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.



King Arthur Dagger by Denix | Carnwennan Medieval Fantasy Blade, Zamak 17 Inch

1 min read

King Arthur Dagger by Denix Nearly everyone knows the story of King Arthur’s Excalibur, but fewer have heard of his favorite dagger, the magical Carnwennan. Consider the massive King Arthur Dagger from Denix, a Spanish company specializing in accurate reproductions of old weaponry, if you’re seeking a dagger worthy of the Round Table.

This 17-inch-long dagger with five-inch cast brass grip and hand guard plays the part well. While details of the original Carnwennan or White Hilt dagger of King Arthur are disputable, the quality of this piece won’t be disappointing. Denix stays with details appropriate to Arthurian Britain. Some aspects of the dagger King Arthur felt was given to him by God can’t be reproduced, such as the ability to cloak the owner in shadow while striking. Cast into the metal plate of the sheath, you’ll find the English inscription “King Arthur Dagger.” That’s a little out of place on what should be an ancient knife, but it’s not obvious.

Denix S.A. began operation in 1978, the brainchild of two jewelers who at first specialized in tourist items and then expanded into artistic reproductions of old firearms and edged weapons. Beginning with only two employees, the company steadily grew and now employs 70 people at its facilities in Ciutadella de Menorca, Spain. Denix weapons use synthetic materials where appropriate but keep the appearance of the original items. All blades manufactured by Denix are cast from Zamak, an alloy of zinc and aluminum. Edged Zamak weapons like the King Arthur dagger can’t be sharpened to combat quality, but don’t consider this heavy blade harmless.

See the Denix King Arthur Sword for a matching Excalibur reproduction.

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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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