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.



Kit Rae Avoloch Mithrodin Fantasy Sword of Enethia | Autographed Limited Edition Collectible by United Cutlery

1 min read

Kit Rae Avoloch Mithrodin Fantasy SwordOne in a limited edition run of 1500 pieces, this sword designed by Kit Rae and produced by United Cutlery reproduces the sword named Avoloch, personal weapon of the Princess Enethia in the tale of the Swords of the Ancients. Each sword in the Sword of the Ancients series marks another story in this long history of a conflict between humans, immortals, and bestial half-human warriors.

Avoloch wields three blades of 420J2 high carbon stainless steel with all three set in a cast metal hilt. The curved grip ends in a wicked, spiked cast metal pommel and is wrapped with woven black leather. Forward of the hilt is an un-sharpened section of blade called a ricasso, also wrapped with black leather strapping, which allows two-handed power and fast strikes during close combat. The compound sweep of the polished blade follows the Elven pattern familiar to most from Tolkien-style movies and games.

The 43-3/4-inch-long sword is only 1/8-inch thick, less than a practical combat steel sword but in keeping with the concept of Avoloch. The Avoloch sword, according to the legend, was forged from magical mithrodin, a metal with the hardness and strength of the best high carbon steel but with only a fraction of the weight.

Decorated with engraved runes and antiqued for a more authentic look, the Avoloch Mithrodin Sword comes with a certificate of authenticity from United Cutlery. The base of the blade bears the Kit Rae trademark, and an autographed art print of Princess Enethia brandishing the sword is included.

For another version of the collectible Avoloch Sword, see the Kit Rae Avoloch Gold Edition — a limited run of 300.

Find this Kit Rae Avoloch Mithrodin Sword:

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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