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.
Cold Steel Rapier Short Sword | Functional Battle Ready Weapon
1 min read
Cold Steel is better known for functionality than for building self-defense weapons which look good. The Cold Steel philosophy of matching pure function with modern materials sometimes creates weapons which look at best like tools and at worst like souvenirs. Using some of the sensible features of that approach, the Cold Steel Rapier or Small Sword manages to look like a real sword. The design matches the Small Swords of the 17th and 18th century which became the gentleman’s preferred weapon for dueling, and the military officer’s first choice of sidearms. Based on the fencing foil, the Small Sword’s reduced size and simplified hilt and guard made this weapon easily carried from belt or sash, and deadly in expert hands.
Cold Steel replaces the traditional grip with wound nylon cord, practical and durable. The cast metal hilt uses the old-fashioned double shell pattern with two finger loops and a thin knuckle guard, emphasizing the piercing action of the narrow blade. Blade and tang of high carbon 1055 steel form the backbone of the 31.25-inch sword, with an ornate pommel that contributes more to design than to weight. Though the old tempering processes have been supplanted by heat treatment, the resulting temper is uniform and gives the blade spring steel resilience.
Hollowing grinding reduces the weight of the triangular cross section blade. The true edge of the sword is the razor sharp tip — slashing or chopping with the body of the blade goes against the style of this small rapier. Special techniques developed for this sword carried over into the bayonet movements of modern battlefields. Many types of spike bayonets show the same piercing point and slender body that are the trademarks of this old and efficient weapon. The leather scabbard and the authentic look of the metal fittings make this sword appropriate for display and practical for self defense.
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.
Cold Steel is better known for functionality than for building self-defense weapons which look good. The Cold Steel philosophy of matching pure function with modern materials sometimes creates weapons which look at best like tools and at worst like souvenirs. Using some of the sensible features of that approach, the Cold Steel Rapier or Small Sword manages to look like a real sword. The design matches the Small Swords of the 17th and 18th century which became the gentleman’s preferred weapon for dueling, and the military officer’s first choice of sidearms. Based on the fencing foil, the Small Sword’s reduced size and simplified hilt and guard made this weapon easily carried from belt or sash, and deadly in expert hands.
