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.
US Air Force Sword Cane | Gentleman’s Veteran Walking Stick KM3001
1 min read
Sword canes come with all sorts of brands, and now there’s one with a commemorative U.S. Air Force insignia embedded in the stainless steel handle. The Air Force sword cane would make a nice gift for a veteran or collector with interest in knives and fighting blades. Sword canes aren’t too heavy to be good walking sticks, but since walking sticks have not been in fashion for some time, these modern versions seldom experience much real use. That’s too bad, because a cane like this makes a lot of sense if you occasionally need an extra point of balance. A cane with a 20-inch stainless steel sword concealed inside it can be even more practical.
Considering all the backpackers’ hiking poles I’ve seen that were less useful and less durable than this cane and sword combination, I’m willing to forgive that the blade rattles a little in the sheath, or that the grip of the sword is a bit sparse. The build is a little light, but many back country travelers use less. Sword canes were never meant for heavy work — gentlemen carried them and occasionally used them, in the days when gambling and fencing skills went together. Today a well-made cane sword would be an excellent substitute for a fiberglass hiking pole that’s worthless when you need something sharp.
Most who buy this sword will be collectors, with less interest in functionality than in the mark of individuality — the Air Force medallion — that sets this sword apart from many others. I do respect that, since my grandfather owned a wall filled with such things, but since I first handled one of these gambler’s sword canes I’ve always thought of ways to use them. It’s a fine old idea.
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.
Sword canes come with all sorts of brands, and now there’s one with a commemorative U.S. Air Force insignia embedded in the stainless steel handle. The Air Force sword cane would make a nice gift for a veteran or collector with interest in knives and fighting blades. Sword canes aren’t too heavy to be good walking sticks, but since walking sticks have not been in fashion for some time, these modern versions seldom experience much real use. That’s too bad, because a cane like this makes a lot of sense if you occasionally need an extra point of balance. A cane with a 20-inch stainless steel sword concealed inside it can be even more practical.
