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.
Heroes Fantasy Sword, Hiro Nakamura Katana | United Cutlery Damascus Steel Collectors Replica, Limited Edition
1 min read
In the TV series Heroes, one of the popular characters — a Japanese executive named Hiro — borrows a good katana from a museum display when he begins his time-traveling adventures. If you’re ever in that situation yourself, and there’s a Damascus steel katana like this one on the shelf, try that one first.
While it’s still only a replica sword, that’s hard to remember when you look at the fine layered pattern of the forged high carbon Damascus steel blade. Tempering isn’t of the same high standard as the old combat katana, but the steel in this 42-inch-long katana would draw attention in any century. This limited production piece from United Cutlery shows the same attention to detail that impressed us in their other forged steel reproduction of the Sword of Hiro. Some of the traditional materials used here include genuine rayskin for the handle’s wrap, woven leather for the ito grip, and cast brass for the starburst tsuba. All this lends authenticity to the piece. It’s a satisfying match for the weapon designed for the TV show.
Included with the full tang sword is a black lacquered wood sheath intended to be slung over the shoulder, not worn at the waist. Buyers also get a wooden display stand and a black cloth pouch for storage. Only 1000 of these swords were made, and each blade is laser-etched with a serial number — the number is also displayed on the stand. A certificate of authenticity accompanies each sword.
Another good sword for the fans of Hiro is the less expensive but still accurately detailed Hiro of Heroes Replica Katana.
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.
In the TV series Heroes, one of the popular characters — a Japanese executive named Hiro — borrows a good katana from a museum display when he begins his time-traveling adventures. If you’re ever in that situation yourself, and there’s a Damascus steel katana like this one on the shelf, try that one first.
