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.



Fantasy Bleach Izuru Kira Sword, Hook Blade | Japanese Anime Wabisuke Zanpakuto w/ Display Plaque

1 min read

Fantasy Bleach Izuru Kira Sword, HookThe strange sword you see here is the magical counterpart or zanpakuto of the merely physical sword called Wabisuke. In the popular manga Bleach, this unusual weapon is wielded by Izuru Kira, one of the more popular characters in the series.

Growing up in the world just beyond this one, Izuru Kira occasionally came to the world of the living for training but has spent much of the Bleach saga as a lieutenant of the Gotei 13, a high faction of the Soul Reapers. As do the other characters in the Japanese anime series, Izuru Kira wields a sword which has two common forms and a third which most of the Soul Reapers warriors have not yet mastered. The first common form of Wabisuke — the Pentitent One — resembles a simple katana, but when activated by the shikai command, the weapon transforms.

This reproduction of the zanpakuto form of Wabisuke stays close to the details of the anime weapon. The sword’s overall length of 36.5 inches does not include the hook of the blade. The feeling of the weapon is heavy and unbalanced. High carbon 440 stainless steel forms blade and tang, and the sword grip or ito is woven black nylon cord. In keeping with the details of the weapon in Bleach, the outer edge of the blade is unsharpened. Oddly enough, the edge of the blade lies within the hook.

Izuru’s swordsmanship skills are excellent, and he has no qualms about applying his Wabisuke’s special powers. On each strike, the sword of his opponent doubles in weight. After a few of those blows, the weight of the enemy weapon brings the opponent to his knees. Hooking the blade of Wabisuke around the neck of his foe ends the contest.

This replica is too unbalanced for safe use and should stay on the lacquered wooden wall plaque that accompanies the 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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