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.
The Octopus Samuel L Jackson Katana from The Spirit Movie | Handmade Forged Sword w/ Display Stand & Bag
1 min read
Built in the image of the katana wielded by Samuel Jackson as the immortality-seeking villain The Octopus, this movie replica sword looks so good you’ll want to try it out. Be sure to put a razor edge on it before testing the traditionally styled samurai sword if you want to know the worth of this high carbon 1060 steel blade.
The hand-forged sword actually might hold up as a light duty katana for cutting practice, but it’s meant for display and should be treated with care. The construction is better than you’d expect to see in a movie replica weapon. The tsuba or blade guard is solid cast metal with a simple dragon motif, and the double-pegged handle has the functional appearance of true katanas even though the ito or woven grip is black nylon cord. This full tang sword doesn’t have a hi, or blood groove, and the hamon isn’t real. That wavy mark was the sign of an edge-tempered sword, tough on the spine and hard on the cutting edge, but here it’s only decorative etching. Even though some of the traditional marks of a high-end sword are missing, it still has the feel of a real weapon. Collectors of replica weapons won’t need the movie as a reason to acquire this one.
Symbols etched on the blade represent ideals from the bushido traditions, but beyond that, there’s very little ornamentation on this katana. It’s refined and dark, like Samuel Jackson’s character The Octopus.
If you notice production similarities between The Spirit and the hit movie 300, you’re right. Frank Miller produced both. For another more fanciful but still nearly functional move replica sword in the Frank Miller tradition, see the King Leonidas Sword from 300.
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.
Built in the image of the katana wielded by Samuel Jackson as the immortality-seeking villain The Octopus, this movie replica sword looks so good you’ll want to try it out. Be sure to put a razor edge on it before testing the traditionally styled samurai sword if you want to know the worth of this high carbon 1060 steel blade.
