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.
Tachi Gunto Sword w/ Scabbard, Handmade Gold | Battle Ready Japanese Military Replica 504
1 min read
Handmade Sword’s Tachi Gunto #504 follows the artistic styling adopted by the Japanese military in 1934, but adds unique artwork and detail to these modern military dress patterns. Built for the collector of fine swords, the Tachi Gunto uses the best of the company’s steel as well. Use this fine sword for tameshigiri practice as well as display.
Tachi swords were an early style of weapon with a blade more curved than the katana, and used for fighting from horseback. Hung from a belt or sash, the tachi rode with edge down, while the straighter katana used for ground fighting was worn edge up. Gunto swords became dress issue for the Japanese military — at first built to resemble western weapons but shifting towards more traditional designs before WWII. The most obvious difference between the gunto and the traditional Japanese sword would be the metal-plated scabbard with wooden lining.
Handmade’s Tachi Gunto #504 incorporates detailed scenes of samurai life and training in the decorations which cover the brass fittings on this sword’s handle and scabbard. The brass housing of the wooden scabbard shines with genuine gold plating. The absence of gold plate on the grip makes the more functional part of the sword less vulnerable to wear and tear. All other fittings including the tsuba are solid cast brass with decorative engravings. Straps and other accessories are cowhide.
The 44-inch-long, 3-1/2-pound tachi sword features Handmade’s 1095 clay-tempered high carbon steel with fullered hi on both sides of the 30-inch blade. Edge hardness measures HCR60, while the temper of the tough steel spine rates HCR40. With the scabbard, the tachi gunto weighs just over 6 pounds. Signed by the master smith who forged it in China, the tachi gunto includes a sandalwood presentation case.
See the Handmade #505 Sword for another example of the company’s best Tachi Guntos.
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.
Technically a serrated edge knife, the Wusthof Gourmet 6-Inch Utility Knife actually cuts with a scalloped edge. The slight curves of the rounded teeth...
Handmade Sword’s Tachi Gunto #504 follows the artistic styling adopted by the Japanese military in 1934, but adds unique artwork and detail to these modern military dress patterns. Built for the collector of fine swords, the Tachi Gunto uses the best of the company’s steel as well. Use this fine sword for tameshigiri practice as well as display.
