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.
Death Fang Dark Ninja Katana, Black | Handmade Full Tang Sword w/ Back Strap Harness & Scabbard
57 sec read
I’m never totally against buying a good blade, even if everything else about the sword disappoints. A good craftsman can always refine things if the basics are sound, and that’s how I feel about the Death Fang Dark Ninja Katana. I do have some doubts that it was handmade, but it’s a bottom-line sword of 1060 high carbon steel, not stainless steel. That counts for something.
Here and there throughout this kit — which includes sword, scabbard, and back harness — I find flaws which need to be fixed if the sword’s ever to be used. Any sword that claims to be 1060 high carbon steel will eventually be tested, because it’s supposed to be more than just decorative. After a few good hits, the weak points will be obvious — but at first, you’ll just have to guess. The wrapped nylon cord grip will probably loosen early on. This isn’t the traditional ito weave, and the ito pattern was developed for a good reason.
Construction details of the scabbard harness also raise doubts. The accessories generally do not live up to the quality of the blade. As a display piece, the Death Fang Dark Ninja sword does have immediate appeal because of the sabre-like point, the distinctive grip and decorations, and the claw-shaped tsuba. This 41-inch sword with 28-inch sharpened blade and full length hi (or blood groove) seems to be on the fringe of real cutting ability. If you’re not willing to fix things, keep it on display and don’t test its limits.
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.
I’m never totally against buying a good blade, even if everything else about the sword disappoints. A good craftsman can always refine things if the basics are sound, and that’s how I feel about the Death Fang Dark Ninja Katana. I do have some doubts that it was handmade, but it’s a bottom-line sword of 1060 high carbon steel, not stainless steel. That counts for something.
