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.
Mythos Fantasy Battle Axe by Paul Elhers | Includes Dragon Sculpture Art Stand, Collector Certificate
1 min read
The Mythos Fantasy Axe by Paul Elhers is much more sculpture than knife. Produced by Fantasy Master, this ten-pound replica piece of heavy cast metal does incorporate a stainless steel axe blade, but the axe certainly isn’t the most striking thing about it.
Custom knife designer Paul Elhers might be better known for his role as Madman Marz, the psychotic killer in the classic ’80s horror film by the same name. Since his memorable portrayal of that fearsome character, Elhers has made his living in New York City, designing unique artistic pieces based on his own concepts of knives and axes, but focusing on the art. The Mythos Fantasy Axe was the first piece Elhers produced in partnership with Master Cutlery. The original piece sold for over ten thousand dollars.
The hand-carved Paul Elhers sculpture reproduced here represents a mystical creature — part man, part serpent, or perhaps part dragon. Details really are intricate, and most photos don’t show the fine workmanship the piece displays. Rippling veined muscles, belly scales with a realistic organic look, and a flawless expression on the face of the mythical creature show that Elhers is a master of anatomy as well as fantasy art. Considering Paul Elhers’s previous role as Madman Marz, the Mythos Axe looks much more functional when held in his hand as he explains how the sculpture becomes the handle of the weapon. There’s actually balance to the piece, in a practical way.
The Mythos Axe includes a synthetic marble display stand with a simple stainless steel frame that braces the statue in upright position. A certificate of authenticity accompanies this example of Paul Elhers’s best fantasy art.
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 Mythos Fantasy Axe by Paul Elhers is much more sculpture than knife. Produced by Fantasy Master, this ten-pound replica piece of heavy cast metal does incorporate a stainless steel axe blade, but the axe certainly isn’t the most striking thing about it.
