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.
Anduril Sword Sheath from Lord of the Rings, Aragorn | Fantasy Movie Replica Accessories
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United Cutlery’s Anduril, sword of the hero Aragorn from the Lord of the Rings saga, is no cheap imitation. This blade recreates the legendary weapon forged from the shards of Narsil, the sword shattered during the battle at the end of the Second Age. The two-handed broadsword Anduril matches the Tolkien weapon in size — 52-7/8 inches overall with a 1/4-inch thick blade 40-5/8 inches in length. Anduril could be a fine sword to carry as well as display, provided you acquire the matching sheath.
Materials in this sheath are top notch, something refreshing to see in an industry that often makes fine blades housed in cheap scabbards. Twenty-four carat gold plated decorations, antiqued metal fittings and buckles, and genuine leather straps lend functional authenticity to the design. The appearance of the 44-5/8-inch LOTR Anduril scabbard matches the counterpart in the movie The Return of the King. Originally the sheath was designed to strap to the saddle of King Elessar’s horse, but fittings allow for use by foot travelers as well. This scabbard fits either of three LOTR swords from United: Anduril, Narsil or the Anduril Limited Edition.
In keeping with the mythical theme, runes inscribe the plate of the scabbard with a message in the ancient language of Quenya. The phrase etched on the plate, written in the runes of Eregion and bracketed by the kingdom’s symbols of sun and moon, translates as “Flame of the West.”
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’s Anduril, sword of the hero Aragorn from the Lord of the Rings saga, is no cheap imitation. This blade recreates the legendary weapon forged from the shards of Narsil, the sword shattered during the battle at the end of the Second Age. The two-handed broadsword Anduril matches the Tolkien weapon in size — 52-7/8 inches overall with a 1/4-inch thick blade 40-5/8 inches in length. Anduril could be a fine sword to carry as well as display, provided you acquire the matching sheath.
