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.
Twin Blades Fantasy Sword Set w/ Wall Display | Elf Warrior Full Tang
1 min read
Looking at a fantasy sword, I always wonder about the real applications of that strange blade. If it makes some logical sense, probably the sword has already accomplished its real purpose. When I saw this pair of fanciful weapons, I wondered how elven warriors would use those graceful points and curves. In most ways, they look like good ideas.
There is some good work here, although I’d like to see bone or antler handle slabs instead of simple leather cross-wrapped around the full tang grips. The blades are artfully shaped, but stamped and ground rather than forged. Etching and polish are both nicely done, and the poured metal effect of the bolster is a neat trick that some creative custom knife maker will probably figure out and quietly add to his more expensive product line.
The sheaths of black nylon fall far short of the goal these knives reached. There’s nothing elfin or artistic about the sheaths, just squared stiff fabric that will snag the points if you aren’t very careful. The sheaths are for nothing but storage and transport. Fortunately, the Elf Warrior Fantasy Swords come with a nice wooden plaque for hanging on the wall. A pin and notch fitting at the hilt will combine these 18.75-inch stainless steel blades into one double bladed weapon, although that isn’t a very sturdy option.
I like that someone in the Fantasy Master company actually thought about these knives, considering the physical grace of the elfin race and the use of skill over force instead of just making something odd. The two swords offer features consistent with the weapons of a forest people and really do give the appearance of something that works well in that other world.
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.
Looking at a fantasy sword, I always wonder about the real applications of that strange blade. If it makes some logical sense, probably the sword has already accomplished its real purpose. When I saw this pair of fanciful weapons, I wondered how elven warriors would use those graceful points and curves. In most ways, they look like good ideas.
