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.
Legendary Britons King Sword Replica w/ Display Plaque | Medieval Celtic Renaissance Weapon Review for SCA, LARP
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The Trademark Legendary Sword’s decorations and style represent a fanciful weapon from another time. Intended for display only, the Sword of the King of the Britons includes a polished hardwood wall plaque with brass mounting hardware, but no scabbard.
Pommel and cross-guard, both of solid cast metal, display emblems of dragons and other mythical symbols, and the blade itself is engraved with Celtic patterns. The 45-1/4-inch-long sword wields a 36-inch double-edged blade of 440 high carbon stainless steel. Approximately one-third of the blade’s length is un-beveled ricasso — a section intended for parrying the enemy weapon or as a hand grip forward of the cross-guard. In close quarters combat, this two-handed grip improved the sword’s speed. The rat-tail tang of the sword is enclosed in a hardwood handle covered with synthetic leather. Antiqued fittings give the impression of age.
The blade thickness of 5/32 of an inch makes the sword lighter than most weapons of this size. Cutting edges are shaped, not sharpened, and the temper of the blade isn’t designed for cutting. Use caution if you test the sword on any real target, since it wasn’t built for combat. As a display sword, it’s a nice piece for those interested in fantasy weapons with a traditional look. Inspired by a story of a king who plucked a magical blade from a moonlit pool, the sword has no real historical counterpart.
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 Trademark Legendary Sword’s decorations and style represent a fanciful weapon from another time. Intended for display only, the Sword of the King of the Britons includes a polished hardwood wall plaque with brass mounting hardware, but no scabbard.
