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.
United Cutlery Steel Apocalypse Dragon X-10 | Fantasy Bowie Collectors Knife
53 sec read
United Cutlery says the Dragon X-10 from the Steel Apocalypse Collection took inspiration from the genre of science fiction and futuristic weaponry rather than any particular movie or gamer blade. Creative minds looking for their own inspiration need go no further in their search for a good story. This ornate weapon of antiqued cast metal and high carbon stainless steel could pass for either sidearm or spaceship.
Termed a bowie knife by the company that made it, this collector’s blade takes concepts from many good styles of knives and puts them together in unexpected ways. Even though much of it is upside down and backwards, it still looks like a knife that makes sense in a different system of logic. Undoubtedly in the universe this blade came from, opponents wore a special kind of armor and the Dragon sought out the weak points.
Sixteen and 5/8 inches long, and over two pounds in weight, this knife is for adults only — and probably only for cautious and respectful adults. Even without a razor edge, there’s enough heavy steel in this knife to cause real harm. The 420 stainless steel in the blade could be found in many more practical knives and deserves respect. The knife is solidly made but with details that could be damaged if dropped. United Cutlery intends the knife for artistic purposes only, and a stand for desktop display should accompany each.
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.
United Cutlery says the Dragon X-10 from the Steel Apocalypse Collection took inspiration from the genre of science fiction and futuristic weaponry rather than any particular movie or gamer blade. Creative minds looking for their own inspiration need go no further in their search for a good story. This ornate weapon of antiqued cast metal and high carbon stainless steel could pass for either sidearm or spaceship.
