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.



Free Mason Dress Sword, Knights Templar Masonic | Renaissance Medieval Rapier w/ Scabbard

1 min read

Free Mason Dress Sword, Knights TemplarThis small, rapier-style side sword lacks the intricate Masonic symbols of most modern Knights Templar blades and may be more in keeping with the older Masonic concept of the sword. The Tiler’s sword was originally depicted as a functional blade put to use in guarding the doors of the lodge and maintaining the privacy of the proceedings within. In older times, members of the Masonic Lodge did not use swords for ceremonial purposes.

This lightly-built display or dress sword of 440 high carbon stainless steel features a wire-bound grip and simple silvered metal hand guard. The rat-tail tang ends in a polished metal pommel. The shaped and polished blade holds a decorative edge and isn’t meant for striking practice, but the sword does in general follow the pattern of Spanish side swords from the European Renaissance.

Although swords have become a familiar symbol of the Knights Templar, gentlemen lodge members of older times intentionally left their weapons outside the lodge in order to present themselves as equals among their fellow Masons. Now a common symbol of lodge membership, Masonic swords with mysterious symbols and intricate decorations are a recent invention. Genuine Mason’s swords should be engraved with the owner’s personal monogram, lodge number, and name. The meaning of many of the other old symbols gracing the modern weapons may still be a guarded secret of the order. Although most have been publicly defined, non-Masons have no way of knowing whether the public definitions are true.

Individual lodges undoubtedly set their own standards for dress weapons. The Renaissance styling of this Free Mason Sword might be more appropriate for the collector.

The Knights Templar Masonic Sword provides modern Masons with an antiqued weapon suitable for wall display.

Find this Free Mason 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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