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.
Alexander Crateros Dragon Sword & Hidden Miniature by Marto | Fantasy Movie Replica 17 Inch w/ Wood Grain Sheath
58 sec read
This isn’t the full-sized version of the sword swung by Crateros in the film Alexander — but it’s an accurate scaled replica with the quality construction of a good Bowie knife.
Manufactured by Marto of Toledo, Spain, the Dragon Sword of Crateros measures 17-1/4 inches with pinned burlwood handle slabs and a matching polished hardwood scabbard. Marto created this replica weapon in two styles, so fittings could be either antiqued nickel silver or polished bronze. Details include a cast metal dragon pommel, which also acts as part of the hand grip. The design of the sword is faithful to the movie prop sword wielded by Rory McCann as Crateros, one of Alexander’s allies in the 2004 Oliver Stone production. McCann’s role was based on the historical figure Craterus, a Macedonian general who served under Alexander the Great. The real Craterus outlived his leader, eventually dying on a battlefield near the Dardenelles of Gallipoli, Turkey, when his charging horse fell and crushed him.
As a bonus feature, Marto of Spain includes a miniature version of the Dragon sword which rides in a side sheath on the hardwood scabbard. The smaller knife measures only seven inches in length and lacks the dragon pommel. The small blade does copy the style of the larger sword and is made from the same materials.
Marto produces many other excellent replica weapons, including swords patterned after weapons in the Highlander series and from the movie Conan the Barbarian. For a good replica sword in the Conan style, see the Conan the Barbarian Father Sword.
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.
This isn’t the full-sized version of the sword swung by Crateros in the film Alexander — but it’s an accurate scaled replica with the quality construction of a good Bowie knife.
