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.
Bleach Jushiro Ukitake Sougyo No Kotowari | Anime Fantasy Replica Sword, Twin Blades
59 sec read
If you’re a fan of the Japanese anime series Bleach, you’ll enjoy this recreation of the personal zanpakuto (or magical weapon) of Captain Jushiro Ukitake of the Gotei Imperial Guards, 13th Division. Wielded by one of the most honorable members of the Soul Reapers, the double sword called Sougyo No Kotowari transforms into two magical spears in response to Ukitake’s special shikai (or battle shout).
Though the reproduction weapons don’t include the twin swords’ magical abilities such as command of water and electricity and the handy ability to absorb and reflect an opponent’s magical energy attack, this two-sword set does closely match the ordinary form of the “Law of the Twin Fish” weapon. Each high carbon steel blade is blackened along one half of its length and polished on the other, with a smaller secondary blade doubling back towards the handle. Tsuba or blade guards of cast metal embellish each sword with a dragon motif, and the grips are wrapped with red cord in a traditional katana pattern.
The overall length of each sword is 38 inches with a 20-inch main blade and 10-1/2-inch side blade. The first six inches of the blades are covered with a metal sheath, giving the swords the look of unique parrying weapons as well as dangerous exotic katana. A stainless steel chain with metal plaque pendants joins the pommels of the two swords.
Built for anime weapons collectors and fans of Bleach manga, movies, and television, the sword set should please any potential Soul Reaper.
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.
If you’re a fan of the Japanese anime series Bleach, you’ll enjoy this recreation of the personal zanpakuto (or magical weapon) of Captain Jushiro Ukitake of the Gotei Imperial Guards, 13th Division. Wielded by one of the most honorable members of the Soul Reapers, the double sword called Sougyo No Kotowari transforms into two magical spears in response to Ukitake’s special shikai (or battle shout).
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