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.


Robert E Lee Rifle Sword CSA Replica | Civil War Sword Cane Enfield by United Cutlery

1 min read

Robert E Lee Rifle Sword CSA Replica Made by United Cutlery, the Confederate States of America Rifle Sword honors the famous rebel General Robert E. Lee. The piece looks like a muzzle-loader rifle from Civil War days, but it’s actually a sword cane.

Slip the barrel of the rifle away from the gunstock and you’ll find a high carbon 420 stainless steel sword blade 27-7/8 inches long. Full length of the sword/rifle including the sheath is 41-1/2 inches and matches the standard infantryman’s rifle of the Confederacy in size and in most details. Mechanisms on the rifle are not truly functional even though both the trigger and the flintlock actually move. The flintlock lever can be pulled back and locked and then released with the trigger. Fittings on the piece are cast metal. The gunstock and the brace of the rifle barrel are both genuine hardwood. A strap allows the CSA Rifle Sword to be slung over the shoulder, but you may want to replace the black nylon with good leather appropriate to the period. An image of General Lee decorates each side of the stock of the sword cane.

The rifle which inspired the CSA Rifle Sword was the 1853 Enfield, one of the most common muskets used in the War Between the States. The hidden sword blade is ramrod straight and single-edged with a fullered blood groove along the spine of the sword. As either sword or cane it’s a little awkward, but the combination of rifle and sword makes an interesting display piece. You’ll probably not find many collector’s items like this one.

Civil War buffs may also be interested in the General Jo Shelby Cavalry Saber.

Find this CSA Rifle Sword:

Find this sword on eBay:

[phpbay] CSA Rifle Sword, 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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