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.



Ninja Throwing Knives Set w/ Nylon Case | Fantasy Martial Arts Shuriken Training Dagger Stars

53 sec read

Ninja Throwing Knives Set w/ Nylon Case These modern ninja throwing knives are much more complicated than real shuriken but do actually work. Made by Ninja Generation, these inexpensive throwing knives stick best in styrofoam. If sharpened, they’ll also penetrate harder targets.

One-piece construction from blackened high carbon stainless steel includes shaping of the edges of the main blades, but the side wings are more decorative. These light six-inch-long knives should hold up to practice well enough, but be careful. Tempered to withstand impacts, the steel blades could bend if thrown with too much force and will ricochet if they don’t penetrate. Softening the steel for throwing means that the knife edges nick easily and won’t hold a cutting edge for long. Many inexpensive throwing knives take this approach, allowing owners to learn to throw without ruining a highly tempered knife.

The wicked look of the Ninja Throwing Knives makes them appropriate for display, and their fanciful design looks like something right out of a loot drop. Even though the three knives fit in a handy ballistic nylon belt case with a snap closure and are completely functional, the only place you’re likely to see anything like this being used by ninjas is in Japanese anime. Historically accurate shuriken aren’t this fancy, although thrown weapons did evolve into multi-bladed stars with more chances of landing point-first than straight spikes or throwing knives. This type requires excellent skills to reliably stick a target.

For another anime collector’s piece, see the Bloodbath Glaive, Blade’s favorite throwing weapon.

 

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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