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.
Tiger Fork Trident Spear | Martial Arts Training Weapon | Spring Steel
1 min read
In the ancient world the threat of attacks by tigers, lions and other large predators was very real. Weapons — including the Tiger Fork Trident — evolved to fit the challenge. Once classed as a heavy weapon, the lethal points of the trident could intercept and hold an attacking beast, keeping the wary traveler out of range of its claws and teeth.
This lighter Wushu version of the Tiger Fork Trident shows the same lethal concepts but in a streamlined build better suited to athletic demonstrations. Chrome plated high carbon spring steel tines fit to a strong metal shaft tipped with a chrome steel pommel. The red tassel at the base of the fork was a common feature on old weapons, providing some visual distraction and guiding blood away from the shaft and grip.
The Tiger Fork saw its origins in the fisherman’s trident spear and even in the farmer’s pitchfork, neither of which was designed for combat. Even so, this light Wushu version — 88 inches long and three pounds in weight — can’t be considered a toy. The tines of this Tiger Fork will do real damage. Use some common sense when loading this trident in the van or the car — the nylon carrying case won’t hold back the points for long.
Many of the old mainstay weapons resembled farm tools for very efficient reasons. Adapting familiar implements to combat gave indentured soldiers a huge training advantage based more on simple movements and physical strength than on acrobatics. Though the Tiger Fork impresses modern onlookers as an unusual weapon, in its day the trident made perfect practical sense.
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.
In the ancient world the threat of attacks by tigers, lions and other large predators was very real. Weapons — including the Tiger Fork Trident — evolved to fit the challenge. Once classed as a heavy weapon, the lethal points of the trident could intercept and hold an attacking beast, keeping the wary traveler out of range of its claws and teeth.
