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.
Assassin’s Creed Fighting Knife | Fantasy Dagger Sword | Altair Ibn La-Ahad
53 sec read
If you’re a fan of the video game adventure Assassin’s Creed, take a look at this real life remake of the tool of Altaïr Ibn La-Ahad’s trade in his war against the machinations of the Knights Templar. While it does tend towards the fanciful, with an elaborate but functional chest harness and scabbard and a decorative cast metal handle, this dagger from the game worlds has a real knife look. Twenty-two inches in overall length — including a 15-1/4-inch high carbon stainless steel blade — could only be concealed if you wore the robes of the Assassin’s Guild.
The blade is sold unsharpened and probably should stay that way unless you’re prepared to risk the minimalist suede sheath. The meaning of the mystical symbol engraved on the chest piece remains unknown — except perhaps to high level players of this popular game. As we drift slowly closer to the magical year of 2012, which sets the stage for this story, it may be wise to gear up.
Building a fantasy knife that doesn’t look silly is a real challenge. Although the complex harness is a little puzzling, the overall impression is of something that really could work if you wore flowing robes. Today, wearing this outfit in public would be unwise. Either leave it on the armoury wall or exit via the time machine. But even considering that it’s a fantasy knife, this is an interesting piece of work that outshines most of the game memorabilia out there.
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.
If you’re a fan of the video game adventure Assassin’s Creed, take a look at this real life remake of the tool of Altaïr Ibn La-Ahad’s trade in his war against the machinations of the Knights Templar. While it does tend towards the fanciful, with an elaborate but functional chest harness and scabbard and a decorative cast metal handle, this dagger from the game worlds has a real knife look. Twenty-two inches in overall length — including a 15-1/4-inch high carbon stainless steel blade — could only be concealed if you wore the robes of the Assassin’s Guild.
