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.
Red Dragon Sword Blade by Bud K | Fantasy Elven Scimitar w/ Magnetic Twin Blades, Display Stand
58 sec read
Bud K’s Red Dragon Scimitar holds an interesting secret. By itself, the Red Dragon is distinctive and appears lethal — but in a pinch, this blade can become two fantastic weapons.
The striking, ruddy red, high carbon stainless steel blade of the 33-1/2-inch sword carries the elegant sweep of an Elven weapon, built light and fast for the hands of that slightly built race. Two more red-tinged blades project beyond the edges of the cast metal blade guard. The rat-tail tang ends in a silvered antiqued metal pommel, and the slightly curved handle of the sword is wrapped with black bindings.
The hidden secret of the sword is that the bladed portion of the blade guard attaches to the central section of the guard magnetically. Snapping the outer part of the guard free reveals five central finger holes which mount the twin blades to the off hand for parrying action and for unexpected new attack strategies.
The Red Dragon Scimitar comes with a black wooden display stand suitable for the desktop. Consider the Red Dragon a display sword, not a combat model, and use the twin-bladed knuckle duster cautiously. It seems better suited to Elven hands than to the human grip and depends on what feels like a very awkward and vulnerable hand position. Sword and hand weapon are shaped but not sharpened — if you decide to improve the edge, be careful not to damage the red finish of the blades.
Dragon fighters should also be interested in the Dragon’s Lair Sword by Gil Hibben.
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.
Bud K’s Red Dragon Scimitar holds an interesting secret. By itself, the Red Dragon is distinctive and appears lethal — but in a pinch, this blade can become two fantastic weapons.
