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.
The Sword of Durza has an evil and twisted look about it, appropriate for the blade favored by Durza the Shade. A powerful sorcerer who became possessed by the spirits he summoned, Durza becomes one of the most dangerous opponents of the Dragon Rider Eragon.
The 41-1/2-inch Sword of Durza tapers to a needle point. The double-edged blade of high carbon stainless steel is built with rat tail tang construction and cast metal cross-guard, grip, and pommel. The intricate surface texture of the cast pieces resembles twisted wire. Claws decorate the tips of the guard, and the pommel represents a dragon’s clawed foot. The word Eragon is etched at the base of the blade.
Durza became one of the chief antagonists in the story of Eragon — the highest grossing “dragon-centered” movie of all time and number two in the swords-and-sorcery category. Though his role in the story was that of an evil shade, he began his magical career as an innocent orphan who tried to avenge the death of his sorcerer benefactor by summoning spirits too powerful to control.
The officially licensed Durza Sword set includes a hardwood wall plaque for displaying the sword, all mounting hardware, and a certificate of authenticity. Owners also receive a leather-bound hardwood scabbard.
For another fine replica sword in the Eragon series, see the Zar’roc Sword of Eragon the Dragon Rider.
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.
The Sword of Durza has an evil and twisted look about it, appropriate for the blade favored by Durza the Shade. A powerful sorcerer who became possessed by the spirits he summoned, Durza becomes one of the most dangerous opponents of the Dragon Rider Eragon.
