Jim lost his knife. In trying to replace it, he couldn't find one he was happy with. He decided to make his own. Several friends asked Jim to make them a knife. Jim's love of nature and animals, along with his artistic abilities (oil painting, water colors, pen and ink sketching), lead him to start engraving, scrimshawing, and carving fish, birds, and animals on his knives and knife handles. He soon found a high demand for his work. He began making knives as a hobby. He started selling them at different art and sport shows to pay for yearly vacations. The demand finally reached the point where Jim, along with his wife Linda, had to make a decision. In 1989 Jim quit his 13 year job as a maintenance supervisor for a chemical company. He went into the knife making business full time, with Linda responsible for the office and bookkeeping duties. Jim's knives have been featured in Knives Illustrated, Small Business Opportunities, Sundance Catalog, and several other small local magazines and newspapers.