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.
Pudao Longsword | Martial Arts Wushu Weapons | Chinese Battle Ready Sword
1 min read
With a heavy brass ring pommel and brass handguard, this high carbon combat steel Pudao weighs in at ten pounds, enough to handle and cut like the real thing. Today weapons of this class are used for strength training, in combination with genuine combat movements from the old kung fu systems. In other times, this heavy chopping blade was the infantryman’s equivalent of anti-tank weaponry, heavy enough to take out the legs of a charging armored horse.
Many Pudao available now feature lighter and slimmer blades than this heavy combat version. Though this Pudao isn’t so ornate as some, the construction is sound and the lack of cast decorations makes handling simpler. The round cross section doesn’t orient the hands automatically to the set of the blade, but the diameter of the shaft is large enough for a solid grip. Some practice with the weapon will make the right position instinctive.
For Wushu practice and acrobatic demonstrations, this could be too heavy. The extra weight makes fast movement more difficult, and the effects of mistakes with this heavy Horse Cutter are much more dangerous. Only advanced kung fu students should take up weapons of this level. Most Wushu weapons hardly qualify as collector’s items because of the concessions made in favor of light weight and speed. This combat Pudao, while not fancy, has the good looks of a well made and practical weapon. Hand forged by modern Chinese craftsmen, it’s good enough for display as well as advanced weapons practice.
No scabbard accompanies this 63-inch-long weapon, but a form fitting padded black nylon carrying case covers both handle and 27-inch horse cutting blade.
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.
With a heavy brass ring pommel and brass handguard, this high carbon combat steel Pudao weighs in at ten pounds, enough to handle and cut like the real thing. Today weapons of this class are used for strength training, in combination with genuine combat movements from the old kung fu systems. In other times, this heavy chopping blade was the infantryman’s equivalent of anti-tank weaponry, heavy enough to take out the legs of a charging armored horse.
