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 reproduction of the katana wielded by the immortal Scottish clansman Duncan Macleod in the Highlander saga could be one of the best swords ever produced by United Cutlery. Not the usual cheap reproduction, the Duncan MacLeod Katana is a hand-forged tempered katana of high carbon Damascus steel.
In fact, the blade alone is reason enough to acquire this sword. The Damascus steel in this sword contains 2048 layers, and even though it’s not the traditional Japanese clay-tempered edge, this is still an impressive piece of work. A fullered blood groove or hi runs nearly to the tip of the blade, and the sword is ground sharp.
Metal fittings are of good quality as well and are cast heavy enough to actually be of use. The sword does fall a little short where handle and sheath are concerned. The grip of cold cast resin formed in one piece around the sword’s tang does resemble carved ivory but lacks the real strength of that material. Few people would actually mistake this for ivory even though it’s an accurate depiction of the sword from the movie. The cast resin handle might not last long if the sword were used for striking practice. For display, it’s satisfactory.
The sheath recreates the hidden scabbards favored by the Scottish Immortals, designed to be carried over the shoulder and beneath a coat. The leather sheath of the Duncan katana doesn’t match the standards of the blade.
Each sword in this limited-edition series is numbered and does include a certificate of authenticity.
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 reproduction of the katana wielded by the immortal Scottish clansman Duncan Macleod in the Highlander saga could be one of the best swords ever produced by United Cutlery. Not the usual cheap reproduction, the Duncan MacLeod Katana is a hand-forged tempered katana of high carbon Damascus steel.
