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.
W.R. Case Pen Knife w/ Yellow Delrin Handle | Traditional Pocketknife, Slip Joint w/ Clip & Spear Point Blade
1 min read
The Case Pen Knife was once the favorite of statesmen and shopkeepers as well as anyone else who dealt with the written word. Although “pen knife” has become synonymous with “pocket knife,” this particular model was built with a special purpose in mind.
The Case Pen Knife with yellow delrin handle still has the same functional blades as the original model, but does update the knife with high carbon stainless steel and synthetic delrin handle slabs with the look of aged ivory. Nickel silver bolsters house the pivots of both knife blades, and the package folds neatly into a slim 3-3/8-inch handle that’s barely noticeable in the pants pocket. The larger clip point blade serves for most ordinary chores, but the shorter pen blade with its stronger spear-point tip works better when you need some extra leverage.
This particular blade was good enough that it outlived its original purpose, which was to sharpen the ends of quill pens in the days when people communicated by ink and paper. The short, straight cutting edge shaved a flat diagonal section across the tip of the turkey feather’s quill. Today, it’s equally good for any cutting job where precision counts.
This traditional pen knife uses slip joint construction, holding both blades closed with steel tension bars. Catching the thumb notch of a blade pulls the knife open, and the same spring bar holds the blade in open position. Press against the back of the blade, and the knife folds with a snap.
Another good choice for the dress pants pocket is the shorter but wider styling of the Case Baby Butterbean.
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 Case Pen Knife was once the favorite of statesmen and shopkeepers as well as anyone else who dealt with the written word. Although “pen knife” has become synonymous with “pocket knife,” this particular model was built with a special purpose in mind.
