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.
Klingon Batleth, Star Trek Weapon Of Kahless | Traditional Bat’leth Fantasy Sword 48 Inch
58 sec read
The modern Bat’leth simplifies the ornate Sword of Kahless, the legendary Klingon hero who forged the first Bat’leth from a lock of his own hair dipped in lava. Or, if you don’t believe in legends, the Bat’leth was created by martial arts expert Dan Curry who designed the Klingon battle weapon for Paramount Studios.
For either reality, this massive four-foot-long blade of high carbon stainless steel definitely satisfies the Klingon craving for sharp steel. Three padded and leather-wrapped hand grips allow a bewildering array of stances and applications. Loosely based upon old Asian weapons like the deer antler knives of hsing yi, the bat’leth could become the basis of a real martial art. Don’t regard this one as a toy.
According to the Klingon Imperial Weapons Guild, the four principles embodied by this bat’leth and other traditional Klingon weapons are simplicity, strength, power, and danger. The one-piece steel construction certainly provides simplicity and strength, and the weapon’s tricky balance and multiple points add genuine danger even if you’re just trying to get the feel of this unusual sword. It’s probably wise to hold back on the power.
For costume applications or display, this Bat’leth shows accurate design and details, although at 48 inches from point to point, it’s larger than the average Klingon swords — which are individually fitted and usually measure about 39 inches across. Some fans of the Star Trek saga prefer titanium for faster action and lighter weight, but this more affordable high carbon stainless steel version feels even more lethal.
See the Deer Antler Knives for an inexpensive training version of the weapon which probably really did inspire the Klingon Bat’leth.
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 modern Bat’leth simplifies the ornate Sword of Kahless, the legendary Klingon hero who forged the first Bat’leth from a lock of his own hair dipped in lava. Or, if you don’t believe in legends, the Bat’leth was created by martial arts expert Dan Curry who designed the Klingon battle weapon for Paramount Studios.
