need an emergency knife for a reasonable price, the Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops Serrated Tanto certainly fills the bill.
The G10 composite handle, textured for a non-slip grip, stays warm in the hand even in frigid weather. A flick of the thumb stud swings the stout 3.5-inch blade out and locks it in place. For cutting seat belts and rope, the serrated teeth on the inner section of cutting edge could be very efficient, but they’ll also interfere with sharpening later on. The tanto point, originally designed for piercing armor, could be too delicate for practical purposes in ordinary life. If your emergency involves turning the head of a screw, the tanto tip won’t be the best choice.
Compare the knife to your needs — the Extreme Ops Camo Tanto falls into an odd range between practical civilian blade and rugged survival or tactical knife. The Camo Tanto weighs only 5 ounces, so tuck it away in a pocket as a backup blade or stash it with your bug out bag. A short armor piercing folding knife won’t be needed every day.
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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This lightweight pocket clip folder is a little too military to be a great utility or camp knife, but the camouflage titanium coated tanto blade will still appeal to some. If you do need an emergency knife for a reasonable price, the Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops Serrated Tanto certainly fills the bill.
