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.
This beautiful katana in the style of the weapon favored by the blind master Zatoichi — the main character in a long series of popular Japanese films — actually is not shirasaya. The sword cane of Japan was called shikomizue. Shirasaya referred to a plain wooden scabbard meant for storing a good blade.
Hand forged and fully tempered by Hanzo Steel, this completely functional version of Zatoichi’s favorite katana features a carbon steel blade 0.29 inches thick and edge-hardened to Rockwell 52. Full tang construction gives the sword extra strength. Without a tsuba, its uses are more limited than combat katana, unless like Zatoichi your methods are based on speed and surprise. This type of sword was also favored by ninja warriors and often hidden in ordinary walking sticks of bamboo.
With its strikingly colorful red lacquer and black trim, this sword cane isn’t easily concealed. Carry it around town and even amateurs should spot it as something special. The 39-inch katana sports a cutting blade 28-1/2 inches long with a 10-1/2 inch lacquered wood grip meant for two-handed power. This sword cane outdoes most western types of sword canes, which usually are no more than slender spikes. This shikomizue’s blade handles like a real sword rather than a fencing foil, with functional strengths not found in the usual movie replica sword.
The Handmade Zatoichi Full Tang Katana comes with a natural wood display case and a black cotton bag. The edge has been factory sharpened, but for even light cutting practice, the sword should first be honed to a razor edge.
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.
This beautiful katana in the style of the weapon favored by the blind master Zatoichi — the main character in a long series of popular Japanese films — actually is not shirasaya. The sword cane of Japan was called shikomizue. Shirasaya referred to a plain wooden scabbard meant for storing a good blade.
