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.


CSA Confederate Cavalry Officer Saber Sword | Civil War General Jo Shelby | Militaria Replica

1 min read

CSA Confederate Cavalry Officer SaberA replica sword of special interest to collectors and Civil War buffs, this cavalry saber recreates the sword carried by Confederate Colonel Jo Shelby on Shelby’s Raid through the union state of Missouri after the Confederate victory at Wilson’s Creek. This same model of cavalry saber saw action after the Civil War in the Plains Indians conflicts. Forty inches long overall with a 35-inch high carbon steel blade and a solid brass hand guard, this type of saber was the fast sword that made cavalry charges deadly. This replica matches many of the details of the military issue sword.

A nickel plated steel scabbard with lanyard rings allows this sword to be carried as it was in Civil War days. The quality is surprisingly good for a sword in this price range. The Indian manufacturers used carbon steel rather than stainless steel as a blade material. Though their intention may have been to cut cost, in terms of utility and historical accuracy, that’s a plus. Though it’s unlikely to be correctly tempered for combat, the saber is strong enough to take a solid hit.

The sword which served as model for this cavalry saber took Captain Jo Shelby through the battle of Wilson’s Creek, one of the first Confederate victories of the war. Afterwards, as a Confederate Colonel, Shelby led his men through Missouri on an extended raid less famous than General Sherman’s march through Georgia but somewhat equal in impact. Shelby and his men inflicted over a thousand casualties on Union forces and caused more than $2 million in damage, a fair amount of money in those days. Promoted to general as a result, Shelby later became major general of confederate forces after Robert E. Lee surrendered. Leading his men to Mexico rather than bow to the Union, Shelby and his exploits were the inspiration for the movie The Undefeated, a John Wayne classic.

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[phpbay]Confederate Cavalry Officer Saber, 2[/phpbay]

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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