JT Hats
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.



Batman Twin Blades Fantasy Collector’s Set | Lightning Bolt Magnetic Display Sword & Scabbard

57 sec read

Batman Twin Blades Collector's Set The concept is right — Batman was fond of twin blades. This double-bladed Bat-style sword tries to replicate that tricky idea with a result that’s practical only for display but does include some interesting design features.

The two blades ride in an over-the-back black leather scabbard tooled to friction-fit the unusual shapes of the solid 440 high carbon stainless steel swords. Draw the swords as one weapon, bonded by a strong magnetic strip at the grip, and then rotate one blade out and reverse it to lock the double sword in fighting position. This isn’t just a magnetic bond — shoulders stamped in the steel blades brace the opposing handles and do create a solid one-piece feeling. The jagged 14-inch, double-edged blades are well beveled but un-sharpened. Overall length of the weapon from point to point reaches 35 inches when properly aligned and assembled.

The dark theme of the Batman story continues in the black anodizing of the bat or lightning-winged blades, and as part of a set of Batman memorabilia, the sword certain has a place. Many other Bat-weapons of similar quality are available, but overall, the secrets of Bat-technology still seem out of the reach of the ordinary fan. Even if you have bat-like strength and reflexes, you’ll find the grip of the Lightning Sword awkward and dangerous. Intended as a display or costume piece, the Lightning Sword will still be a real attention-getter on the wall of your Bat-cave.

Both swords and their matching black leather sheath are manufactured in China.

For a legendary superhero sword of better quality, see the Blade Sword of the Daywalker replica.

JT Hats
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.



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